Or else these Semivowels are Orall, which are indeed such as are pronounced thro' the Mouth, but not so freely as are the Genuin Vowels, and they be two, (l) and (r;) (l) is formed when the Tongue is so applied to the Roof, and the upper Teeth, that the Voice cannot, but by a small Thred, as it were, get forth by the Sides of the Tongue; for if you compress the Cheeks to the Grinders, you stop up the Passage of the Voice, and it will be very difficult for you to pronounce this Letter, (r,) is a Voice fluctuating with great swiftness, and is formed, when the more movable part of the Tongue does in the twinkling of an Eye, oftentimes strike upon the Roof of the Mouth, and as often is drawn back again from it; for thus the Voice formed in the Throat, in its pronouncing, flows and ebbs back again, and is uttered, as it were by Leaps. Hence it is, that they, whose Tongues be too heavy and moist, and less voluble, will never pronounce this Letter, whether they can Hear, or are Deaf.
Now there still remains the Consonants, or the Letters, which are formed out of an unsounding or mute Breath; yet, out of which, some of the Semi-vowels may be made, as g. ch. s. f. v.
As the Voice is the common matter of the Consonants, the sharper part of which is (h) which is the most simple of them all, and out of which diversly figurated, the rest of them are framed: And they are either the Sibilants, which are formed out of Breath, which is somewhat compressed or straitned, that the passing Breath breaks forth with a certain kind of Hissing, and with violence.
Here I judge that we are not to pass over in silence, how that there are some parts in Germany, where there is so much of Affinity of (g) with (k,) as (b) has with (p) and (d) with (t,) or where (g) is pronounced like (k) but softer, so also the French do pronounce their (g) before a. o. u. and ou.
(s) is formed, when the Teeth and Tongue are so clapt together, that the Breath cannot come forth, but by the Spaces of the Teeth: But (f) or (v) (which differs not from (f) in our Language) is formed, when the neather Lip is so moved to the Teeth above, that the Breath must break out thro' the said Spaces of the Teeth; ph. is (f) being a Stranger in the German Tongue, and differs from it only in the Character.
The other kind of Consonants are explosive; which, viz. are discharged at one push, and as it were, in the twinkling of an Eye and are nothing else but Breath, which being got close together, either in the fore, middle, or hinder Region of the Mouth, is discharged on a suddain; and (k) is indeed formed in the hinder Region, when the hinder part of the Tongue is moved to the Roof, that the Breath cannot break forth, neither by the Mouth, nor by the Nose, but is suddenly let loose again: For thus the imprisoned Breath breaks out, and by breaking out, maketh k. c. or q. which in Germany are all the same Letter; in the middle Region are d. and t. formed, when, viz. the Breath, by help of the Tongues being moved to the Teeth, or Roof, and suddainly drawn back again, being more or less compressed, rusheth out by its own Springiness, and so d. or t. is made, which only differs, as b. and p. according to the more or less; in the outermost Region of the Mouth are formed, (b) and (p) when, viz. the Breath being compressed in the whole Cavity of the Mouth, they get out through the Lips opened.
Lastly; here follows those Consonants, which are compounded of Hissing and Explosion, such are (x) or ks. and (z) or ts. which only are the alone anomalous or irregular ones of the German Language; for if I may speak what I think; we might well enough want these Characters; yet I disapprove not of the use of them, but only shew what might be more convenient, viz. that Voice or Breath which is simple, might be expressed also by a simple Character, and on the contrary, that a Character, which is simple and only one, would signifie but one only Voice or Breath: But if the commodious use of Short-hand may be objected, I would perswade to express all possible Combinations, of Vowels, with Semi-vowels, and Consonants, by simple Characters.
This is what I determined to say concerning the Letters, and their Formation; and seeing I am not willing to write a Grammar, what might yet further be said of them, I pass by; but what I have performed, I leave it to others to judge thereof, not so much to teach them, as by what is here presented to excite them, being desirous, as it becomes a young Man, to learn of them: I hope they will pardon my Errors, because of my Youth. Yet certain I am, had the ancient Hebrews, Greeks and Romans, thus describ'd their Letters, there would have been no contention about the manner of Pronounciation.
CHAP. III.
Teacheth the Method its self, by which such as are Deaf, and consequently Dumb, may learn to Speak.