Yoshiharu Ito

Indeed, blind testing was designed to control perception, not to define value. But the results have started to function as the kind of authority Chomsky criticized.

Even participating in a blind test creates its own context and expectations. True objectivity may be impossible — the framing itself shapes perception.

That's a fascinating observation. If the player was so good that all 18 violas sounded wonderful, then we were really testing the player, not the instruments.

That's an interesting distinction. Some recent olfactory research suggests that words and memory can influence how odor information is processed in the brain, including how pleasant or unpleasant a smell is perceived to be. For example, the same compound (sotolon) may be described as smelling like curry , maple syrup or caramel dessert depending on the context provided. Whether that reflects a change in perception itself or a change in interpretation is exactly the question I find fascinating.

I agree. Blinded testing seems essential.

I have to admit I thought Chomsky was an economist — I didn't realize he was a linguist! Your point about conditioning is fascinating. It makes me wonder whether our perception of violins is also shaped by cultural and economic narratives. In some cases, we may not only hear an instrument, but also hear its reputation, history, and market value.

Thank you, Martin. This resonates with me. I've heard that perception is partly shaped by anticipation in the brain. With smell, for example, there's research showing that if you present lemon-scented material while telling someone it's yuzu (a Japanese citrus), they perceive yuzu. The brain leads, not the nose. If that's the case, the gap between makers and players may not arise from language alone, but from the brain actively constructing different perceptions from the same sensation.

That's really fascinating,Don. is this really translation of what a player perceives, or something closer to reconstruction of that perception in the maker’s mind?

Thank you, MANFIO. Traditional craftspeople are continuously declining in Japan, so it genuinely means a lot to me to hear those words from a maker like you.

I'm not that familiar with Heisenberg — could you tell me more?

Thank you, Michael. So even with more precise vocabulary, the gap between words and sensation remains — it varies from person to person.

That makes sense, Don. Maybe it's not measurement itself, but the obsession with it, that closes off perception.

Thank you, Don. This is fascinating. Maybe I should try licking the wood But do you think something is lost when perception is translated into measurement?

Thank you for the example of nihonto — I actually attended a sword appraisal event in Japan recently and felt many parallels with violin making. I understand that embodied and tacit knowledge is difficult to put into words. That is exactly why I feel that refining our vocabulary, while valuable, may still leave something essential beyond language. Do you think a more precise vocabulary would help us communicate about perception, or would something always remain beyond words?

Thank you, Davide. I agree. But do you think the act of trying to put perception into words actually changes the perception itself?