THE VOICE. 351 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



OF THE VOICE. 



Origin of the Voice. Comparative Physiology of Noise, Song, Voice. Distinction between Song 

 and Speech. The Larynx, and its Action in Singing. Mutter's Explanation of the Action of 

 the Vocal Organs. Speaking Animals and Machines. 



Nature of Words and their constituent Sounds. Vowels and Consonants. Whispering. Use 

 of the Voice of Animals. 



Of Languages: their Duration, Character, History. Registry of Sounds by Writing and Print- 

 ing. Musical Signs. Alphabetic Writing. 



FOR the production of the sounds necessary for intercommunication 

 among the higher animals, and particularly for the speech of Voice arises 

 man, it might be supposed that some complicated and elab- p^ults^of 

 orate contrivance must needs be resorted to. This object is, respiration, 

 however, accomplished by merely employing, on its escape from the sys- 

 tem, the wasted product of respiration, the breath, which, as it issues out- 

 ward through the respiratory passages, sets in motion a simple mechan- 

 ism, and thereby originates all the exquisite modulations of song, and 

 all the impressive utterances of speech. Is it not to be admired that 

 thus, out of dead and dismissed matter, results of so high an order, ma- 

 terially and mentally, are obtained? 



What might be termed the comparative physiology of the voice is very 

 simple. It appears* first in invertebrate animals as a mo- Com arative 

 notonous noise or cry, which gradually, in higher tribes, be- physiology of 

 comes more varied in loudness and note. It is worthy of ' 

 remark that, in the different stages of his existence man himself furnishes 

 an illustration of this course. Voiceless before birth, with a piteous or 

 monotonous cry in early infancy, articulate speech and song are the re- 

 sult of education, and through these the power is eventually gained of 

 expressing the most refined emotions and the most elevated ideas. The 

 solitary bell-like sound which the nudibranchiate gasteropods emit, thus 

 produces, by its successive improvements, a wonderful result at last. 



Among insects the modes of producing sounds are very various, some 

 effecting it by percussion, some by the friction of horny or- Production of 

 gans. In others, the extremity of the trachea, through rudimentary 

 which the air escapes, is accommodated with vibrating mem- sounds - 

 branes. According to Burmeister, the contractions of the muscles of the 

 wings, which are brought vigorously into action during flying, occasion 



