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What is Reverse Speech?

Reverse Speech is the name that was given to a naturally occurring phenomenon of the human mind. Back in 1984, David Oates discovered  “backward messages” in human speech. 

Reverse Speech can be found in ALL human speech,  but to be heard, the forward speech has to be  recorded and then played backwards. In amongst all the gibberish, every 20 – 30 seconds or so, there are very clear forward phrases.

Research has shown that it is another form of human communication, and is generated automatically by the brain as we speak. As a communication process it is received and understood by the human brain on an unconscious level. It operates in unison with forward speech and almost always is complementary to it. i.e. the forward and reverse relate to each other

THE THEORY OF REVERSE SPEECH AND SPEECH COMPLEMENTARITY (written in 1987)

 1.           Human speech has two separate, yet complementary, functions and modes. One mode occurs overtly, is spoken forwards, and is under conscious control. The other mode occurs covertly, is spoken backwards and is not under conscious control. The backward mode of speech occurs simultaneously with the forward mode and is a reversal of the forward speech sounds.

2.            These two modes of speech, forward and backward, complement and are dependent upon each other. One mode cannot be fully understood without the other mode. In the dynamics of interpersonal communication, both modes of speech combined, communicate the total psyche of the person, conscious and unconscious.

3.            Covert speech develops before overt speech and children speak backwards before they do forwards. Then, as forward speech begins, the modes of speech gradually combine into one, forming an overall bi-level communication process.