ii. i6— ii. 17 53 



that of other animals, and, in accordance with what I have said 

 is her not uncommon practice,^^ has used it for two distinct 

 operations, namely for the perception of savours and for speech, 

 so also has she acted with regard to the lips, and made them 

 serve both for speech and for the protection of the teeth. For 

 vocal speech consists of combinations of the letters, and most of 

 these it would be impossible to pronounce, were the lips not moist, 

 nor the tongue such as it is. For some letters are formed by 

 closures of the lips and others by applications of the tongue. 

 But the differences of these movements, their nature and their 

 number, are questions, the discussion of which belongs to the 

 writers on articulation. It was necessary however for us to follow 

 up the several parts in question at once to the function now 

 assigned to them, and to show that they are of a character well 

 suited for its performance. Therefore it is then that they are 

 made of flesh. And the flesh of man is softer than that of any 

 other animal, the reason ^^ for this being, that of all animals man 

 has the most delicate sense of touch.'* 



(Ch. ly.) The tongue is placed under the vaulted roof of the 

 mouth. In land animals it presents but little diversity. But 

 in other' animals it is variable, and this whether we compare 

 them as a class with such as live on land, or compare their 

 several species with each other. It is in man that the tongue 

 attains its greatest degree of freedom, of softness, and of breadth ; 

 the object of this being to render it suitable for its double function. 

 For its softness fits it for the perception of savours, a sense which 

 is more delicate in man than in any other animal, softness being 

 most impressionable by touch, of which sense taste is but a 

 variety.^ This same softness again, together with its breadth, 

 adapts it for the articulation of letters and for speech. For these 

 qualities, combined with its freedom from attachment, are those 

 which suit it best for advancing and retiring in every direction. 

 That this is so is plain, if we consider the case of those who are 

 tongue-tied in however slight a degree. For their speech is 

 indistinct and lisping; that is to say they have not got the full 

 power of uttering letters. In being broad is comprised the 

 possibility of becoming narrow ; for in the great the small is 

 included, but not the great in the small. 



What has been said explains why, even among birds, those 

 that are most capable of pronouncing letters are such as have 

 660 a. 



