Visible speech : the science of universal alphabetics, or self-interpreting physiological letters, for the writing of all languages in one alphabet / by Alex. Melville Bell.

  • Alexander Melville Bell
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Visible speech : the science of universal alphabetics, or self-interpreting physiological letters, for the writing of all languages in one alphabet / by Alex. Melville Bell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. THE scientific interest attaching to the Invention of VISIBLE SPEECH has alone induced me to consent to the publication of the System under Copyright. My desire was, that this Invention—the applications of which are as universal as speech itself—should at its inauguration have been made free from all restric- tions ; but my endeavours to effect an arrangement for this purpose have been frustrated. I wish to put on record here a statement of the facts concerning my offer of the Invention to the British Government, and the reception of the offer. The proposition made was to the effect that—If the expense of casting the new Types and publishing the Theory of the System should be defrayed from Public resources, I would, on this simple condition, relinquish pro bono publico all copyright in the Explanatory Work, as well as all exclusive property in the System and its applications, in order that the use of the Universal Alphabet might be as free as that of common letters to all persons. I made no stipulation for personal recompense ; nor was the acceptance of the offer asked, save as the result of a satisfactory examination of the System. The primary proposition was therefore specifically limited to a request for an authorized investigation, the result of which should decide the question of publication. This request was made in vain. The subject did not lie within the province of any of the existing State Departments, and the Memorial was, on this ground, politely bowed out from one after the other of the Executive Offices. The proposition was, no doubt, an exceptional one—but so is the Invention. Even the idea which it realizes is entirely new ; the idea, namely, of representing the mechanism of speech-sounds in their alphabetical symbols. It was a matter of course that such a subject could not have been included in the established routine of any Department. Does not the fact that an offer of such a nature failed to obtain a hearing, indicate a national want—the want namely of some functionary whose business it should be to investigate new measures of any kind which may be presented for the benefit of society ?
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