Speaking Machines, the Trial of Articulation, and Deaf Education in Modern France

Abstract If cochlear implants continue to meet with much resistance from parts of the Deaf community and beyond, this reflects constructions speech that have been at core conceptions humankind for over three centuries. Starting in 1750s, Julien Offray de La Mettrie advocated deaf people's potential speech. This was also time creation schools children, which led a surge debate about teaching sign language versus The reception speaking machine Canon Mical, now forgotten inventor, offered another context question source expressive power language. By retracing debates mechanical nature articulated speech, limits communication, what really constitutes its power, we can better understand how experience current technology develops out conflicts first introduced birth modernity.