Part 1

THE TALKING DEAF MAN:

or,

A Method Proposed, Whereby He Who is Born Deaf, May Learn to Speak.

By the Studious Invention and Industry of _John Conrade Amman_, an _Helvetian_ of _Shashuis_, Dr. of Physick.

Imprinted at _Amsterdam_, by _Henry Westein_, 1692. And now done out of Latin into English, by _D.F.M.D._ 1693.

_London_, Printed for Tho. Hawkins, in _George-yard, Lumbard street_, 1694.

Price bound One Shilling.

_To his most Approved Good Friend Mr. PETER KOLARD, the Author, with all Submission, Dedicateth this his Treatise of the Talking Deaf Man._

_My much honoured Friend_,

This little endeavour, how small soever it be, is upon many Accounts due to you; For besides that, the Truth of the matter here exposed, is to no one, (except my Self) more apparent, you did heap on me so many Favours, whilst I abode in your House, upon account of teaching your Daughter, and rendred me to be so much Yours, as no less could be sufficient, than to erect a publick, and as much as in me lay, an eternal Monument of Gratitude to you. How great the Incredulity of this Age is, no Man almost knows better than your self; there have been, and still are, such as boldly deny, that it is possible to bring the _Deaf_ to speak; others, though they should be admitted to be Eye-Witnesses, yet would not stick to doubt still of the matter: Wherefore, what-ever it was that I performed to your Daughter, and to some others, and by what Artifice I did it, I now ingenuously expose to the Eyes of all the World. I heartily wish that they may so make use of this my labour, as that for the future, no more _Dumb_ Persons may be found.

In the number of these doubting Persons, you have confessed to me, that you your self had formerly been, until you had heard a certain Maiden, who before had been _Dumb_, talking with me at _Amsterdam_; perhaps I should have been so my self, if, when I was ignorant in the thing, I had received narratively only, that some such thing was performed by another; wherefore I resolved rather to convince the Incredulity of Men (which now is accounted Prudence amongst most Men) of an Error, than to reprove them for their Rashness.

It is now three Years since I first thought to make this my Method publick; but had I then done it, I should now have repented it, because in this Interval I have much more polished it; and rendered it more easie by far; and as to what belongs to the practise thereof, more certain, yea, and all to that degree, as I dare confidently assert, that henceforth there shall be no _Deaf_ Person, (provided he be of a sound Mind, and be not Tongue-tied, nor of an immature Age) who by my Instruction shall not in the space of two Months speak readily enough. Perhaps also I shall hereafter repent, that I have published this small Treatise, as yet too immature; yet I had rather confess an Error, if I shall any where commit one, or in any future Edition augment it, than wholly to pass it over in Silence; for if I should be snatcht away by a hasty Death, (even as a tender state of Health doth threaten me) I should not know how to render to God an Account of the Talent committed to me, as he may require it of me.

Nothing therefore remained, most Worthy Sir, than that I should beg your Pardon, that I have made bold thus to interrupt you in the midst of Affairs, which almost swallow you wholly up; but I believe you will the more readily give it me, because this little Script may make my Absence less troublesome to you, because, according to the precepts here given, you yourself will be able to take care that your Daughter shall not only not forget all what she already knows, but more and more accomplish them. However, I humbly beseech you, that him whom you have begun to love, yea, though he be removed far from you, that you will persist still therein, and to take upon your self as need shall require it, the Patronage of the Truth it self. Farewel, and be well.

_J. Conrade Amman._

_Dated from my Study_, Aug. 10th, 1692.

* * * * *

_To his Learned friends_ Richard Waller, _and_ Alexander Pittfield, _Esquires, of the_ Royal Society.

_Gentlemen_,

The holding of a Candle to the Sun is not more absurd, than thus to present you with an _English_ Version of a _Latin_ Treatise. All who know you, know you to be Masters of not only most of the _European_, but also of the Learned Languages. But my excuse is, that what I have done for the sake of English Readers, I expose under your learned Names; the Subject-matter of which may be useful, and therefore acceptable to your selves and others. However, I am willing to discover my Ambitious aim herein, which is to let the World know who are my Friends, and what Names may give Honour to mine. I know, that several very considerable Members of that great Society, to which you so nearly relate, have already, both in Theory and Practise, acquainted the World with very remarkable things of this nature; and whether what is here published, will in the least, either elucidate or add to those already taught, and done by those very knowing persons, I neither dare nor will determine; but if neither one nor the other be here found, yet it is sometimes grateful to us, to see how good and great wits do jump, and in such Circumstances as these no Man can account Store to be a Soare. _I_ have only this to further mention, that the _Author_ chose the _High-German_ Tongue to become his exemplar, rather than any other Modern or Antique; it therefore is necessary, that he who would put his Rules in practice in any other Language, must observe a due Analogy in _mutatis mutandis_. Thus (my Friends) I have exposed both you and my self, if any blame happen, let that be all mine, who (without your Knowledge and Concession) did this Indignity to you, and to aggravate it, thus publickly to stile my self,

Gentlemen,

Your Cordial Friend and Servant,

_Dan. Foot._

* * * * *

TO THE READER.

