lipspeech

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   speech articulated with the lips and mouth, especially when contrasted with signing or with the visual interpretation of speech by lip-reading

   The lesson contrasted ordinary lipspeech with signs made by the hands.

A transparent compound of lip + speech. The rare closed form is notably attested in Edwin A. Abbott's 1884 Flatland, where "the art of lipspeech" is contrasted with lip-reading. Later technical writing more often uses the open or hyphenated form lip speech for speech considered through its visible articulation.

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