telephone

telephone (tèl´e-fon´) noun
Abbr. tel.
An instrument that converts voice and other sound signals into a form that can be transmitted to remote locations and that receives and reconverts waves into sound signals.

noun, attributive
Often used to modify another noun: telephone connections; a telephone call.

verb
telephoned, telephoning, telephones verb, transitive
1. To speak with (a person) by telephone.
2. To initiate or make a telephone connection with; place a call to.
3. To transmit (a message, for example) by telephone.

verb, intransitive
To engage in communication by telephone.
- tel´ephon´er noun

Word History: When one telephones someone else, one never gives a second thought to the linguistic and etymological processes illustrated by the word telephone. To begin with, the noun telephone is one of a class of technological and scientific words that are made up of combining forms, in this case tele- and -phone. These forms are derived from classical languages: tele- is from the Greek combining form têle- or têl-, a form of têle, meaning "afar, far off," while -phone is from Greek phonê, "sound, voice." Such words derived from classical languages can be put together in French or German, for example, as well as in English. Which language actually gave birth to them cannot always be determined. In this case French telephone (about 1830) seems to have priority. The word was used for an acoustic apparatus, as it originally was in English (1844). Alexander Graham Bell appropriated the word for his invention in 1876, and in 1877 we have the first instance of the verb telephone meaning "to speak to by telephone." The verb is an example of a linguistic process called functional shift. This occurs when we use a noun as a verb, an adjective as a noun, or a noun as an adjective. Thus, we are changing the syntactic function of the word, just as we do when we telephone a friend.

APHRODISIAC TELEPHONE. "telephonic apparatuses will be replaced by lobsters, whose advanced state will be rendered visible by phosphorescent plaques, vertible flytrap truffle-grounds." (Salvador Dalí)

What's important is that IT talks. It is not that a person talks through it, because in a certain sense you are channeling your voice through a wire when you are speaking. From the perspective of the cultural imagination, the telephone is another instance of the connection between communication at a distance and the electromagnetic imagination.

It produces an occult overspill, if you will.  Does it talk or do we talk through it? Are those vibrations us or are they, in a sense, ghosts of ourselves or doppelgangers? That is again the uncanny that creeps in. When you wake up with the phone ringing in the middle of the night, there is a kind of spectral horror more profound than simply the fact of a loud noise. It is the feeling that I am getting a message, but that I am not who I normally am, because I am swathed in darkness and dream. Crank callers also exploit the telephone's uncanny powers. If you have ever been harassed continually by people who don't speak up on the phone, this can very quickly lead into all sorts of paranoid and disturbing feelings. You are constantly picking up the receiver and NO ONE IS THERE, a very spectral absence.

Erik Davis - _Spirital Telegraphs And The Technology Of Communication_ lecture

Play some music with your telephone:

Happy Birthday
112163
112196
11#9632
969363

Frere Jacques
12311231
369369
9#9631,9#9631
191,191

• The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia has over 68,000 miles of telephone lines.
• remote phone booth in Tempe, Arizona is 15 miles away from the nearest town.
• The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 67
• When telephone companies first began hiring telephone operators, they chose teenage boys for the job. They switched to women because the teenage boys were wrestling instead of working and pulling pranks on callers.
• The dial tone of a normal telephone is in the key F.
• The pound sign on a telephone is called a 'octothorp'.
• the ubiquitous olive green rotary phone from the monopoly days of Ma Bell ca. 1977 - did you have one?

Telephone

Telephone, instrument that sends and receives voice messages and data. Telephones convert speech and data to electrical energy, which is sent great distances. All telephones are linked by complex switching systems called central offices or exchanges, which establish the pathway for information to travel. Telephones are used for casual conversations, to conduct business, and to summon help in an emergency. About half of the information passing through telephone lines occurs entirely between special-purpose telephones, such as computers with modems, which transmit digital information over telephone lines to other computers, and facsimile machines, or fax machines, which produce duplicates of documents at a distant point.

