Some Questions of Phonetic Theory, Vol. 5: The Perception of Sound

Wilfrid Perrett

ISBN 10: 1333080840 / ISBN 13: 9781333080846

Published by Forgotten Books, 2022

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book challenges long-held theories of sound perception. The author presents evidence, both historical and through their own observations, that the ear does not interpret sound in the manner suggested by 17th-century philosophers and the influential 19th-century physicist Helmholtz. The author asserts that the most pivotal part of the inner ear, the basilar membrane, is not home to the myriad of tiny resonating strings or fibers that Helmholtz imagined, but is instead a synkinetic membrane that vibrates as a whole to each frequency of sound. This groundbreaking work presents a new understanding of the mechanics of hearing and further opens the field to future studies in auditory perception. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781333080846_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Some Questions of Phonetic Theory, Vol. 5: The Perception of Sound
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1333080840
• ISBN 13: 9781333080846
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Singing

About this title

Synopsis

How we hear real sounds has puzzled scholars for centuries—and this book traces the debate.

It surveys early ideas about how the ear and brain make sense of pitch, rhythm, and tone, and shows how theories have changed with new discoveries.

The Perception of Sound surveys a long line of thinkers—from ancient writers to 19th‑ and early 20th‑century scientists—through the lens of sound reception. It blends historical context with careful critique of how the ear, nerves, and brain might register vibration, frequency, and duration. Readers will encounter discussions of the basilar membrane, Corti’s arches, and the question of whether nerve impulses carry a pitch, a theme that shaped modern thinking about hearing.

• Historical overview from early speculation to Helmholtz’s theories of resonance and nerve function
• Examination of how the ear processes sound, from structure to timing and damping
• Debates on whether individual nerve fibers hear pitch and how perception emerges in the brain
• Critique of methods and ideas, with attention to how measuring duration and duration of resonance informs speech and music

Ideal for readers of scientific history, physiology, and studies of speech and hearing, this edition provides a clear, measured account of how our understanding of sound perception has developed.