The Speech of MonkeysGarner, R. L. (Richard Lynch)
Science
The Speech of Monkeys
Garner, R. L. (Richard Lynch)
Monkeys; Sound production by animals; Speech
Among the few sounds of birds which I have analysed, I may mention the
Trumpeter Crane. I have made one record of this bird which was
sufficiently loud to enable me to obtain some idea of the character of
the sound. I am in doubt as to what the real mode of producing this
sound is. The volume of sound evidently comes from the mouth of the
bird; but while in the act of making it, he appears to bring the whole
body into use, even the feathers appear to take some part in its
production, and the whole frame of the bird vibrates in the act. The
record which I have shows some resemblance, on analysis, to the sound
made by the lion; but it is not sufficiently strong to admit of
analysing the sound units or fundamental sounds.
[Sidenote: DIFFERENCE IN PHONES OF GENERA]
From the many sounds that I have analysed, it appears to me that there
is a difference in the phones of all different genera, and that the
phonetic basis of human speech more closely resembles that of the Simian
than any other sounds; but I wish to be understood distinctly not to
offer this in evidence to establish any physical, mental, or phonetic
affinity between mankind and Simians. I merely state the facts from
which all theorists may deduce their own conclusions.
CHAPTER XIV.
Monkeys and the Mirror--Some of their Antics--Baby Macaque and
her Papa--Some other Monkeys.
I have incidentally mentioned elsewhere the use of the mirror in some of
my experiments, but I have not described in detail how it affected
various monkeys. Of course, it does not always affect the same monkey in
the same way at different times, nor does it affect all monkeys of the
same species in exactly the same way, and therefore I cannot deduce a
rule from my experiments by which the species can be determined by its
conduct before the glass.
[Sidenote: PUCK AND NELLIE WITH MIRROR]
When Puck saw himself in the mirror he undoubtedly mistook the image for
another monkey, to which he would talk more freely than he would to the
sounds made by the phonograph. He would frequently caress the image,
and show signs of friendship; at the same time he was very timid and
retiring.
Nellie would chatter to herself in the mirror, and seemed never to tire
of looking at that beautiful monkey she saw there, and I do not think
the propensity could be accounted for merely by her sex. I do not think
she ever quite understood where that monkey was concealed, and the
scores of times in a day that she would turn the glass around was
evidence that she never fully despaired of finding it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account