478 MUSCULAR MOTION. 



the habit, acquired by him, of restraining their movements, united to 

 the care he takes in concealing them; and of giving to his face an im- 

 passive expression, or one foreign to the verbal expression to which he 

 is giving utterance. 



On the whole, the explanation of Dr. Good appears the most satisfac- 

 tory: the larynx or glottis affords some individuals a facility in acquir- 

 ing the art, which others do not possess, in the same manner as it makes 

 some capable of singing, whilst others are forever incapacitated. It is 

 probable, however, that there may be a greater degree of obscure action 

 about the parts composing the vocal tube than Dr. Good is disposed to 

 admit ; and that this may be materially concerned in giving the voice 

 its peculiar quality and intensity; and eliciting some of the sounds 

 which might not be so easily produced by the action of the glottis 

 alone. Sir David Brewster 1 observes, that when the ventriloquist utters 

 sounds from the larynx without moving the muscles of his face, he gives 

 them strength by a powerful action of the abdominal muscles; and 

 Bennati affirms, that the ventriloquist uses chiefly the pharyngeal voice, 

 of which mention will be made under the head of Singing. 



Such is the history of the simple voice, as effected in the larynx. 

 Articulate sounds may, however, be produced in the vocal tube alone. 

 Whistling, for example, is caused by the expired air being broken or 

 divided by the lips, which act the part of the lips of the larynx in the 

 production of voice. 



Whispering consists in articulating the air of expiration. It is wholly 

 accomplished in the vocal tube; and, hence, the impracticability of sing- 

 ing in a whisper ; singing being produced in the glottis. 



The sound of sighing is produced by the rushing of air along the air 

 passages, and especially along the vocal tube. In laughing, crying, and 

 yawning, voice is concerned; but the physiology of these functions of 

 expression will fall more appropriately under Respiration. 



Having described the different views, that have been entertained, 

 with regard to the production of voice, we shall now inquire into the 

 function in connexion with expression. In this respect, it admits of 

 division into the natural or inarticulate voice, and the artificial or 

 articulate. 



3. NATURAL OR INARTICULATE LANGUAGE. 



This, which is sometimes termed the cry or native voice, is an inap- 

 preciable sound, entirely produced in the larynx, and requiring few or 

 none of the organs of articulation to aid in its formation. As, how- 

 ever, it is caused by different degrees of contraction of the intrinsic 

 muscles of the larynx, it is susceptible of a thousand different tones. 

 It is elicited independently of all experience or education; seems to be 

 inseparably allied to organization; and, consequently, occurs in the 

 new-born infant, the idiot, the deaf from birth, and the wild man, if 

 any such there be, as well as in the civilized individual. The natural 

 voice differs as much as the sentiments it is employed to express. Each 



1 Letters on Natural Magic, p. 169, Amer. edit., New York, 1832. 



