“In 1791,8 Kempelen meticulously described his invention in a book, Mechanismus der menschlichen Sprache nebst Beschreibung einer sprechenden Maschine (“The mechanism of the human speech with the description of a speaking machine”). The book laid down the theoretical principles, and the guidelines for practical realization.Yet, no matter how much the thing was described for everybody to study, the machine nevertheless kept producing effects which can only be described with the Freudian word “uncanny.” There is an uncanniness in the gap which enables a machine, by purely mechanical means, to produce something so uniquely human as voice and speech.It is as if the effect could 7introduction emancipate itself from its mechanical origin, and start functioning as a surplus—indeed,as the ghost in the machine;as if there were an effect without a proper cause,an effect surpassing its explicable cause— and this is one of the strange properties of the voice to which I will keep returning.“
In 1791, Wolfgang von Kempelen constructed a speaking machine. He wrote a book called “Mechanismus der menschlichen Sprache nebst Beschreibung einer sprechenden Maschine” (“The mechanism of human speech with the description of a speaking machine”) where he described the machine in detail. However, the machine’s ability to produce speech continued to create an unsettling feeling. This is because the machine’s mechanical nature contrasts with its ability to replicate something as uniquely human as speech and communication.
The passage implies that the speaking machine not only functions based on its mechanical origins but also acquires a life of its own. It operates as a surplus, functioning independently of its explicable cause, much like a ghost in the machine. This occurrence challenges conventional cause-and-effect theories, emphasizing the mysterious nature of the human voice. The concept of an effect without a valid cause creates a sense of unease and curiosity, as the machine produces something that cannot be easily explained. It is as if the machine has a mind of its own, generating sounds that are unexpected and inexplicable. The machine transcends its original purpose and takes on a new role as a seemingly autonomous entity that defies explanation. This idea calls into question the very nature of what it means to be human, as machines become more and more advanced and start to imitate human processes. The passage suggests that the speaking machine represents a new type of intelligence, one that is not bound by the limitations of its mechanical origins but instead operates on a level that is beyond human comprehension.
Overall, the paragraph dives into the creepy and perplexing features of Kempelen’s speaking machine, encouraging readers to consider the distinctions between the mechanical and the human, the explainable and the unexplainable. It emphasises the complexities of human communication and the enormous influence of technology on our perception of what it is to be human.
A Voice and Nothing More. (n.d.). Available at: https://janisdenis.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/mladen-dolar-a-voice-and-nothing-more.pdf [Accessed 23 Apr. 2024].