Moon type
Encyclopedia
The Moon System of Embossed Reading (commonly known as the Moon writing, Moon alphabet, Moon type, or Moon code) is a writing system
for the blind
, using embossed symbols mostly derived from the Roman alphabet (but simplified). It is claimed by its supporters to be easier to understand than Braille
, though it is mainly used by people who have lost their sight as adults, and thus already have knowledge of the shapes of letters.
Moon type was developed by Dr. William Moon
(1818–1894), a blind Englishman
living in Brighton
, East Sussex
. After a bout of scarlet fever
, Moon lost his sight at age twenty-one and became a teacher of blind children. He discovered that his pupils had great difficulty learning to read the existing styles of embossed reading codes, and devised his own system that would be "open and clear to the touch."
Moon first formulated his ideas in 1843 and published the scheme in 1845. Moon is not as well known as Braille
, but it is a valuable alternative touch reading scheme for blind or partially sighted people of any age.
Rather than the dots of braille type, Moon type is made up of raised curves, angles, and lines. As the characters are quite large and over half the letters bear a strong resemblance to the print equivalent, Moon has been found particularly suitable for those who lose their sight later in life or for people who may have a less keen sense of touch. It has also proved successful as a mode of literacy for children with additional physical and/or learning difficulties.
Moon books for fluent readers can be borrowed from the RNIB National Library Service and books for children from Clearvision Project.
China, in Ningbo
, to teach blind Chinese how to read in the Ningbo dialect
. In 1889, The Chinese times, Volume 3 had an article about the romanization of the Ningbo dialect. Missionaries who spoke Ningbo dialect ran a "Home for Indigent Old People", Most of the inmates in the facility were blind, and they were taught to recite prayers. An English missionary in 1874 taught a young blind man in a short time to read the colloquial of Ningpo written with the letters of Moon's system for the blind. At that time Ningpo had the Gospel of Luke in two large columes of the Moon's system embossed. A Swiss missionary there used to give out notices by placards over the city that at such a time he would give a feast and money to the blind people who came. He used a point system. Moon's system was like the recently brought out Mark
in Moon's raised letter Romanized Mandarin without tone marks. Mr. Hudson Taylor, who had to do with getting the embossed Luke
in Ningpo fifteen years ago, and the embossed Mark in Mandarin does not think that tone marks are necessary. The well known and long used Ningpo Romanized vernacular has not now nor ever has had any tone marks. Aspirates, however, are distinguished. When people sing hymns it is not likely that they pay attention to tones in their enunciation. They read the Romanized books, however, correctly, because of the well understood connection of tense. Tone marks were not used in the tangible point system used at Hankow.
Writing system
A writing system is a symbolic system used to represent elements or statements expressible in language.-General properties:Writing systems are distinguished from other possible symbolic communication systems in that the reader must usually understand something of the associated spoken language to...
for the blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
, using embossed symbols mostly derived from the Roman alphabet (but simplified). It is claimed by its supporters to be easier to understand than Braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
, though it is mainly used by people who have lost their sight as adults, and thus already have knowledge of the shapes of letters.
History
William Moon
William Moon, Hon. LLD, FRSA, FRGS was an Englishman who created Moon Type, the first widely-used practical reading alphabet for the blind.- Life and career :...
(1818–1894), a blind Englishman
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
living in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. After a bout of scarlet fever
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by exotoxin released by Streptococcus pyogenes. Once a major cause of death, it is now effectively treated with antibiotics...
, Moon lost his sight at age twenty-one and became a teacher of blind children. He discovered that his pupils had great difficulty learning to read the existing styles of embossed reading codes, and devised his own system that would be "open and clear to the touch."
Moon first formulated his ideas in 1843 and published the scheme in 1845. Moon is not as well known as Braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
, but it is a valuable alternative touch reading scheme for blind or partially sighted people of any age.
Rather than the dots of braille type, Moon type is made up of raised curves, angles, and lines. As the characters are quite large and over half the letters bear a strong resemblance to the print equivalent, Moon has been found particularly suitable for those who lose their sight later in life or for people who may have a less keen sense of touch. It has also proved successful as a mode of literacy for children with additional physical and/or learning difficulties.
Moon books for fluent readers can be borrowed from the RNIB National Library Service and books for children from Clearvision Project.
Foreign languages
Moon type was used by English Christian missionaries in Qing dynastyQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
China, in Ningbo
Ningbo
Ningbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
, to teach blind Chinese how to read in the Ningbo dialect
Ningbo dialect
Ningbo dialect is a dialect of Wu, one of the subdivisions of Chinese spoken language. It is spoken in the city of Ningbo and Zhoushan and surrounding areas in Zhejiang province.-Area:...
. In 1889, The Chinese times, Volume 3 had an article about the romanization of the Ningbo dialect. Missionaries who spoke Ningbo dialect ran a "Home for Indigent Old People", Most of the inmates in the facility were blind, and they were taught to recite prayers. An English missionary in 1874 taught a young blind man in a short time to read the colloquial of Ningpo written with the letters of Moon's system for the blind. At that time Ningpo had the Gospel of Luke in two large columes of the Moon's system embossed. A Swiss missionary there used to give out notices by placards over the city that at such a time he would give a feast and money to the blind people who came. He used a point system. Moon's system was like the recently brought out Mark
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
in Moon's raised letter Romanized Mandarin without tone marks. Mr. Hudson Taylor, who had to do with getting the embossed Luke
Gospel of Luke
The Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...
in Ningpo fifteen years ago, and the embossed Mark in Mandarin does not think that tone marks are necessary. The well known and long used Ningpo Romanized vernacular has not now nor ever has had any tone marks. Aspirates, however, are distinguished. When people sing hymns it is not likely that they pay attention to tones in their enunciation. They read the Romanized books, however, correctly, because of the well understood connection of tense. Tone marks were not used in the tangible point system used at Hankow.
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