Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-02-05
"HELLO THERE. HELLO.!"
The Question OF Refinement has put
The Taboo on the Hello


The word has been given out in the
Grand Rapids telephone Office that the
girls must not "hello" the subscribers
any longer. Some initial word more
mild and aesthetic must be used. THIS
may seem a small matter, but it really
Is more radical and consequential
measure than the common observer
would be likely TO note. OF course it
IS all very we'll to look to the polite
morals of young females, for there is
no denying that hello is not an elegant
word 10 be thrown from lips refined
into ears refined; but there are eleclr!-
cal and acoustic considerations which
the author OF the new arrangement
may not have considered,
Everybody who has used the tele-
phone will recall the fact that one of
the principal difficulties experienced is
that OF getting conversation started.
Many a telephone seems ba.ky, but will
do splendid work after II once begins to
work. There are several causes that
conspire TO produce this condition, one
of which lies in the character OF the
sounds first thrown into the transmitter.
There are some words as TO which the
telephone is almost wholly silent, and
others which II takes up with such an
avidity that II is hardly necessary to
inter them above a whisper. Among
the former are the smooth mlItes, sibi!-
ants and some liquids coupled with the
long sound of the vowel +. Among
the latter are the rough niutes and
aspirates coupled with the broader
vocal sounds. A test OF tins may be
made by essaying to transmit SEN
tence like this: I'VE feel cheap when
VIC see the teeth with which she
pierced our meat" The explana-
ton OF this lies in the phenomena
OF acoustics and electrical induction.
All telephone currents are sent over
the line by an induction coil within the
transmitter. The force OF the second
airy current OF an induction coil de-
Ponds upon the abruptness with which
the primary circuit IS broken or varied.
On the other hand the nature of all
sounds depends upon the rapldIty of
the air vibrations that produce tncm.
4 soprano voice creates twlcc as many
vibrations OF the air as a bass voice OF
the same key. II IS for this reason that
female voices are better adapted 10 the
telephone than male voices. because
they produce IN the induction coil
twice ~ many notifications OF the cur
rent. and consequently send to the line
induced currents OF greater strength.
The various sounds ofartIculate speech
differ in the matter OF the abrubtness
with which the atmospheric waves rise
and fall, and this difference of abrupt
ness IN the rise of the waves is followed
by corresponding difference in the
ansuptneSs With which the primary cur
rent of the lnduatloa coil IS disturbed.
This explains why some articuate
sounds are transmitted more perfectly
than others. 1t is even possible 10 con-
ceiye the existence of n language so
nIa,.e up that the telephone would I've
practically useless among them vino
speak Il.
At the time of the first introduction
OF the telephone, celebrated cleo
tr.cIan notice, first of all, the Prov
dental adapsabiIity OF the English
word hello for the opening OF tc,e-
pnonlc conversations. The sspiratcd
initial sound OF the word - the most
abrupt one IN our language. IL beats
the air powerfully and az the same
time produces a great rapidity OF at
mospherIc changes. This affects the
electrical current accordingly, and
sends to the line current OF tie maxi
mum force. Analysis has been made
TO show that the liquid IL" IN the
word that follows the aspirate Is also a
most happy adaptation TO the needs of
! the talking machine. The phonograph
possesses tastes for sounds aud speech
| identical with those of the telephone.
| Thus Il appears that the condemns
| ton of tho word "hello' by the Grand
| Rapids Telephone Exchange, NAV pos
sl5ly sacrifice good service IN the inter
| ests Of pretty sentiment that ladies'
/ ought not 80 "h0iTsr." Indeed. sub
scribers have already noted a recent
I and increasing weakness Of the voices
I that come from the central Office. The
| Grand Rapids Telephone Exchange has
continued, since the retirement Ct
Charles Boyce, 30 maintain its Old repu-
tstlon ss smong the best managed III
/ the world. Ii = not likely that one
little word. added or taken away. viii
| break down that reputation Yet & u 4
scientific fact that the word Hello
deserves'the.piscs which vassccorded i
| By common consent when the telephone