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From: Jim Clarkson ,Australia
Date: 10/10/01
Time: 10:00:32 AM
Remote Name: 198.142.200.249
Hello Brian
Thank you for your kind interest in us. Further to our discussion of Matt, and myself and by now you know there are three of us.
Of interest to me is that Camarata gave a mental logic base for his decision on the reason for the final repetitions in this case, although I find his final theory on that rather imaginative. Some people think that their particular repetitions are either mental logic and or timing based, and that their blocking can only be a cumulative progression of these. To me my sound repetitions are x 2, very fast, logic based and have always been devoid of any fear. Before this I have had absolutely no idea why I block, and thank you for helping me with this, and our comparison so far . We should note that I had a three month pre build up period to my intensive program whereas Matt had little. Therefore I would be using more prolongation at this time, so let us investigate how I sound my /b/ verses /p/. When I pronounce /p/ my upper lip rests against my lower lip and I blow through. The airflow lifts the upper lip of the lower lip. This is unvoiced. To pronounce a /b/ my lips are held lightly closed, voice cords are vibrated, sound is verberated and reverberated (bounced) inside the mouth cavity and some back down the throat. The sensitive part of the inside of the closed lips can be felt to resonate, the lips are then opened, sound escapes. You mention that amongst other things we may not be using our voice cords. I find this quite alarming. To test this out I chose my most difficult word from the past /Bendigo/ were I once lived, and decided to try and work myself up into a voluntary block. I have never done this before but could say that it took me a lot less time to initiate that, than to find how I sounded my /b/ verses /p/. Doing blocks continually and non stop , going the third and fourth time into blackout mode (white out) by the fifth and sixth time I could say there is a good case that I may not be using my voice cords at all. By the fifth or sixth time I also have a strong feeling of throwing up. I have tried to initiate blocking since and would say my mouth is closed and is either eventually opened voluntarily as in a /b/ or else blown open I cannot tell which. The timing duration of this is almost the time length of a full word repitition. (no I don’t have those and I also don’t use or believe in voluntary stuttering).
The question is if Matt was not using his voice cords to sound /b/ could it sound like a /p/. I think yes but am not totally sure on this. I use a considerably lot less airflow and air volume to sound /b/ than /p/. To make a sound you need vibration and a medium of transmission, in this case air but not necessarily air flow. So what would the theoretical base limits be for the difference in airflow and air volume from /b/ to /p/ do you think. I may seem obsessed to you with these two sounds so we may latter work on others to. I now feel that my feeling of throwing up could be a significant factor, apart from a nervous condition what could you tell me about that and maybe look at back of mouth area etc, and I am starting to realize this could be were we bring number three in.