Parts of a Telephone

A basic telephone set contains a transmitter that transfers the caller's voice; a receiver that amplifies sound from an incoming call; a rotary or push-button dial; a ringer or alerter; and a small assembly of electrical parts that keeps the caller's voice from sounding too loud. If it is a two-piece telephone set, the transmitter and receiver are mounted in the handset, the ringer is typically in the base, and the dial may be in either the base or handset. The handset cord connects the base to the handset, and the line cord connects the telephone to the telephone line.

More sophisticated telephones may vary from this pattern. In a cordless phone, the handset cord is replaced by a radio link between the handset and base, which allows a caller to move about in a limited area while on the telephone. A cellular phone has extremely miniaturized components that make it possible to combine the base and handset into one handheld unit, allowing even more mobility. A large business will usually have its own switching machine called a Private Branch Exchange (PBX), with hundreds or possibly thousands of lines, all of which can be reached by dialing one number. The telephones used by small businesses, which do not have their own PBX, must incorporate the capability of accessing several telephone lines and are called multiline sets.

Making a Telephone Call

A telephone call starts when the caller lifts a handset off the base. This sends a flow of electrical current to the exchange, which returns a dial tone. The caller then uses the dial to enter the telephone number of the called party. The switching equipment activates a ringer on the called party's line. When the called party answers the telephone, the exchange sets up a connection between the parties. When one or both parties hang up, the exchange removes the connection and notifies billing equipment of the call if appropriate.

Before automatic exchanges were invented, all calls were placed through manual exchanges staffed by switchboard operators. Today in the United States all telephone subscribers are served by automatic computerized exchanges, which perform the functions of the human operator. Transmission systems deliver enough energy so that speech or data is transmitted clearly and free from noise. Analog transmission, in which speech or data is converted directly into a varying electrical current, is suitable for local calls. For long-distance calls, the signal is digitized, or converted to a series of encoded pulses.

A signal may be transmitted via coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave and longwave radio signals. A coaxial wire is an efficient transmission system. Fiber-optic cable transmits energy in the form of light pulses. Optical fibers can handle tens of thousands of conversations simultaneously. Before coaxial cables were invented, very powerful longwave (low frequency) radio stations were used for intercontinental calls. Such calls were very expensive. Microwave radio has the ability to inexpensively handle a large number of simultaneous conversations over the same link and can be relayed around the world by communications satellites. A combination of microwave, coaxial-cable, optical-fiber, and satellite paths now link the major cities of the world. An organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, called the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), works to standardize telephone service throughout the world.

The History of the Telephone

The first person to send a voice signal over wires was Scottish-born American inventor Alexander Graham Bell, a speech teacher in Boston, Massachusetts. Bell constructed a transmitter and a receiver, for which he received a patent in 1876. Other inventors also claimed to have invented the telephone at the same time. Bell's claim had to be defended in court 600 times before the Supreme Court of the United States decided in his favor. The first automatic exchanges were patented in 1891. Long-distance telephony was established in small steps. Problems in transmitting over great distances were solved with the invention of the triode vacuum tube, which amplified electrical signals. In 1915 vacuum-tube repeaters were used to initiate service from New York City to San Francisco, California.

The vacuum tube also made possible the development of longwave radio circuits that could span oceans. In the 1950s the technology of the coaxial-cable system was combined with high-reliability vacuum-tube circuits in an undersea cable linking North America and Europe. The application ofdigital techniques to transmission, along with undersea cable and satellites, finally made it possible to link points halfway around the earth with a circuit that had speech quality almost as good as that between next-door neighbors.

In the late 1800s, the Bell Telephone Company (established in 1877 by Alexander Graham Bell and his financial backers) used its patents to exclude others from the telephone business. After these patents expired, independent telephone companies emerged, but most of these were consolidated during the early 1900s by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T), which had bought the Bell Telephone Company in 1900. In addition to owning virtually all of the long-distance circuits in the United States, AT&T manufactured most of the equipment, thus dominating all facets of the business.

