Gymnastics of the Voice for Song and Speech; Also a Method for the Cure of Stuttering and Stammering

by Oskar Guttmann

Excerpt: ... PUBLISHER'S NOTE. In justice to TVo/. Guttmann, as well as in justice to myself, I state that his exact language has been used, and that I have made verbal changes only when they were necessary to make clear his meaning. This will explain the peculiar style, which leaves no doubt that a foreigner is speaking. I first met Oshar Guttmann just after my return from a several years' sojourn in Europe, where I had been under the treatment of a number of leading speech-specialists for my own defect of speech. I had been drilled in the analytic and synthetic oral use of the German language, and was familiar with the technical terms employed in such instruction. I mention this to show that probably no other American pupil of Prof. Guttmann as fully understood the teacher and entered as thoroughly into the spirit of the teaching as I did; forTrof. Guttmann, although quite familiar with the English language, still was not master of it, and frequently was unable to find an English expression for his thought. With me he would drop from English into German and from German into English, whenever the occasion demanded or inclination prompted. Hence I believe that I have had exceptional advantages over other American pupils, and that I have priority of right to speak for Prof. Guttmann now that he can no longer speak for himself. Besides, I feel that it is a duty imposed upon me. Oskar Guttmann was not understood or appreciated. We had a great teacher among us, and we heeded him not. I, for one, confess it with sorrow and humiliation. He went to his grave in obscurity and in poverty, heartbroken, with his mission unfulfilled. He possessed knowledge that should have been given to the world. Gladly would he have adopted a professional heir, had one worthy...

50 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1893