Chase.] 



21,457 20,502 25,117 23,431 



Number of sounds of eacb description in 10,000 sounds. 



10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 



It appears, therefore, that 



1. In a given number of syllables, English has the greatest num- 

 ber of sounds, and Italian the least. 



2. In the expression of a given number of ideas, German uses 

 the greatest number of sounds, and French the least. 



3. Italian is the richest in the most musical sounds, or the vowels 

 and liquids, — German in the nasals and gutturals, — French in the 

 sibilants and labials, — and English in the dentals. 



4. In regard to the harshest and least musical sounds, German has 

 an excess of gutturals, French of sibilants, and German of gutturals 

 and sibilants combined. 



5. German has the greatest proportion of mute, and the smallest 

 proportion of vocal and semi-vocal sounds, and is, therefore, the least 

 musical of the three languages. 



Mr. Chase also read a communication " On Certain Primi- 

 tive Names of the Sui^reme Being." 



The resemblance between Algonquin "Manitou," Chinese mang 



