﻿scripture] 



CONSTRUCTION OF A VOWEL ORGAN 





therefore produce differences in tension throughout the mass ; the 

 slant fibers to the Ligamentum vocale can also create longitudinal 

 nodes. My view is that the sound of each vowel is associated with 

 certain sets of innervations to the fibers of the M. vocalis as well as 

 with certain innervations of the muscles of the vocal cavities; these 

 innervations differ for each vowel; the vowel is therefore formed at 

 the glottis as well as in the month. This view, developed in the 

 work for the Smithsonian Institution, was thereafter adopted as the 

 basis of my work on speech curves for the Carnegie Institution; in 

 many eases the curves became for the first time intelligible. 



Although the change of the action with the rubber glottis has not 

 the same cause as with the human glottis, the vowels produced were 

 sufficiently good to make it advisable to keep to the principle of con- 

 struction. The work was continued with them. To soften the tone, 

 wooden resonators were tried with linings of butter, lard, etc. Tones 

 of human softness could be obtained by felt-lined resonators. 



3 



Tube. 



Shde 



Frame 



Fig. 6i. — Adjustable rubber glottis. 



In spite of a specially constructed metal holder for the rubber 

 membranes, it was found impossible to tune them ; moreover, they 

 constantly got out of order. Work is now going on with a glottis of 

 the form shown in figure 61. The wooden frame fits between two 

 resonators. Each slide carries across its edge a tube-like cavity of 

 very thin rubber. When the slides are pushed together the two 

 rubber cavities touch with any desired closeness. The tension of the 

 rubber cavity is regulated by blowing into and closing a supply tube 

 above the slide. 



