Houyhnhnm

Language Expressed Passions

I could frequently distinguish the word YAHOO, which was repeated by each of them several times: and although it was impossible for me to conjecture what it meant, yet while the two horses were busy in conversation, I endeavoured to practise this word upon my tongue;

and as soon as they were silent, I boldly pronounced YAHOO in a loud voice, imitating at the same time, as near as I could, the neighing of a horse;

at which they were both visibly surprised; and the gray repeated the same word twice, as if he meant to teach me the right accent;

wherein I spoke after him as well as I could, and found myself perceivably to improve every time, though very far from any degree of perfection.

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift