1 82 THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS. 



except, perhaps, "i" short as sounded in the 

 word " it. " The vowel " n, " as sounded like " oo " 

 in "shoot," seems to be the chief sound of their 

 speech. One important point which I discovered 

 from the phonograph is that sounds or tones 

 which are purely musical are reproduced alike 

 with the cylinder turning either way, while all 

 speech sounds are slightly changed when the 

 cylinder is reversed, which shows the sounds to 

 be compound. I find that " w " may be developed 

 from any consonant by manipulating the cylin- 

 der of the phonograph, and it is a fact also that 

 the initial consonant imparted to any vowel does 

 not continue through the vowel. This I have 

 shown by making a vowel sound which I prolong 

 for some seconds with the cylinder revolving at 

 a given rate of speed. While reproducing this at 

 a normal speed I intercept it at any point and 

 develop the sound "w" as heard in "woe." 

 The instant I have blended this into the vowel, I 

 lift the diaphragm until the normal speed is re- 

 stored, when I replace the reproducing tooth, 

 showing the sound without the consonant. In 

 like manner I dictate to the phonograph any 

 vowel sound preceded by a consonant. The 

 consonant I utter in a natural way, the vowel I 



