Read the previous post (below) before reading this.
Sound is so cool. Consider the fact that sound is a byproduct of things that are already useful to us. They’re transfered to us through vibrations in the air, water, or even metal. I heard a great segment on NPR today:
http://www.npr.org/2014/02/19/279628642/one-mans-quest-to-find-the-sonic-wonders-of-the-world
You can listen to the whole show (which is about 40 minutes long) or just read the highlights and listen to the samples. It’s incredible that there are sounds that can only be heard in specific places in the world, or sounds that are hard for us to hear because they’re out of our hearing range or are only emitted underwater.
Now consider the fact that we’ve built our language by skillfully making use of important materials around us, employing them for their lesser purpose.
It’s absurd. What even.