Candid Reader,

_In these few Pages, I expose to thee openly and ingenuously, by what means I can learn the Deaf, (and because they were born so) the Dumb to speak articulately_, and easily to understand others also when they are speaking, so as they may be able both to read, and to understand a Book, or Letter, and to discover their own Minds, either by Speach or Writing.

How important a Benefit is this? How advantageous is the not hearing supplied by this Art? If Envy, or the detestable greedy Desire of Gain_ _could have prevailed with me, I had retained this Art, as lockt up in my own Breast. But alass! How miserable is the condition of the Deaf? How lame and defective is that Speach, which is performed by Signs and Gestures? How little are they capable to receive of those things which concern their eternal Salvation? Who doth not commiserate_ _this sort of Persons? Who can refuse to help them by all means which are possible? For my part, I, by the help of God's Grace, will not only help them, but will make publick and vulgar what is best to be done therein, yea, and have done so already, that they can understand others speaking, even with the softest_ Voice, _or rather whispering_.

_This Doctrin will seem new and incredible to most Men, yet is not plainly altogether unheard of; for, as I heard, there have been some, who engaged themselves in this cure; but what they effected therein, I must acknowledge is unknown to me; yea, I Religiously attest, that before I did excogitate this Matter, I met not with the least_ _foot-step thereof in any Author. Notwithstanding, some there be, who reject at first sight this Doctrin as fabulous; others, and those perhaps the same also; who when I shall have discovered to them the manner thereof, will cry, that they could do the same thing: I, for my part; am not concerned at either of them, well knowing, that those who are just in their_ _Estimation of things, will judge otherwise.

When thou, by reading shalt arrive thus far (good_ Reader) _stop a little (I pray thee) and use the liberty granted to every one, and attentively revolve in thy Mind, what thou thy self would'st do, if such a case as this was committed to thy care. If so be thou shaltst find out the right way, give God_ _thanks, and let it suffice, that I have admonished thee; if not, go on to read what follows, where thou wilt find it, with very little trouble. This very way is that, by which I taught_ Ehster Kolard, (_a young Virgin of great Hopes, the only Daughter of Mr_ Peter Kolard, _who was born Deaf) not only to read, but also to speak readily, yea, and to_ _hold Discourse with others and in a short time she profited so much, as to remember a many Questions and Answers in the Catechism, yea, and as far as her young Years were capable, she understood the Sense of them also: She rejoyced greatly when I told her, that I was willing to make this Method, by which she learned to speak, common_ to all. Friendly_ Reader, _use and accept well these things; and if thou knowest any things better, Candidly impart them, and make not thy self Ungrateful. Farewell._

* * * * *

An Advertisement to the _English Reader_.

About 26 Years since, the Honourable, Learned, and Pious F.M. Baron of _Helmont_ caused to be published in Latin a small Treatise; wholly and fully to the same purpose, with what is here published: Which said Treatise, entituled, _The Alphabet of Nature_, is now in Hand to be Translated, and Publish'd in _English_; of which it was thought fit here to give thee this Notice.

Thou art also (kind _Reader_) to be advertised, that there is very lately Translated into the _English_ a very learned Tract, entituled, _The Divine Being, and its Attributes_; demonstrated from the Holy Scriptures, and Original Nature of things, according to the Principles of the aforesaid F.M. Baron of _Helmont_. Written in _Low-Dutch_, by _Paulus Buchius_, Dr. of Physick, &c. and Licensed according to Order, and are to be sold by _T. Howkins_, Bookseller, in _George-yard, Lumbard-Street_.

THE TALKING DEAF MAN.

CHAP. I.

_An Inquiry into the Nature of a_ Voice, _and in what respect it differs from the Breath_.

Let no Man presume, that he shall ever attain to this noble Art, if he remain Ignorant in what it is that the nature of the Letters, as well in general, as special, doth consist; for it was this very thing which gave occasion to the composing of this small Treatise: Wherefore, before I treat of the manner of instructing _Deaf_ Persons, I shall bring into examination, First, the material part of the _Letters_, viz. _Voice_ and _Breath_; Secondly, the _Letters themselves_, and their Differences: Thirdly, and Lastly, I will teach the _Practise_ of the Art.

