# Speak

> interactive poem

**Wikidata**: [Q111968678](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111968678)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/speak

## Summary
Speak (full title: Speak (What They Speak When They Speak to Me)) is an interactive poem and work of electronic literature created by Jason Edward Lewis. First released in 2007, it has multiple versions including an iOS release and is published and exhibited via PoEMM.net.

## Key Facts
- Title: Speak (What They Speak When They Speak to Me).
- Creator / Author: Jason Edward Lewis.
- Inception / first release: 2007.
- Genre / classification: interactive fiction; poetry; electronic literature; mobile app; exhibition; application.
- Platform: iOS (has an iOS release/version).
- Versions: Version 1 (2007); Version 2; Version 3 (iOS release, 2010).
- Programming languages: Java and Objective-C.
- Publisher / published in: PoEMM.net (published_in and publisher).
- Elmcip ID: 6237.
- App Store ID: 6738472589.
- Website: https://www.poemm.net/projects/speak.html.
- Source code repositories: https://github.com/OBXLABS/What-They-Speak-When-They-Speak-to-Me-iOs and https://github.com/OBXLABS/What-They-Speak-When-They-Speak-to-Me-java.
- Notable contributors: J. R. Carpenter; David Jhave Johnston; Jim Andrews; Aya Natalia Karpinska.
- Distribution format: digital distribution.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Speak?
A: Speak is an interactive digital poem (electronic literature) created by Jason Edward Lewis. It combines elements of poetry and interactive fiction and was first released in 2007.

### Q: On what platforms does Speak run?
A: Speak has a version designed for iOS; the project has been implemented using Java and Objective-C across its versions.

### Q: Where can I access or view Speak?
A: Speak is published and exhibited on PoEMM.net at https://www.poemm.net/projects/speak.html. Source code is available in public GitHub repositories for the iOS and Java implementations.

### Q: Who contributed to Speak besides the primary creator?
A: Contributors listed for the creative work include J. R. Carpenter, David Jhave Johnston, Jim Andrews, and Aya Natalia Karpinska.

## Why It Matters
Speak occupies a defined place in electronic literature as an interactive poem that crosses literary and software practices. Its creation by Jason Edward Lewis and publication via PoEMM.net position it within networks of experimental digital poetry and exhibition. The work’s multiple versions, including a dedicated iOS release, show an engagement with mobile platforms and the technical affordances of Java and Objective-C for interactive literary forms. The availability of source code in public repositories demonstrates an orientation toward preservation and study, making the work accessible to practitioners and scholars interested in the intersection of code and poetic practice. Listed in e-literature archives (Elmcip ID 6237) and distributed digitally, Speak functions both as a creative project and as a documented example of early mobile and web-based interactive poetry, useful for research, teaching, and comparative study within electronic literature.

## Notable For
- Being an interactive poem / electronic literature work authored by Jason Edward Lewis and published on PoEMM.net.
- Having multiple published versions starting in 2007 and an iOS-specific release (version 3) released in 2010.
- Use of both Java and Objective-C in its implementations, with public source code repositories for iOS and Java versions.
- Inclusion in e-literature archival metadata (Elmcip ID 6237) and distribution via digital exhibition channels.
- Contributions from recognized electronic poets and artists (J. R. Carpenter; David Jhave Johnston; Jim Andrews; Aya Natalia Karpinska).

## Body

### Overview
- Speak (What They Speak When They Speak to Me) is an interactive poem classified as electronic literature and interactive fiction.
- The work is created and authored by Jason Edward Lewis.
- It is published and exhibited on PoEMM.net.

### Versions and dates
- Version 1: recorded as value "1" with a qualifier indicating 2007.
- Version 2: listed as a subsequent version (no specific date provided in the source).
- Version 3: released for iOS with a 2010 qualifier for that version.

### Creators and contributors
- Primary creator / author: Jason Edward Lewis.
- Contributors to the creative work include J. R. Carpenter, David Jhave Johnston, Jim Andrews, and Aya Natalia Karpinska.

### Technical details
- Programming languages used in implementations: Java and Objective-C.
- Platform explicitly specified: iOS for at least one released version.
- Distribution format: digital distribution; available as a mobile application and exhibited as electronic literature.

### Publication and distribution
- Publisher / published in: PoEMM.net.
- Official project page: https://www.poemm.net/projects/speak.html.
- App Store identifier: 6738472589.
- Distributed by an entity referenced as Q368215 in the structured metadata.

### Archival and identifiers
- Elmcip (electronic literature) archive identifier: 6237.
- Source code repositories:
  - iOS repository: https://github.com/OBXLABS/What-They-Speak-When-They-Speak-to-Me-iOs
  - Java repository: https://github.com/OBXLABS/What-They-Speak-When-They-Speak-to-Me-java

### Classification
- Instance of: electronic literature, exhibition, mobile app, and application.
- Genres: interactive fiction and poetry.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Speak (What They Speak When They Speak to Me)",
  "description": "An interactive poem and work of electronic literature created by Jason Edward Lewis, first released in 2007 with later iOS releases.",
  "url": "https://www.poemm.net/projects/speak.html",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://github.com/OBXLABS/What-They-Speak-When-They-Speak-to-Me-iOs",
    "https://github.com/OBXLABS/What-They-Speak-When-They-Speak-to-Me-java"
  ],
  "additionalType": "electronic literature"
}

## References

1. Source