The main axiom of living philology is that all study of language must be based on phonetics [which] is to the science of language…what mathematics is to astronomy and the physical sciences.
-Henry Sweet
Exact investigation in the area of sound production—reflecting back on the mechanisms of language—builds a true foundation for the teacher of modern languages and gives him the practical foundations to teach sounds and correct pronunciation. But in addition, the other results of experimental work, education to correct hearing and understanding of the sounds …have already been known for some time to serve the purpose of a deeper penetration into epic and drama in the actual treatment of living patterns and in the discovery of national character…
-Wilhelm Doegen