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

Of course, babies cannot access visible speech cues if others are wearing masks.

Read more on Scientific American

Mr. Bell was at this time an instructor in phonetics, or the art of visible speech, in Monroe's School of Oratory in Boston.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

His father was Alexander Melville Bell, a Scotch educator, inventor of a system of visible speech, and author of some text-books on elocution.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

He was also professor of Vocal Physiology at Boston University where he had courses in lip reading, or a system of visible speech, which his father had evolved.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

A later and better system is that called "visible speech."

Read more on Project Gutenberg