Typetalks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A telephone relay service through which typed messages are passed back and forth so that deaf or speech-impaired people can hold conversations
2. A text-based relay system that converts typed messages into spoken words and speech back into text during a phone call
3. Any service or channel that carries typed conversation between people, especially to help those who cannot use a standard voice telephone

Etymology: "Typetalks" is the third-person singular form of "typetalk," a compound of "type" (from Greek "typos," a blow or impression, through Latin "typus") and "talk." The verb means to communicate by typed text, most often through a relay service that passes typed messages to and from a telephone call. "Typetalk" was also used as a brand name for such a service in Britain.