174 ~—*S, Porter on the Vowel Elements in Speech, 
etymology: the differing relations of the long and of the short, 
which they must and do recognize, are quite unaccountable on 
their view of the case. If we lay open the physiological ground 
of a difference here in quality, we do so much to place etymo- 
logical science upon the right basis. 
. There are questions concerning xis feng * the vowels to 
tone or pitch. Have the vowels each what may be called in any 
sense their natural pitch? “This, if so, can help little to a knowl- 
edge of their proper vowel character, which remains the same 
under every variety of pitch. Is the peculiar character of each 
vowel to be explained as a certain combination of harmonie 
notes? This, if so, will not help much, in our physiological i a 
quiries, till we have a better understanding of the mechanic 
conditions upon which such combinations depend in other cases. 
rof. Max Miiller, in reporting the discoveries of Helmholtz on 
this point, tells us the vowel quality is to be explained as exactly 
analogous to the timbre by which instruments, as the violin, 
flute, ‘harp, &e., are distinguished one ares another. (Lect. on 
the Sci. of Lan ng., 2nd ser., pp. 127-8: Am.ed.) But we have 
voices differing in timbre,—the reedy — the flute-like bbe aac 
iffering as do the instraments to which we liken them 
upon their merits or bearing. They ru non a different line of 
inquiry from that which I ‘have here in hand, and neither su- 
persede it nor interfere with it 
There are two or three facts under this head, which, if not 
succession any two or more of the simple vowel elements, we 
wale th organs are con itiedked by muscle and Hemant The 
connection is such that a movement of the tongue will require 
a reidjustment of the muscles of the larynx, to keep the latter 
