--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Linguistic sounds, considered as…" description: "\"Linguistic sounds, considered as external, physical phenomena have two aspects, the motor and the acoustic.\" — Roman Jakobson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/roman-jakobson-22644_acoustics_linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external_2198271.jpg" --- # Linguistic sounds, considered as external, physical… ![“Linguistic sounds, considered as external, physical phenomena have two aspects, the motor and the acoustic.” quote by Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/roman-jakobson-22644_acoustics_linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external_2198271.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/roman-jakobson-22644_acoustics_linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external_2198271.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/roman-jakobson-22644_acoustics_linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external_2198271.jpg) > “Linguistic sounds, considered as external, physical phenomena have two aspects, the motor and the acoustic.” [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language sounds are both produced by the body and perceived as vibrations in the air, linking physical action to auditory perception. **In simple terms:** Sounds have a motor and acoustic side. Key Takeaway Recognize both production and perception in communication. Themes linguistics phonetics communication Mood analytical curious Type academic theoretical When to use this quote - language teaching - speech therapy - public speaking - audio engineering Key Concepts motor aspect acoustic aspect speech production auditory perception Questions to Reflect On - How does your body shape the way you hear? - What role does environment play in sound perception? A Different Perspective Focus on one side neglects the other, limiting understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) ## Related quotes > [A new era in the physiological investigation of linguistic sounds was opened up by X-ray photography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/a-new-era-in-the-physiological-investigation-of-linguistic-sounds-was/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [There is no more open door by which you can enter into the study of natural philosophy than by considering the physical phenomena of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-faraday/there-is-no-more-open-door-by-which-you-can-enter-into-the-study-of/) [Michael Faraday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-faraday/) > [“The intangible, as you can guess, creates some decidedly strange and perceived dichotomies for scientific interpretations. 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We either have to choose a word which implies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schuster/in-the-expressions-we-adopt-to-prescribe-physical-phenomena-we/) Arthur Schuster > [It would appear... that moral phenomena, when observed on a great scale, are found to resemble physical phenomena; and we thus arrive, in inquiries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolphe-quetelet/it-would-appear-that-moral-phenomena-when-observed-on-a-great-scale/) [Adolphe Quetelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolphe-quetelet/) > [Science appears to us with a very different aspect after we have found out that it is not in lecture rooms only, and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/science-appears-to-us-with-a-very-different-aspect-after-we-have/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [Acoustic phonetics, which is developing and increasing in richness very rapidly, already enables us to solve many of the mysteries of sound, mysteries which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/acoustic-phonetics-which-is-developing-and-increasing-in-richness/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [At first acoustics attributed to the different sounds only a limited number of characteristic features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/at-first-acoustics-attributed-to-the-different-sounds-only-a-limited/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [If what distinguishes us from other species is speech, then poetry, which is the supreme linguistic operation, is our anthropological - indeed, genetic -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/if-what-distinguishes-us-from-other-species-is-speech-then-poetry/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [The important thing is not the planning of an Index Verborum Prohibitorum of current noble nouns, but rather the examination of their linguistic function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/the-important-thing-is-not-the-planning-of-an-index-verborum/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) > [There is no linguistic war in Montreal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-moreau/there-is-no-linguistic-war-in-montreal/) Pierre Moreau > [“Language could be used as an instrument of control, a way of establishing hierarchies that suggest one set of people is better or more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crow/language-could-be-used-as-an-instrument-of-control-a-way-of/) David Crow > [I don't have any particular desire to see words making a comeback. They are of their era, after all, and that is their identity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/i-don-t-have-any-particular-desire-to-see-words-making-a-comeback/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) ## More by Roman Jakobson > [Remember that the pharynx is at a crossroads from which leads off, at the top, the passage to the mouth cavity and the passage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/remember-that-the-pharynx-is-at-a-crossroads-from-which-leads-off-at/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [It is once again the vexing problem of identity within variety; without a solution to this disturbing problem there can be no system, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/it-is-once-again-the-vexing-problem-of-identity-within-variety/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [A new era in the physiological investigation of linguistic sounds was opened up by X-ray photography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/a-new-era-in-the-physiological-investigation-of-linguistic-sounds-was/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [When I speak it is in order to be heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/when-i-speak-it-is-in-order-to-be-heard/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [A linguist deaf to the poetic functions of language and a literary scholar indifferent to linguistics are equally flagrant anachronisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/a-linguist-deaf-to-the-poetic-functions-of-language-and-a-literary/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [The poetic function is the set towards the message itself, focus on the message for its own sake which by promoting the palpability of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/the-poetic-function-is-the-set-towards-the-message-itself-focus-on/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [What's next? Shall we appoint elephants to teach zoology?