For Alvin M. Liberman
from Charles Perfetti,
Pittsburgh, February 10, 2000
Dear Friends,
Because I am unable to attend the Memorial Service, I wanted at least to
express my solidarity with some of Al's colleagues and friends at
Haskins Laboratories. I also want to register my deep sense of admiration for
Al Liberman.
I am one of those who knew Al from reading his work long before I met
him personally. The Psychological Review paper of 1967, co-authored by
Al and three others of you at Haskins, came at a time when I was just
starting my first academic appointment, which I still hold, at the
University of Pittsburgh. I had worked in the cognitive psychology of
syntax and semantics, and knew nothing about speech perception. (And
nothing about reading either.) On first reading, that paper asserted a
hold on me that would not diminish with time. It not only opened my eyes
to a truly deep problem -- one that had largely evaded my attention during
my psycholinguistics training at the University of Michigan -- it offered
an elegant solution that made sense in light of other things I thought
had to be true of human language. The four names on that paper became
icons for me, representing what a science of language could be like. The
theory became an important part of my graduate and undergraduate courses
in psycholinguistics and has remained so across the years. Those moments
when I could see students "getting it" about the motor theory were the
high points of my classes. I felt personally responsible for making
sure that this theory -- along with companion approaches to language that
shared its sense that the mind/brain must have some special properties
such that language and speech work the way they do -- was represented in
Western Pennsylvania.
I cannot remember exactly when I met Al -- I think it was when we were
both on some Washington panel -- but it was late enough in my career that
I recall feeling sheepish about finally meeting someone whom I'd admired
so much through text. As I got to know him better I came to appreciate
the personality that so beautifully matched his scientific writing. It
became impossible from then on to read something Al had written without
hearing him and seeing him deliver the message in person. I came to
appreciate also how important issues of reading had become to him and
how terrific his collaborations with Isabelle were for that field.
Indeed, one of the many honors Al earned was the Society for the
Scientific Study of Reading's 1997 Outstanding Scientific
Contributions. This award, of course, was shared with Don Shankweiler
(also on of the icons on that 1967 paper!) and Isabelle Liberman, a
happy reflection of long-time collaborations on what reading is and how
it is learned. Al's acceptance address the next year was a spellbinding
no-notes oration of the highest kind to be found in science.
It is my intention to initiate, at the next meeting of the SSSR Board,
some official means for the SSSR to honor Al (and Isabelle) in a way
that would be lasting and meaningful in supporting scientific
achievement in reading.
I hope you don't mind receiving my ramblings on e-mail. These are just a
few of the thoughts I would have liked to express in person on in the
company of Al Liberman's many friends and colleagues. Our memories
heighten both our sense of loss and our sense of his special place in
our lives.
Charles Perfetti
Pittsburgh, Feb 10 2000
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