IN his article in NATURE, vol. xxiv. p. 244, Mr. Alfred Wallace has given one of the keys to the formation of speech-language. He says, “When we name the mouth or lips we use labials; for tooth and tongue, dentals; for the nose, and things relating to it, nasal sounds; and this peculiarity is remarkably constant in most languages, civilised and savage.” Of this he gives examples from Australasia.

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   • HYDE CLARKE

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/024380c0

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