visible speech

noun

, Phonetics.

1. the representation in graphic or pictorial form of characteristics of speech, as by means of sound spectrograms.
2. the system of handwritten phonetic symbols invented by Melville Bell in 1867 to provide a visually comprehensible rendition of speech sounds.

visible speech

noun

1. a system of phonetic notation invented by Alexander Melville Bell (1819–1905) that utilized symbols based on the schematic representation of the articulations used for each speech sound

Word History and Origins

Origin of visible speech¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

In 1873 he accompanied his father to Montreal, in Canada, where he was employed in teaching the system of visible speech.

From Project Gutenberg

This system of instruction is called "Bell's Visible Speech."

From Project Gutenberg

He forgot his musical telegraph, his "Visible Speech," his classes, his poverty.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been fascinated from boyhood by his father's system of "Visible Speech."

From Project Gutenberg