I have oftentimes heard from some Persons, that it was little beneath a Miracle, that God should give Men, to express the Thoughts of the Mind, rather by Motions, which are effected by the Lips, the Tongue, the Teeth, &c. than otherwise, and that so universally, that there is no Nation so Barbarous, no not excepting the _Hottentots_, which cannot speak in a Language. But let (I pray) these Men consider, what it is that Men rightly Instituted would have, whilst they mutually talk one with another; for they desire to open the most inward Recesses of the Heart, yea, and to transfuse their own proper Life into others, which thing cannot be more commodiously done, than by Speaking; for there is nothing which floweth forth from us, which carrieth with it a more vivid Character of the Life, than our _Voice_ doth; yea, in the _Voice_ is the _Breath_ of Life, part of which passeth into the _Voice_; for indeed the _Voice_ is the Child of the Heart, which is the Seat of the Affections, and of Desire. Hence it is, that sometimes we are not able to keep back the impetuous Motions of the Affections; but _out of the abundance of the Heart, the Mouth speaketh._ Thus, when we desire something in our selves, and yet are afraid to express it, the Heart labours like a Woman with Child, and becomes Anxious; but if we can pour it forth into the Bosom of a Friend, there presently ariseth great Tranquility, and we say, that we have emptied our Hearts: Yea, so full is the _Voice_ of the Life, which immediately flows from the Heart, that to talk long, extreamly wearieth us; but especially the Sick, who oftentimes can scarce utter three or four words, but they faint away. Therefore, to comprehend much in a few words, the _Voice_ is an Emanation from that very Spirit, which God breathed inth Man's Nostrils, when he Created him a living Soul. Hence also, _The Word of God, the Son of God, the Omnipotence of God_, &c. are in Holy Scripture oftentimes homonymous, or of the like, and same import.

It is no wonder therefore, if _Voice_ be natural to a Man, though he be _Deaf_, because _Deaf Men_ Laugh, Cry out, Hollow, Weep, Sigh, and Waile, and express the chief Motions of the Mind, by the _Voice_ which is to an Observant Hearer, various, yea, they hardly ever signifie any thing by Signs, but they mix with it some _Sound_ or _Voice_. Thus the Exclamations of almost all Nations are alike; [_a_] is the _Sound_ of him chiefly, who rejoyceth; [_i_] of him who is in Indignation, and Angry; [_o_] of one in Commiseration, or Exclamation; not to mention many such other-like.

Now I shall briefly declare, wherein the nature of the _Voice_ consisteth, where it is formed, and how it is formed: I shall also discover, together therewith, wherein is the difference betwixt _Voice_ and _Breath simply_, as what is in truth, of so much weight, that if it be unknown, some Deaf Persons cannot learn to speak, as shall be taught in the Third Chapter. Men ordinarily speak after two manner of ways, viz. either when they may be heard by any one, who is not too far distant from them, and that is properly call'd _Voice_; or else, when they speak privately in another's Ear, and then they pronounce a _Breath which is simple, but not Sonorous_. Deaf Men also do know a _Voice_ to be different from a _Simple Breath_; for they can speak both ways, and I also have learned this Distinction partly from them.

The Humane _Voice_ is Air, impregnated, and made Sonorous by the impressed Character of the Life, or is such, as whilst it is in breathing forth, doth smite upon the Organs of the _Voice_, so, as _they tremble thereupon_; for indeed, without this tremulous Motion, no _Voice_ is made: Yea, not only the _Larynx_, or Wind-pipe, doth thereupon tremble, but the whole Skull also; yea, and sometimes _all the Bones_ _of the whole Body_, which any one may easily find in himself, by his applying his Hand to his Throat, and laying it on the top of his Head. This trembling is very perceptible in most sounding Bodies, and is (if I mistake not) owing for the most part to the _Springiness_ of the Air; which, did I not study to be brief, I could more fully explicate. Now the _Simple Breath_ is Air, breathed forth by the opening of the Mouth or Nostrils, simply, and without any smiting on the parts, which rather exciteth a whispering than a sound. Hence is it, that Animals, whose Wind-pipe is cut beneath the Throat, do indeed render a _Breathing_, but no _Voice_; for the Tube of the Wind-pipe is too large, and too smooth, than that the Air can strike upon it any where; and being thus reflected on its self, it can also imprint a tremulous Motion on its neighbouring Bodies: This the Physicians Pupils do know; who being about to dissect live Dogs, they cut their Throats, that they may not be troubled with their barking: For _Voice_ differs as much from a _Simple Breath_, as doth that hoarse Sound, which we excite, by rubbing the tops of our Fingers hard upon some Glass or Table, which is quite differing from that same _soft whistling Sound_, which is heard when we lightly rub with the Hand the same Glass or Table.