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/what-s-next-shall-we-appoint-elephants-to-teach-zoology/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [At first acoustics attributed to the different sounds only a limited number of characteristic features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/at-first-acoustics-attributed-to-the-different-sounds-only-a-limited/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [Speech sounds cannot be understood, delimited, classified and explained except in the light of the tasks which they perform in language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/speech-sounds-cannot-be-understood-delimited-classified-and-explained/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [From a strictly articulatory point of view there is no succession of sounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/from-a-strictly-articulatory-point-of-view-there-is-no-succession-of/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [Bilingualism is for me the fundamental problem of linguistics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/bilingualism-is-for-me-the-fundamental-problem-of-linguistics/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [Instead of following one another the sounds overlap; a sound which is acoustically perceived as coming after another one can be articulated simultaneously with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/instead-of-following-one-another-the-sounds-overlap-a-sound-which-is/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [In poetic language, in which the sign as such takes on an autonomous value, this sound symbolism becomes an actual factor and creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/in-poetic-language-in-which-the-sign-as-such-takes-on-an-autonomous/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [Semantics, or the study of meaning, remained undeveloped, while phonetics made rapid progress and even came to occupy the central place in the scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/semantics-or-the-study-of-meaning-remained-undeveloped-while/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [Of course, we have known for a long time that a word, like any verbal sign, is a unity of two components.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/of-course-we-have-known-for-a-long-time-that-a-word-like-any-verbal/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) [Explore all 26 Roman Jakobson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) ## More Acoustics quotes > [“Since Pawlow and his pupils have succeeded in causing the secretion of saliva in the dog by means of optic and acoustic signals, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-loeb/since-pawlow-and-his-pupils-have-succeeded-in-causing-the-secretion/) [Jacques Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-loeb/) > [One thing I really hate about people who play both acoustic and electric is if they try to play electric style on an acoustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/one-thing-i-really-hate-about-people-who-play-both-acoustic-and/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) > [There is nothing like having your hands on a keyboard. Or an acoustic piano. Those are the things you can't really replace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-downes/there-is-nothing-like-having-your-hands-on-a-keyboard-or-an-acoustic/) [Geoff Downes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-downes/) > [How do I explain Neil Young? Great question! I explain Neil Young as, I would kill to see his acoustic shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mould/how-do-i-explain-neil-young-great-question-i-explain-neil-young-as-i/) [Bob Mould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mould/) > [Oftentimes the most produced and synth-tastic songs are the ones that end up sounding the best acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/oftentimes-the-most-produced-and-synth-tastic-songs-are-the-ones-that/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [I do experiment with lots of different genres. In making music, I don't think of genre like, "I want to do this, because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie-2/i-do-experiment-with-lots-of-different-genres-in-making-music-i-don-t/) [India.Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie-2/) > [I'd love to do a live record, I'd love to do an acoustic record, I'm already thinking about what I may want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-johnson/i-d-love-to-do-a-live-record-i-d-love-to-do-an-acoustic-record-i-m/) [Cody Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-johnson/) > [I practice on the acoustic guitar a little bit, but I think I have reached the peak of my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-practice-on-the-acoustic-guitar-a-little-bit-but-i-think-i-have/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [The magic of film isn't just because of the big screen, or the acoustics, but the ineffable shared experience of going to the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-perez/the-magic-of-film-isn-t-just-because-of-the-big-screen-or-the/) [Fernando Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-perez/) > [I think it's one of my favourite theatres ever, so quirky and wonderful and steeped in history. The space is wonderful and the acoustics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-jameson/i-think-it-s-one-of-my-favourite-theatres-ever-so-quirky-and/) [Louise Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-jameson/) > [My dad, who plays guitar and piano and was in cover bands, along with my older brother, Matt, taught me guitar and stuff. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/my-dad-who-plays-guitar-and-piano-and-was-in-cover-bands-along-with/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [That's what I love about Nashville and the music community - seeing kids around acoustic music and bluegrass picking parties is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dierks-bentley/that-s-what-i-love-about-nashville-and-the-music-community-seeing/) [Dierks Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dierks-bentley/) > [There are tons of people in the West who love fiddles, banjos and mandolins. If you got to any cowboy poetry and music gathering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martin-murphey/there-are-tons-of-people-in-the-west-who-love-fiddles-banjos-and/) [Michael Martin Murphey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martin-murphey/) > [In 1996, I was in was in an acoustic kind of rock band, we were called Feeble. We were just playing locally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-barker/in-1996-i-was-in-was-in-an-acoustic-kind-of-rock-band-we-were-called/) [Travis Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-barker/) > [In certain ways I still feel like I'm finding my way. I feel pretty comfortable playing acoustic guitar and singing, but then I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hay/in-certain-ways-i-still-feel-like-i-m-finding-my-way-i-feel-pretty/) [Colin Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hay/) Browse all 225 Acoustics quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Linguistic sounds, considered as external, physical phenomena have two aspects, the motor and the acoustic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roman Jakobson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external-physical-phenomena-have-two/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acoustics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external-physical-phenomena-have-two/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/roman-jakobson-22644_acoustics_linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external_2198271.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/roman-jakobson-22644_acoustics_linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external_2198271.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/roman-jakobson-22644_acoustics_linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external_2198271.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Linguistic sounds, considered as external, physical phenomena have two aspects, the motor and the acoustic.” — Roman Jakobson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Roman Jakobson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Linguistic sounds, considered as external, physical...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external-physical-phenomena-have-two/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/linguistic-sounds-considered-as-external-physical-phenomena-have-two/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```