Sound

Strange that some of the most glorious sounds in the world should have come from a man – Beethoven – who in the end could hear no sound (except, perhaps, the awful cacophony of tinnitus).

»That is exactly what I object to, Edmonia. If it did not sound harsh, I should say that I do not consider you a proper example for the young.«
This appeared to amuse her, which was the last thing he had anticipated. Her deep, thick laugh gushed out.
»Oh, they aren´t waiting for an example, « she replied.

This is the opposite of ill and at the same time the opposite of silence. Maybe it is also the opposite of something else, but I do not know.

Some years ago, I was invited to a party in Cologne by two American girls. Most of the guests were Americans, so we talked English all the time.
I was introduced to a boy called Steve, and I said to him, »You sound rather British, Steve.« His reply was, »That's because I am rather British.«

Explorers for hundreds of years hoped they would discover the Northwest Passage – an all-water route leading from Europe to the Far East through the northern part of the Americas. Think how awkward that would be – an ocean channel more than 3,000 miles long, snaking across the U.S. and/or Canada, making North Dakota and Saskatchewan into ports. Just so a bunch of spice merchants would have it easy!

They thought they'd found the Northwest Passage when they sailed into Puget Sound.

You can't escape the sound of music anywhere these days. People can't seem to get on without their background noise.

Anybody remember silence?

That sound from the mound in the ground is a sound kind of sound, not creepy and crawly like the howl of a hound, or the jingle of coins as you count out a pound, but a sound that is found to be rounder than round.

The sound of the loon might well be the most curious – if not the most thrilling – birdcall in nature.

Vaguely yodel-like, it is a comforting call...but it is also slightly frightening, slightly otherworldly.

The loon is the state bird of Minnesota. Its call is infinitely more interesting than the din of the other loons that Minnesota keeps in its legislature.