AT&T was considered to be a "natural monopoly," and by law was decreed the sole provider of telephone service within a designated area. This arrangement reduced the costs associated with more than one company stringing wires in an area, and eliminated problems that had arisen when customers of one company wished to call customers of another company. In exchange for the absence of competition, the companies were regulated by government, which told them what services they must provide and what prices they could charge.

After protracted lawsuits, AT&T agreed in 1968 to allow the connection of independently manufactured telephones to its network. In 1974 MCI Communications Corporation challenged AT&T about its right to maintain a monopoly over long-distance service. Antitrust proceedings were eventually settled in 1982. AT&T agreed to sell off its local operating companies, retaining the long-distance network and manufacturing companies. The former AT&T operating companies were regrouped into seven Regional Holding Companies (RHCs).

In the United States, about 94 percent of households have telephones, creating a huge opportunity for companies that provide local and long-distance service. Today the five remaining RHCs (two pairs of companies merged in 1996) are expanding into each other's territory and overseas. There are many long-distance companies as well. In other countries, until this decade, most of the telephone companies were owned by national governments. Many countries are now privatizing telephone service.

The introduction of radio into the telephone set has been the most important recent development in telephone technology, permitting first the cordless phone and now the cellular phone. Answering machines, multifunctional telephones, and facsimile machines are becoming increasingly popular. Technology is improving the quality and lowering the expense of videophones (telephones that transmit pictures); and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) uses digital technology to allow users to get more information faster over the telephone. This is indicative of a trend in which the functions of the telephone, the computer, and television are gradually melting together, possibly into one all-purpose instrument.

telephone (noun)

indoor game: musical chairs, hunt the thimble, hunt the slipper, pass the present, telephone, spin the bottle

telephone (verb)

communicate: telephone, phone, call, dial, ring, give one a ring or a buzz, get on the horn

the game "Telephone"

The memes themselves are evolving, just as in the game of "Telephone" (where a message is whispered from person to person, being slightly mis-replicated each time). Selection favors the memes which are easiest to understand, to remember, and to communicate to others. Garbled versions of a useful meme would presumably be selected out.

• prank phone calls
• the base structure of the internet

• Anomalog:
  • The Agoraphone
  • Distributing Music Over Phone Lines - Napster ca. 1909
  • Anti-Anti-Terer Hotline - Service To Report Government Assholes That Harass You Because They Think You're A 'tererist'
  • At The Tone The Time Will Be...
    • Jane Barbe telephone recordings 1973-1985 (realaudio)(5:38)
      • "at the tone the time will be... 4:56 & 20seconds"
      • "38 fahrenheit, 3 celsius"
      • "good afternoon. the bell telephone company brings you the correct time. 2:15 & 40 seconds"
      • "more money comes your way when yous save with first federal savings & loan"
      • "time 4'oclock, temperature 64"
      • "i'm sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed. please hang up then check the number and dial again or ask information operator for assistance. this is a recording."
      • "i'm sorry. the number you have reached is not in service at this time. if you need assistance, please hang up and dial your directory assistance operator. this is a recording in ashburger, north carolina."
      • "the number you have reached, 955-9956 has been disconnected temporarily. at the customer's request, calls are being taken by 599-2281 in southeastern pennsylvania. in the 215 area. please make a note of it."
      • "if you need assistance, you may stay on the line, and an operator will answer."
      • "please dial your card number or zero for an operator now."; "please dial your card number again now. the card number you have dialed is not valid."; "thank you."
      • "you may dial another number now."; "please dial the number you are calling again now. the number you have dialed is not correct."; "please hang up and dial direct. this number cannot be dialed as a sequence call."
      • "40 cents please. please deposit 40 cents for the first 3 minutes."; "please deposit 15 cents more"; "thank you. you have 5 cents credit"
    • Jane Barbe - at the end of _Young Lust_ by Pink Floyd off of _The Wall_ 12"x2 (1979) - (realaudio)(0:48)

The phone system, with its complexity, vulnerability, and illusion of privacy, is the natural home of the technological trickster. In Shakespeare, the prankster's domain is an enchanted forest.Today, it is the mysterious convolutions of the communications network.

