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From: Vasu Parameswaran
Date: 10 Oct 2006
Time: 11:49:47 -0500
Remote Name: 206.106.168.10
Hi Greg I agree with most of what you write and I think it is about time for a concerted effort for a true theory. I also think that there is enough raw material out there: Irrespective of whether one is in agreement on the theories of Johnson/Sheehan (Van Riper probably didn't fuss much about theories and got down to clinical business) it is undeniable that the three were virtually fluent speakers, each having taken a slightly different route. And there are scores who have gone thru their therapies and other kinds. So I think that atleast clinically, a lot of the pieces of the puzzle are there. And given that today there are tools for brain studies as well, there will be ways to test theories. The Salmelin article you mention sounds very interesting and something that should be built on. And on a side-note, my soft corner is for WJ. If you read the chapter on stuttering in his PQ book, you will find that he advocated eliminating artificial devices (tricks) for false fluency, stuttering openly, voluntary stuttering, desensitization etc, tools that are in use today and the others. And for him to put forth these tools in that era (1930s and 40s I think) it was truly innovative, and I believe he laid the foundation for many others to build on.