All this, which man expresses in an imitative fashion, is numbered, weighed and measured, and forms an admirable harmony.  This language through the larynx is universal, and common to all sensitive beings.  It is universal with animals as with man.  Animals give the identical sounds in similar positions.

The infant, delighted at being mounted on a table, and calling his mother to admire him, rises to the fourth note of the scale.  If his delight becomes more lively, to the sixth; if the mother is less pleased than he would have her, he ascends to the third minor to express his displeasure.  Quietude is expressed by the fourth note.

Every situation has its interval, its corresponding inflection, its corresponding note:  this is a mathematical language.

Why this magnificent concert God has arranged in our midst if it has no auditors?  If God had made us only intelligent beings, he would have given us speech alone and without inflections.  Let us further illustrate the role of inflection.

A father receives a picture from his daughter.  He expresses his gratitude by a falling inflection:  “Ah well! the dear child.”  The picture comes from a stranger whom he does not know as a painter; he will say, “Well now! why does he send me this?” raising his voice.

If he does not know from whom the picture comes, his voice will neither rise nor fall; he will say, “Well! well! well!”

Let us suppose that his daughter is the painter.  She has executed a masterpiece.  Astonished at the charm of this work and at the same time grateful, his voice will have both inflections.

If surprise predominates over love the rising inflection will predominate.  If love and surprise are equal, he will simply say, “Well now!”

Kan in Chinese signifies at the same time the roof of a house, a cellar, well, chamber, bed—­the inflection alone determines the meaning.  Roof is expressed by the falling, cellar by the rising inflection.  The Chinese note accurately the depth and acuteness of sound, its intervals and its intensity.

We can say:  “It is pretty, this little dog!” in 675 different ways.  Some one would do it harm.  We say:  “This little dog is pretty, do not harm it!” “It is pretty because it is so little.”  If it is a mischievous or vicious dog, we use pretty in an ironical sense.  “This dog has bitten my hand.  It is a pretty dog indeed!” etc.

Rules of Inflection.

1.  Inflections are formed by an upward or downward slide of the voice, or the voice remains in monotone.  Inflections are, then, eccentric, concentric and normal.

2.  The voice rises in exaltation, astonishment, and conflict.

3.  The voice falls in affirmation, affection and dejection.

4.  It neither rises nor falls in hesitation.

5.  Interrogation is expressed by the rising inflection when we do not know what we ask; by the falling, when we do not quite know what we ask.  For instance, a person asks tidings of his friend’s health, aware or unaware that he is no better.