- Erik Davis

"The Telephone" A woman terrorized in her apartment by phone calls from an escaped prisoner from her past - 1 of 3 short stories in the 1963 film _Black Sabbath_ (vhs/ntsc)

film _The Doors_ (vhs/ntsc) (1991) directed by Oliver Stone

Crispin Hellion Glover as Andy Warhol

"Somebody gave me this telephone... I think it was Edie... yeah it was Edie... and she said I could talk to god with it, but uh... I don't have anything to say... so here... [giving Jim Morrison  the phone] this is for you... now you can talk to god."

• track _God Is On The Telephone_ MP3 (64k) by Cave In off of _The Sacrifice Poles_ CD on Robodog (2000)
• techno track _Call God_ MP3 (256k) by The Advent off of _Elements Of Life_ CDx2 on Internal (1995)

episodes of _The Twilight Zone_ - _Long Distance Call_ (vhs/ntsc) & _Night Call_ (vhs/ntsc)

• track _Phone Calls From The Dead_ MP3 by Meat Beat Manifesto off of _Subliminal Sandwich_ on Play It Again (1996)

 

• 604 track _Spy vs. Spy_ MP3 by Quirk off of _Machina Electrica & Fornax Chemica_ 12"x3 on Matsuri Productions (1998)
• sample: "pick up the phone... do not under any circumstances trust the CIA... your life may be in danger, now call me..."
• video (mpg)(39.5megs) for track MP3 (160k) _The Telephone Call_ (Der Telefon Anruf) by Kraftwerk
• MP3 (160k) track covered by The Shining off of _Krafty Moves: A Tribute To Kraftwerk_ compilation CD on Energy Rekords (2001)

• 604 track _Justin Case You Answer The Phoney_ MP3 (192k) by The Name Shub Of Enki off of _The Nam-Shub of Enki's Consciousness Encoder_ on Weird Music Society
• 604 track _GM Telephone_ MP3 by Silk

• post hardcore garage releases _Automatic Midnight_ (2000) & _Suicide Invoice_ (2002) by Hot Snakes
  • covers both feature a telephone
  • Hot Snakes features Rick Fork & John Reis of Drive Like Jehu

• track _Telephone Booth_ MP3 by Sweet Baby
• abstract glitch track _Netmork Part 1: Dark Inside Telephone Wire_ MP3 (192k)(16.9megs) by COH off of _Netmork_ CD on Source Research #002 (2002)
• free jazz hip hop track _Search For Life_ MP3 (192k) by Ornette Coleman & Prime Time off of _Tone Dialing_ on Harmolodic (1995)

• post hardcore alternative rock track _Travel By Telephone_ MP3 (192k) by Rival Schools off of _United by Fate_ CD (2001)
• instrumental noise rock track _Radio Telephone Operator Procedures, Pt. 2_ MP3 (192k) by Outrageous Cherry off of s/t on Bar/None (1994)
• downtempo 604 track _Postpone The Phone_ MP3 (192k) by Hux Flux off of _Division By Zer0_ 12"x2 on Spiral Trax #017 (2003)

