482 MUSCULAR MOTION. 



are numerous in all languages, and have been adopted to depict both 

 the sound emitted, and the sonorous body itself; but, in some cases, 

 the word imitating the sound has survived its transmission from lan- 

 guage to language to the most modern times, whilst the name of the 

 object whence it proceeded has experienced considerable mutation. 

 The Sanskrit, the antiquity of which will not be contested, has a num- 

 ber of such words as wilala, cat kukada, hen and waihu, wind; 

 in the last of which the sound of the w (00), imitates that of the pas- 

 sage of the air, and is found in the word corresponding to wind, (ooind,) 

 in many languages. The Hebrew and the Greek have numerous pho- 

 netic words ; but no language is richer, in this respect, than the Teu- 

 tonic in all its ramifications, including the English. The animal 

 kingdom affords us many examples, of which the following is one : 



Cuckoo. This word is nearly the same in almost all languages. Greek, xoxxi/ ; Latin, 

 cucullus Irish, cuach ; Bask, cucua ; Sclavonic, kukulka, kukuscka, &c.; Hungarian, kukuk ; 

 Hebrew, cacatha ; Syriac, coco Arabic, cuchem ; Persian, kuku; Koriak, kaikuk ; Kamtscha- 

 dale, koakutschith ; Kurile, kakkok ; Tartar, kauk ; German, kuckucks or guckguck ; Dutch, 

 koekoek whence our words cuckoo and cuckold, and the Scottish gouckoo, gowk, or golk ; French, 

 cocu; &c. 



In the greater part of languages, words, expressive of the cries of 

 animals, are accurate imitations. Of this, the following are a few 

 examples. 



Bleating.of sheep. Greek, B\v%ao/Lt,a,t ; Latin, balare ; Italian, belare / Spanish, balar ; French 

 beler German, bloken ; Dutch, bleeten ; Saxon, blcetan, &c. 



Holding of wolves. Greek, cXoXy^a;; Latin, ululare ; German, heulen ; Dutch, huilen ; 

 Spanish, aullar French, hurler, &c. v Hence the word owl. 



Neighing of the horse. Latin, hvnnire; French, hennir German, wiehern; Saxon, hnxgan, 

 &c. 



Clocking or clucking of hens. Latin, glocire ; French, glousser ; Greek, xxxjv; German, 

 glucken / Dutch, klokken ; Saxon, clocran, &c. 



To crow, like a cock. Greek, xf>aa>; German, krahen, Dutch, kraayen; Saxon, craw, &c., 

 whence the word crow, the bird. 



The Latin words tinnimentum, tinnitus, tintinndbulum, &c., from 

 tinnio, " I ring," are all from the radical tin, and imitate the sound ren- 

 dered on striking a metallic vessel. The gurgling of water; the clang- 

 ing of arms ; the crash of falling ruins ; are of the same character ; 

 and the game trictrac, formerly tictac, seems to have been so called from 

 the noise made in putting down the men or dice. 



In whatever manner language was first formed, ft is manifest that 

 the different sounds could make but transient impression, until they were 

 reduced to legible characters, which could recal them to mind. On our 

 continent, the fact has often been noticed of a tribe of Indians separat- 

 ing themselves into two parties, and remaining distinct for years. In 

 such case, the language has become so modified, 'that after the lapse of 

 a considerable period they have scarcely been able to comprehend each 

 other. Hence, the importance of the art of writing, certainly the 

 most valuable of human inventions. Of this, there have been two kinds, 

 imitative or alphabetical, and symbolical, allegorical, or emblemati- 

 cal, the latter consisting of hieroglyphics, designs representing external 

 objects, or symbolical allegories. The former, or the written represen- 

 tation of spoken sounds, alone concerns us. To attain this, every com- 



