Perspectives on the Edinburgh Study of Speech Breathing

This article offers critical perspectives on the Edinburgh study of speech breathing reported in this journal (Draper, Ladefoged, & Whitteridge, 1959) and elsewhere (Draper, Ladefoged, & Whitteridge, 1960; Ladefoged, Draper, & Whitteridge, 1958). These perspectives concern: (a) errors in establishing a backdrop of mechanical information; (b) discrepancies between data and statements about them; (c) counterpredictive features between data and other knowledge about breathing; and (d) inadequacies in acquiring, portraying, and interpreting electromyographic information relative to the muscular contributions of different parts of the breathing apparatus.