• electro track _Hand To Phone (Cordless Mix)_ MP3 (192k)by Adult. off of _Resuscitation_ CD on Ersatz Audio (2001)
• electro track _Communication Break-Down_ MP3 (192k) by Hexstatic off of _Rewind_ 12"x2 on Ntone #043 (2000)
  • sampled telephone & modem sounds - "please hang up & try again"
• techno track _On The Phone In Paradise_ MP3 by Misstress Barbara off of _Sagittarius ep_ 12" on Zync #007 (1999)
• track _When The Telephone Melts_ MP3 by Jandek off of _You Walk Alone_ 12" on Corwood (1988)
• new wave track _Hanging On The Telephone_ MP3 by Blondie off of _Parallel Lines_ 12" on Alliance (1978)
• neo psychedelia jangle pop track _You Have Been Disconnected_ MP3 by Brian Jonestown Massacre off of _Bravery Repetition & Noise_ on Bomp (2001)
  • cover photo by Jim Jarmusch
• release _King Me MP3 (vK)/Those Qualified For Telephony_ 7" by Sisterhood Of Convoluted Thinkers on 555 Recordings
• drill & bass track _Dial Up Infinity_ MP3 by Animals On Wheels off of _Nuvol I Cadira_ CD on NTone (1999)
• jangle pop indie rock track _Phony Phone_ MP3 (192k) by Push Kings off of _This Is Not Monte Carlo_ 7"
• track _Telephone & Rubberband_ MP3 (192k) by Penguin Cafe Orchestra off of _Volume II_ CD on Editions E.G. (1982)
• abstract techno track _Phone Phunk_ MP3 (192k) by R.I.C. off of _Distance_ 12"x2 no Mille Plateaux #005 (1994)
• singer/songwriter track _Telephone Call From Istanbul (live)_ MP3 (192k) by Tom Waits off of _Big Time_ (1988)
• track _Call Me (Giorgio Moroder Mix)_ MP3 (192k) by Blondie off of _Call Me (Japanese import)_ 7" on Chrysalis (1980)
• synth pop MP3 (256k) covered by I Am The World Trade Center off of _Tight Connection_ on Kindercore (2002)
• release _Busy/Equalized_ MP3 (160k)7" by Jawbreaker on Shredder (1989) SH-50
• vinyl etching -  side a: "Friend called today..."; side b: "But I Hung Up On Him"
• sound: melodic emo at its most independent
• track _Standing Outside A Phonebooth With Money In My Hand..._ MP3 by Primitive Radio Gods off of _Rocket_
• IDM track _Datacubes_ MP3 (vK) by Benge off of _Silicon Valleys_ CD on Quartermass #103 (1999)
• cover depicts Apple IIe, telephone, travel chess set, & adding machine
• sample: "after seven steps of purification, we have the protein and water solution, which we can keep for many weeks to months prior to putting it into our data cubes."
• abstract IDM synth pop track _Phon Sweet Phon_ MP3 by Skanfrom off of _Hand Picked Fragments_ 12" on Suction #012 (2002)
• track _Telephone Disasters_ MP3 by Le Shok off of _Le Shok/Stitches_ split 7" on Gold Standard Labs (2000)
• new traditional roots rock track _Telephone Road_ MP3 (192k) by Steve Earle off of _El Corazon_ (1997)
• psychedelic chamber soul entity Rotary Connection (Minnie Ripperton on vocals)
  • track _The Salt Of The Earth_ MP3 (160k) off of _Songs_ 12" on Cadet (1969) - cover of Rolling Stones track
• psychedelic folk baroque pop track _The Red Telephone_ MP3 by Love off of _Forever Changes_ 12" on Sundazed
• indie pop track _All The Young Designers_ MP3 (160k) by Busy Signals off of _Pure Energy_ on Sugar Free (2002)
• indie electronic track _Headphoneworld_ MP3 by Busy Signals off of _Baby's First Beats_ on Sugar Free #017 (2000)
• track _Telephone Line_ by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) off of _A New World Record_ 12" on Jet (1976)
• downtempo breakbeat track _Brother Foster Through The Phones_ MP3 (192k) by Two Lone Swordsmen off of _A Virus With Shoes_ 12" on Warp #126 (1999)
• track _Telephone Wires_ MP3 (192k) by Mirah off of _You Think It's Like This But It's Really Like This_ on K (2000)
• synth pop track _The Telephone_ MP3 (vK) by Frazier Chorus off of _Ray_ (1991)

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