Duality of thought and language

Front matter

flass S F4 5 ;

Book J3 15.

CopyiigMN

Contents

PAGE

Introduction i

A Simile 29

Preface

WHILE I have in this work succeeded in again viewing various important questions from a new standpoint, I trust the reader will defer passing judgment thereon until he has given careful consideration to my arguments. It is not, in any sense, my desire to create a sensation at the expense of the truth. Though the reader may not be able to verify all my assertions by experiments of his own (for reasons specially explained in this book), I trust it will nevertheless be admitted that the "reasonableness" of my statements is largely in my favor as against views on these subjects held heretofore.

My clear-seeing, however, must not be attributed to higher natural endowments, but simply to the advantage I possessed in the discovery of the voice of the oesophagus and the consequent insight obtained into man's dual nature. But for this insight I would have been as helpless in matters of this kind as any one before me. In consequence thereof, however, and in spite of no little discouragement, I was induced to give all my time to the study of these questions ever since.

The fundamental idea which has been ascertained consists in the fact that there is a correlation existing vi Duality of Thought and Language

between the various phases of the human spirit and those constituting language, more particularly the spoken language; and that, but for this correlation, there could not be any language at all ; this correlation being of the same general order as that existing between body and mind.

By penetrating into the inner being of the spoken language, I found that it owes its existence to a series of correlated physical and psychical factors of the same order as those constituting man, and that language, consequently, is a symbolical representation of human life.

This knowledge has enabled me to infuse a "sour' into the rigid conditions represented by ex-parte phenomena apparently constituting our physical and psychical existence. This soul, consequently, represents a tie which unites the various sciences known as Anatomy, Physiology, and Psychology into one all-embracing science. As all these sciences emanate from the entity man, there must also be a way to again reduce thenr to that entity.

In spite of the large amount of time devoted to the present work (it is five years since "Duality of Voice" made its appearance), it would have required a great deal more time still to have produced it in such a manner as to have given me complete satisfaction. Hence I must ask the reader's pardon for the imperfect, and in many cases almost abrupt mode of treatment of some of the subjects, and the want of system in the general arrangement. My excuse is comprised in the fact that there still remain a great number of important subjects for me to communicate. I may

Preface vii

have to state these in an even more abbreviated form, rather than run the risk of not being able to communicate them at all, which at my time of life would be apt to be the case should I attempt to state them more fully.

There remains one duty for me to perform, namely, of saying thanks to those, who, either directly or indirectly, have assisted in the performance of my task. These matters having been evolved out of my inner self, there is no especial work I can name as having been of more particular benefit to me than another. What has aided me most, directly, is the dictionary.

Indirectly, I have been encouraged by various friends, and by those who have favorably reviewed my book "Duality of Voice," as enumerated at the end of this book. I also owe thanks to those who assisted in the translation and publication of the German edition of "Duality of Voice," which has been more instrumental in making my investigations known than anything else, and those also who in this country and abroad kindly helped forming the Physio-Psychic Society, intimately connected with the furthering and perpetuating of my work.

What shall I say of her, however, who during all these years, unsustained as I have been by my labor, has yet, cheerfully, hopefully, borne the burden with me? Whose clear vision and sunny temperament have dispersed the mists often gathering around me, and who has persistently led me away from a too arduous prosecution of my task, thereby making it possible for me to sustain my vitality, so necessary viii Duality of Thought and Language

to the carrying on of my work up to the present time. Thus my thanks are above all due the brave comrade of my life, my high-minded and devoted wife.

They are also due to my son, through whose labor, in another field, I have been enabled to give all my time to my work, which, though it has from a material standpoint remained unrewarded, has been recognized as valuable by many.

I would, finally, advise those of my readers not acquainted with my previous work to read the "Appendix" to this book and the "Consensus of Press Opinions" at the enci of the same, which will afford them an insight into the general scope of my investigations as published previous to this book.

New York, May i, 1904.