128 STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL 



letters. The word sloiu, to be spoken distinctly and 

 impressively, must be pronounced slowly, while quick and 

 swift, on the contrary, must be spoken rapidly. Movg 

 takes time to pronounce it distinctly, and implies slow 

 and smooth motion, as fly implies swifter motion. In 

 crawl, the harsh sounds at the beginning and end of the 

 word imply slow and difficult motion, and the still harsher 

 sound in drag recalls the noise of a heavy object forcibly 

 drawn over an irregular surface. In fl.uttcr and flicker we 

 have complex motions of the lips, tongue, and palate, 

 corresponding to those they indicate ; in liurry and flurry 

 Ave seem to hear the rapid breathing of a tired or excited 

 person ; while in icohhle and hohUe, the clumsy movements 

 are reproduced in the mouth of the speaker. How 

 perfectly is smoothness of motion imitated while we say 

 slide or glide ; while the slow down and up motion of the 

 lips in pronouncing luave is highly suggestive of wave- 

 motion. The more rapid wave-movement we term 

 vibration is indicated by the br in vibrate; while in 

 tremUe we have a more irregular shaking denoted by the 

 tr at the beginning, and the hi at the end of the word. 

 When we say tivist or screw, there is a tendency to twist 

 the mouth ; while shiver represents a trembling motion 

 accompanied by the sh of cold. In stream and flow the 

 liquid consonants well represent the smoothness and con- 

 tinuity of liquid motion ; and in glow we have, as already 

 stated, a corresponding word to imply the smooth and 

 steady light of incandescent matter, so different from the 

 unsteady flicker which is characteristic of flame. A 

 similar use of liquid sounds in blush and flush serves to 

 indicate a gradual and steady increase of colour. 



Qualities represented by Sounds. 



We have now to take another step — and a most 

 important one — in the development of language, and to 

 show how the various qualities or properties of inanimate 

 objects, and even the powers and faculties of men and 

 animals, are clearly indicated by characteristic com- 

 binations of vocal sounds, affording us many striking 

 examples of the expressiveness of speech. 



