Bullets for the Battle

The Bullet of Life and Life Shared: Breath and Sound (Part 1)

Breath and sound are neither accidents nor secondary to life. They were created by our Lord for His significant purposes … to give life (breath) and to share life (sound)!

Let’s engage in an experiment: breathe out and without breathing in, close your mouth, hold your nose, now, try to hum. You will probably be able to make one or two small sounds but very soon you will not be able to do even that. Without a column of air moving over your vocal cords, sound will not be produced. Now, begin taking in air again, either through your nose or mouth, and you will be able to hum freely. You have just discovered the role of breath or breathing in producing vocal sound.

Once you are breathing normally and able to produce sound again, let us consider how we humans modify sounds in order to speak. First, let’s go back to our humming. Close your mouth and hum using the air that comes through your nose. Try varying the sound. It is quite easy to change the pitch. You do this by lengthening and shortening your vocal cords. Try the same experiment through your mouth; be sure to keep your tongue from moving as you hum. Notice the difference in resonance in the sound you make when you hum in these two different ways. Whether the air is coming through your mouth or your nose modifies the sound quality in distinct ways.

Now let’s involve the rest of the mouth in modifying sounds. Hum one note then move your tongue about your mouth and notice the subtle changes to the sound as you do so. Try humming a single note again. As you do so, move your jaw up and down. Notice the effect on the sound. (Each of these changes may be hard to distinguish, but they are there.)

You have used yourself as a test subject to demonstrate some of the basic principles of linguistics, the study of speech. The science of linguistics is very complex and may be approached from many different viewpoints. Some areas of study that employ linguistics are anthropology, clinical speech therapy, literature and medicine. But there is more to the elements of linguistics than the physical. There is also a spiritual dimension we must explore to fully grasp the meaning of breath and sound.

Take time to read the following verses for a brief glimpse of the Scripture’s use of breath and sound. Also note John’s use of sight in Revelation, “And I saw…” When we open the Bible with seeking hearts we can experience “the sight and sound show” of the Lord of all Creation! Only fools would miss an invitation like that. Remember how the Lord Jesus put it, “… the words (sounds) I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63).

Verses to read: Genesis 2:7, 3:8; John 3:8; Acts 2:2; I Corinthians 14:8; Revelation 14:2, 13 and 21:3; John 20:21-23; Mark 15:37