MOVABLE TYPE Meaning and
Definition
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Movable type refers to a typography technique in which individual units of type, typically made of metal or wood, are created to compose text. These individual units, called "sorts," each contain a single character such as a letter or punctuation mark. Movable type has been widely used in printing since the 15th century, revolutionizing the world of book production.
In the traditional process of movable type printing, the sorts are arranged by hand to form words and sentences, with each sort locked into a composing stick or frame. This arrangement is then inked and pressed onto a printing surface, such as paper or parchment. The ability to rearrange these sorts allowed for flexible composition, making movable type a tremendous leap forward in printing technology compared to the laborious and rigid methods used before its advent.
The invention of movable type is often attributed to Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century. With his innovation, mass production of printed materials became feasible, leading to the rapid dissemination of knowledge, and playing a pivotal role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution.
Despite the subsequent advancements in printing technologies, the essence of movable type remains significant even in modern digital typography. The concept of arranging discrete units of characters to form words and sentences persists on a fundamental level, contributing to the evolution of printing and publication techniques throughout history.
Etymology of MOVABLE TYPE
The word "movable type" has its origins in the Middle English period. "Movable" comes from the Old French term "movable" or "moveable", which is derived from the Latin word "movēre", meaning "to move". "Type" is derived from the Latin term "typus", which originated from the Greek word "typos", both meaning "a mark" or "a figure". The combination of these two words, "movable" and "type", refers to individual characters or letters that can be arranged and rearranged to create text when printing. The term "movable type" was first employed in 1790 to describe the printing technique invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century, which revolutionized the production of books and other printed materials.
