Ellements of Speach. An Essay of Enquirie into the Naturall Production of Letters By William Holder DD FRS (with an Appendix Concerning Persons Deaf and Dumb)
Reference number: MS/366/2/6
Date: 1668
Description
Notes on the first page states that the paper was read on 25 February 1668 and published in Philosophical Transactions no 47.
The paper is a detailed discussion of phonetics, examining how the sounds of letters are produced by the lungs, larynx, nose, tongue, teeth, lips and jaws. There are several tables and charts included to explain the argument. The paper includes some notation for different letter sounds.
An appendix discusses how to teach speech to those who are deaf since birth and sets out a suggested method. This method includes some elements of sign language.
A summary of this paper appears in Philosophical Transactions Volume 4, number 47 (10 May 1669), page 958.
- Reference number
- MS/366/2/6
- Earliest possible date
- 1668
- Page extent
- 39 pages
- Format
- Manuscript
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Citation
Ellements of Speach. An Essay of Enquirie into the Naturall Production of Letters By William Holder DD FRS (with an Appendix Concerning Persons Deaf and Dumb), 1668, MS/366/2/6, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ms_366_2_6/ellements-of-speach-an-essay-of-enquirie-into-the-naturall-production-of-letters-by-william-holder-dd-frs-with-an-appendix-concerning-persons-deaf-and-dumb, accessed on 18 April 2026
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Manuscripts General
Science in the Making presents selected items from the 'Manuscripts General' series, notably astronomical observations, investigations of discrete topics, and indices and registers of papers read before the Royal Society.
Dates: 1551 - 1951
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