SOME CHIMPANZEE WORDS 113 



sharpened. It merges into a distinct vanishing U W." 

 Expressed in symbols, it is (:) (. The food sound is often 

 repeated two or three times in succession, but the call is 

 rarely repeated, except at long intervals. 



One sound which is rather soft and musical is an expres- 

 sion of friendship or amity. It appears to soften in tone 

 and lengthen in duration in a degree commensurate with 

 the intensity of the sentiment. The vowel element is a 

 long "U." It blends into an aspirated " H." It is fairly 

 represented by the symbol (:)'. 



The most complex sound that I have so far heard made 

 by them is the one elsewhere described as meaning " good." 

 They often use it in very much the same sense as man 

 uses the expression "thanks," or " thank you." It is not 

 probable that they use it as a polite term, yet the same 

 idea is present. 



One of the words of warning or alarm contains a vowel 

 element closely resembling the short sound of "E." It 

 terminates with the breathing sound of "H." It is used 

 to announce the approach of anything that the animal is 

 familiar with, and not afraid of. If the warning is intended 

 to apprise you of the approach of an enemy, or something 

 strange, the same vowel element is used, but terminates 

 with the aspirate sound of "H" pronounced with energy 

 and distinctness. The vowel element is the same in both 

 words, but they differ in the time required to utter them, 

 and the final breathing and aspirate effects. There is also 

 a difference in the manner of the speaker in the act of 

 delivering the word. It plainly indicates that he knows 

 the use and value of the sounds. At the approach of danger 



