Whether the principle of antithesis has come into play with sounds, as
might perhaps have been expected, is doubtful. The interrupted,
laughing or tittering sounds made by man and by various kinds of
monkeys when pleased, are as different as possible from the prolonged
screams of these animals when distressed. The deep grunt of
satisfaction uttered by a pig, when pleased with its food, is widely
different from its harsh scream of pain or terror. But with the dog, as
lately remarked, the bark of anger and that of joy are sounds which by
no means stand in opposition to each other; and so it is in some other
cases.
There is another obscure point, namely, whether the sounds which are
produced under various states of the mind determine the shape of the
mouth, or whether its shape is not determined by independent causes,
and the sound thus modified. When young infants cry they open their
mouths widely, and this, no doubt, is necessary for pouring forth a
full volume of sound; but the mouth then assumes, from a quite distinct
cause, an almost quadrangular shape, depending, as will hereafter be
explained, on the firm closing of the eyelids, and consequent drawing
up of the upper lip. How far this square shape of the mouth modifies
the wailing or crying sound, I am not prepared to say; but we know from
the researches of Helmholtz and others that the form of the cavity of
the mouth and lips determines the nature and pitch of the vowel sounds
which are produced.
It will also be shown in a future chapter that, under the feeling of
contempt or disgust, there is a tendency, from intelligible causes, to
blow out of the mouth or nostrils, and this produces sounds like pooh
or pish. When any one is startled or suddenly astonished, there is an
instantaneous tendency, likewise from an intelligible cause, namely, to
be ready for prolonged exertion, to open the mouth widely, so as to
draw a deep and rapid inspiration. When the next full expiration
follows, the mouth is slightly closed, and the lips, from causes
hereafter to be discussed, are somewhat protruded; and this form of the
mouth, if the voice be at all exerted, produces, according to
Helmholtz, the sound of the vowel _O_. Certainly a deep sound of a
prolonged _Oh!_ may be heard from a whole crowd of people immediately
after witnessing any astonishing spectacle. If, together with surprise,
pain be felt, there is a tendency to contract all the muscles of the
body, including those of the face, and the lips will then be drawn
back; and this will perhaps account for the sound becoming higher and
assuming the character of _Ah!_ or _Ach!_ As fear causes all the
muscles of the body to tremble, the voice naturally becomes tremulous,
and at the same time husky from the dryness of the mouth, owing to the
salivary glands failing to act. Why the laughter of man and the
tittering of monkeys should be a rapidly reiterated sound, cannot be
explained. During the utterance of these sounds, the mouth is
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