The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-26
SOUND AND SENSE.

IaNg UNHVS UIWEIenJ
only limitations OF the cries OF the animals OF the
eountry. my nlustrious friend, bernardin de
Saint Pierre" says M. ALBERT, mas himself
made this observation. He remarks, for eX
ample, that the language OF the English resem-
hlee the whisiling OF the birds which inhabt the
shores of their island: he adds that the Dutch
initiate the croaking of the frogs with which
their marshes abound; that the Hottentot clucks
like the ostrich and that the Patagonlan re.
produces the melancholy roaring OF the
sea- II must have occurred TO acute observers
that the various gutteral tones which may
be distinguished In any enthusiastic and Voluole
assemblage OF Teutons, when divested OF any
sense that might be conveyed by them to accus-
toned ears, bear surprising resemblance TO the
concerts of frogs which we hear IN country
roads; and that their singing, though sonorous
and grand, has kind of association to the ear
with that frog song" containing SO many
rugged and explosive consonant sounds, which
used to be rendered with much applause at the
mir strel halls.
Occasionally of an evening, in former days.
have heard very bulky frog ripping out what
seemed to be those very "seventeen-cornered ola
High-German oathsr which were spoken OF IN
late number OF The GALAXY. This does not at
all prove the theory above enunciated; put
whether that theory be correct OF not, the com
parisen of the English tongue to the notes OF
birds Is a testimony to its euphony. The Arabs,
1t is said, universally refer TO Europeans as
speaking the language OF olrds. Our spoken
language is an eminently mechahlcal aualI, ils
variations depending strictly on the Varla-
tions of the organs of speech; and IL is
quaint and not impossible supposition that
these organs in different lands, acted on
by the peculiar influences of climate, food,
training, etc., might assume that organization
which should MAKE their tones harmonic with
the prevalent voices OF nature. Why, Tor IN
stance, might not the organs OF human race,
as we'll as the aperture of a sea shell, be so
charged with insensible influences, as, after the
lapse OF time, to reproduce spontaneously the
roar and moan of the ocean?
Many of the sounds Of our letters can be pro-
dupad nv artificial An article
English periodical, reporting MIR. Alexander
Melville Bells system OF Visible Speech, or
Universal Language, mentions how many years
ago, Won Kempelen obtained the vowel sounds
by adapting a reed to the bottom of funnel
shaped cavity, and placing his hand in various
positions within the funnel; also imperfect
limitations of |, M, and p by a hollow, oval box,
In two portions, representing Jaws; and, by con-
struchng artificial mouth of bell-shaped
piece of caoutchouc, nostrils oftwo tin tubes and
lungs in the form OF rectangular wlnd-chest,
produced with more or less completeness, the
familiar sounds of ~ d. g, Il, S, ], o, t. and e. BY
combining these he produced the words opera,
astronomy, ETC., and the sentences, "Vous etes
mon ami, "Je gous Anne de tout mon c9ur"
Professor Willis states that the vowel sounds can
be produced by throwing a current of air upon
a reed in pipe, and shortening or lengthening
the pipes for the different vowels. We are told
that the earliestimetnod ofwritng was by pictures
for visible objects, and suggestive characters for
abstract ideas-as q circle for eternity. Mr.. Bell,
without going as lar back as this, proposes to
write by sound, and to make the letters OF his
orpans While fiR'eSi ntepg @ Pthe% Mr. B BeS
rs said, "hnds thirty symbols sufficient
to denote all the two hundred varieties
OF vowel and consonant sounds. Each
symbol has name which does not include the
sound of the letter, but merely describes its
form. The learner has thus at first only TO
recognize pictures. But the name OF the SYM
Dol also expresses the arrangement OF the
mouth which produces the sound, so that when
the symbol is named the organic formation Of
its sound is named at the same time. In order
that thirty symbols may denote two hundred
sounds, MIR. Bell has adopted certain modes of
classification. All vowels receive common
generic symbols; all consonants another; vO-
cality and whisper have their respective sym
bols; so have inspiration, retention, and eXpul-
sion of breath; so have the touching and the
variation of the several vocal organs; so have
the lips, the palate, the pharynX, the glottis,
and the different parts of the tongue; so has
the breathing.of sounds through the nostrlls or
through nearly closed teeth. There are thirty
OF these generic meanings altogether, and they
are combined to make up letters every part OF
every letter having meaning" IN test oil
this alphabet, Mr.. Bells son uttered great
variety of fsounds-whispered consonants vocal
eonsonants, vowels, diphthongs nasal vowes,
interjections, narticulate sounds, animal sounds,
mechanical sounds-all OF which are susceptible
of beng represented in printed or written SYM
bOls. Then, the son being out OF the room,
several gentlemen came forward and repeated
short sentences TO Mr.. Bell, some in Arabic,
some In PERSIAN, some III DeHgdll SOue III ueSlO
patois, some in Gaelic, some in LoWland Scotch,
some in Norfolk dialect; Mr.. Bell wrote down
the sounds as he heard them. The son was then
called in, and, looking attentively at the
writing, repeated the sentences. with an
accuracy of sound and intonation which
seemed to strike those who were best
able to Judge as being very remarkable"
Mr.. Bell states that, beside the members
of his own family, only three persons have
been made acquainted with the symbols; but he
is willing to surrender his private rights for the
good of the public, on condition that the cost OF
Introducing the system may be undertaken at
public expense.
We believe we violate no confidence in stating
that system OF language has recently been
discovered, and is now being developed, net
very far from this city, which claims to be
founded on spontaneities, intuitions, and rela
tions good deal wider and deeper than the
handful of gristle and meat that constitute the
vocal organs. This new language, we believe, II
to include, by its own organic logic, ASTONISHING
capabilities for calculations of various sorts
1t also applies to each thing name which
arises by innate seli-interpetraton $50 10 speak
out OF the essence OF the thing Two successive
names have already arisen In this manne
for this language, out of the essence OF II
The first was Tlckiewa, accent on the frs
syllable. The second, or improved name, whicl
is that now used, is more rotund; sOmethln!
liked "0elongwa."
would be infinitely convenient if it could o.
brought into general use. Novelists and descrip
tive writers who study sound and dialect to Civ
distinctiveuess and reality 10 their characters
find our alphabets inadequate 10 convey tn
ludicrous varieties of pronunciation which W
hear in everyday lie. All the dots and dashes
and figures of the orthOepists, and the system @
respelipg used IN most OF the dictionaries at
unable TO effect this But how much point an
life might be infused into descriptive writing