HO APES AND MONKEYS 



phonetic elements of the speech of chimpanzees, I have 

 taken a new step in the art of writing. I suggest a sys- 

 tem of symbols which is rational in method and simple 

 in device. 



The organs of speech always act in harmony. A cer- 

 tain movement of the lips is always attended by a certain 

 movement of the internal organs of speech. This is true 

 of the ape as well as of man. In order to utter the same 

 sounds, each would employ the same organs and use them 

 in the same manner. 



By this means deaf-mutes are able to distinguish the 

 sounds of speech and to reproduce them, although they do 

 not hear them. By close study and long practice they 

 learn to distinguish the most delicate shades of sound. 



In this plain fact lies the clue to the method I offer for 

 consideration. As yet it is only in the infant stage, but it 

 is possible to be made, with a very few symbols, to repre- 

 sent the whole range of vocal sounds made by man or 

 other animals. 



The chief symbols I employ are the parentheses used 

 in common print. The two curved lines placed with the 

 convex sides opposite, thus, ( ), represent the open glottis, 

 in which position the voice utters the broad sound of " A," 

 as in " father." The srlottis about half closed utters the 

 sound of "O." To represent this sound a period is in- 

 serted between the two curved lines, thus, (.). When the 

 aperture is still more contracted it produces the sound of 

 " U," like " oo " in " woo." To represent this sound a colon 

 is placed between the lines, thus, (:). When the aperture 

 is restricted to a still smaller compass the sound of "U " 



