Abstract/Summary

The essay discusses how the analysis of historical records and archival materials that are typically held in collections, such as those in the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication (University of Reading), can inform and inspire original designs to provide appropriate textual representation of languages to best serve the needs of diverse linguistic communities. The kinds of materials under discussion include manuscripts; early imprints; metal type; fount synopses; case lays; keyboard layouts; letter-drawings; and typeset copy. The issues discussed include the access to relevant material; the reliability of resources; the evaluation of past and current manuscript and typographic practices; the impact of technology and its legacy; information on linguistic behaviour and stylistic conventions; and the use of complementary resources. The issues, which have relevance to all scripts, are illustrated by examples of particular projects that have drawn on collections-based resources for their design and development to offer better typographic solutions for many millions of readers across the world.