Establishment for the study of vocal physiology : for the correction of stammering, and other defects of utterance; and for practical instruction in "visible speech." / Conducted by Alexr. Graham Bell.

  • Bell, Alexander Graham, 1847-1922.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Establishment for the study of vocal physiology : for the correction of stammering, and other defects of utterance; and for practical instruction in "visible speech." / Conducted by Alexr. Graham Bell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    SUBJECTS OF INSTRUCTION. VISIBLE SPEECH. The practical use of the system of visible speech is taught to the following classes of persons, to whom it is of especial value : — I. — Philologists. The system aids the study, comparison, and preservation of fast-disappearing dialects, and the universal tracing of the affini- ties of words. The publications of the Philological Society of London, England, already show several linguistic applications of visible speech, — treatises by A. J. Ellis, F.R.S. (on Early English Pronunciation), by Henry Sweet (on Icelandic), by J. A. H. Murray (on Lowland Scotch), &c. II. — Missionaries. Visible speech affords a means of writing hitherto unwritten languages and dialects, and hence is a most important help to missionary effort. The civilization of the various tribes of North-American In- dians in the Territories of the United States would be vastly facilitated by the introduction of visible speech as a means of instruction and communication. It has been found practically that a missionary acquainted with this system masters a language much sooner than others. A letter from a student of visible speech in China is appended. (See page 10.) III. — Students of Languages. Foreigners can be taught the correct pronunciation of English by means of visible speech ; and English speakers can acquire at home the sounds of foreign languages with vernacular accuracy.