THE VOICE. 313 



even if they are in the same pitch and have the same 

 degree of loudness. 



Change of Voice. At about the age of fourteen a boy's larynx 

 increases in size and the voice changes, becoming deeper and heavier. 

 During the change the falsetto often breaks in upon the ordinary voice, 

 the voice being said to " crack.' 1 



Hoarseness. If the mucous membrane covering the vocal cords is 

 inflamed, or covered with too much mucous, hoarseness is likely to 

 .result. 



Whispering. As in the animal we have voice without speech, so 

 in whispering we have speech without voice ; that is, there is no vocali- 

 zation. The organs of speech so modify the aspiration as to produce 

 speech. There is no true voice. 



Culture of the Voice. The voice and speech are 

 very susceptible of culture, and nearly all voices may im- 

 prove by proper cultivation. A cultivated voice and care- 

 ful, distinct speech are very desirable accomplishments, 

 and are not nearly so common as they ought to be. We 

 delight in fine singing, and many strive to cultivate this 

 art ; but not so many try to learn to talk so that it is a 

 pleasure to .hear the spoken sound. 



READING. The Throat and the Voice, Cohen. 



Summary. i. The larynx is very complicated. Various muscles 

 move the cartilages and vary the length and tension of the vocal cords, 

 and thus produce the varying degrees of pitch. 



2. The vocal cords are not simple cords, but are band-like ridges 

 on the sides of the larynx. 



3. The higher animals have voice but not speech. 



4. Whispering is speech without voice. 



5. The larynx is affected by " colds " and catarrh. 



Questions. i. Why does one become hoarse from hearing others 

 shouting? 



2. What is ventriloquism? 



