Reflections Upon “Speech/less in the Early Modern World” (opens in new tab)

by Dr. Olivia Formby (Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge) Rational speech was hailed by early modern Europeans as the clearest outward sign of reason: the capacity that set humans above all other animals. Yet speechlessness was a common part of early modern life. All human infants were born without speech and, throughout the life cycle, speech could be impeded or even silenced, temporarily or permanently. ‘Speech/less in the Early Modern World’ research workshop (23-24 April 2026) aime...