Language Visible Quotes

“An anonymously written piece about 1900 has the letter H complaining to the Cockneys that it has been banished "from 'ouse, from 'ome, from 'ope, from 'eaven; and placed by your most learned society in Hexile, Hanguish and Hanxiety.”
― David Sacks, Language Visible

“In his wonderful 1529 book on the alphabet, 'Champ Fleury,' (French Renaissance scholar and type designer Geofroy) Tory deals gently but firmly with H: "The aspirate is not a letter; nonetheless it is by poetic licence given place as a letter.”
― David Sacks, Language Visible

“Johann Sebastian Bach presumably had other things in mind when, in about 1723, he wrote his "Air on a G string" (actually so named by a later arranger.) Part of a larger piece for string quartet, the "Air" includes a violin solo that fits entirely on the G string, the lowest of the violin's four strings.”
― David Sacks, Language Visible

“The designs involved two abiding techniques by Roman stonemasons. First, certain parts of each letter was subtly widened – one leg of the A, two opposite sides of the O – in contrast to others. This gave the shape a sense of perspective and graceful solidity. The second technique was to add small finishing strokes (we call them serifs) at the letters' end points. Clear examples include letters E, G, H, S and T.”
― David Sacks, Language Visible