How did trance speaking function in Spiritualist mediumship?

In the context of Spiritualism, trance speaking functioned as a method by which a medium facilitated communication between the living and the dead.12

During a séance, the medium would enter a trancelike state, a psychic condition where ordinary consciousness is inhibited. In this state, the medium acted as a vessel or conduit, allowing a disembodied spirit to speak directly through them. Often, this process involved the assistance of an "invisible go-between" or "control"—a specific spirit entity that purportedly managed the communication.3241

While trance speaking was a primary means of relaying messages from departed souls, it was one of several phenomena—including automatic writing and the manifestation of ectoplasm—used to validate a medium's claims of supernatural ability. It is important to note that the authenticity of these communications remains a subject of debate, as many such phenomena were often staged by mediums to support their claims.31