The origin of speech — A hypothesis

Abstract

In a previous paper experiments were described in which vowel-like sounds were produced by models consisting of two suitably tuned Helmholtz Resonators, connected in series, and energised by a reed of variable pitch. It was found that with these models, as also in some whose resonators were connected in parallel, the vowel-like sounds were, in general, but little affected by variation of pitch of the energising reeds, though it was evident that the resultant sound, if analysed, would necessarily be very different when the relations of the energising reed-note to the resonant notes of the two cavities was changed. In a subsequent paper, observations were described which indicated that in recognising the consonant sounds k/g and t/d, the human ear is not directly interested in the resonant changes, which constitute these sounds, and which vary very greatly according to the upper resonance of the vowel with which the consonant is associated. The ear appears rather to be on the look out for acoustic indications of the gestures of the organs of articulation, by which these consonants are produced.