The _Voice_ therefore, as it is the _Voice_, is generated in the _Cartilages of the Wind-pipe_, then afterwards is formed into such or such _Letters_; but that it may become a lovely _Voice_, it's requisite, that those Cartilages be _smooth_, and _lined with no mucous Matter_, else the _Voice_ will become Hoarse, and sometimes be utterly lost, viz. when they have lost their Springy power.

For _Pipes_; and other _Wind-Instruments_ do most notably explain to us the nature of the _Voice_; for in them we see a certain _Voice_ or _Sound_ to be generated out of Simple Air, whilst it is as it were, rent in pieces, and forced into a tremulous Motion: Now, that in these Instruments there is a little Tongue; or which is instead of a Tongue, the same in a Man is the _Epiglott_, or Cover of the _Wind-pipe_, and the _Uvula_, or Pallate of the Mouth; but the rest of the _Cartilages_ of the _Throat_, besides that, they contribute much to the making of the _Voice_, yet are they chiefly serviceable to it, in rendering it to be more flat, and more sharp, and that especially by the _Bone of the Tongue_, and the adjoyning Muscles: But I am unwilling to put from this Office the Muscles which are proper to the _Wind-pipe_; for they all unanimously conspire to make the _Cleft of the Throat_ either wider, or narrower. But above all, here is that wonderful Faculty of modifying the _Voice_, according to Will and Pleasure; which, even as _Speech_ also, is not natural to us, but a Habite, contracted by long Use or Custom. Hence it is, that the Unskilful are not only Ignorant how to Sing, but also cannot so much as imitate others who are Singing; so also such as are ignorant of any Language, do not only not understand others who are speaking that Language, but also do not know how presently to repeat that _Voice_ which they received by their Ears.

Things principally requisite to the _Voice_, are, that the _Wind-pipe_, the former thereof be solid, dry, and of the nature of _Resounding_ Bodies. By this _Hypothesis_, two of the most Eminent _Phænomena's of the Voice_ are discovered; why the _Voice_ should then at length become firm and ripe, when the Bones have attained unto their full Strength, and due Hardness, which cometh to pass much about the Years of ripe age, when the vital Heat, doth in a greater degree exert itself: The other Phænomenon is _Hoarsness_ or an utter loss of the _Voice_, which is, when the _Cartilages_, or _Gristles of the Throat_, especially the _Epiglott_, or Coverlid of the _Wind-pipe_, is lined or besmeared all over with a slimy Viscosity, whereby they lose their _Elasticity_, or Springiness. Now these Symptoms of the _Voice_ are also common to other _Wind-instruments_, when they become too much moistned by any vapourous wetting Air. The same reason also is to be assigned why the _Voice_ doth at last quite cease in those who have made too long Harrangues, in speaking, and whose Jaws are quite dried with an immoderate Heat; for in both these cases the top of the _Wind-pipe_ is covered over with a clammy _Tenacious Phlegm_.

There remains yet two other Symptoms of the _Voice_, which I have undertaken to explicate, viz. why the _Voice_ sometimes leaps from one _Eighth_ to another; and, as it is rightly said by the Vulgar Expression, that it is broken: and why, when we strive to make our _Voice_ either too sharp, or too flat, it at last plainly faileth us. As to the first, let us consider when and how it cometh to pass; and first, it's what principally happeneth to _Orators_, when they endeavour to lift up their _Voice_ too high, or strongly; but how this cometh to be, _Organ-pipes_, and the _Monochorde_, do teach us, _viz._ when some Impediment interposing, doth divide the _ordinary Sound_ into two; if therefore those parts are equal, either of them is by one _Eighth_ more sharp than the former Sound, neither are they distinguished from one another; but if they prove to be unequally divided, then two _distinct Sounds_ are made at the same time, whereof one is flatter than the ether, and this is commonly called a _broken Voice_: But why our _Voice_ should fail us, when we endeavour to make it more sharp, or more flat than it ought to be, the reason is, because we strive either so to contract the _Cleft_ of the _Wind-pipe_, and to press the _Spout-like Cartilage_, by help of the _Bone of Tongue_, towards the _Epiglott_, that the going forth of the _Voice_, and of the _Breath_, may be precluded, or else, on the contrary, because that the said _Cleft_, through the drawing down of the _Cartilages_, is so much widened, that the departing out of the _Breath_, finds no hinderance.

But here I had almost forgot to compare the _more dry_, the _more moist_, the _more solid_, and the _more thin_ Constitution of the _Larynx_, or _Wind-pipe_, which also make very much to the rendering the _Voice_, to be either sharp, or flat. That same humming Noise, which _many flying Insects_ make, not so much by the Wings, (for when they are cut off, the humming still remains) as by a most swift and brisk Motion of certain Muscles, hid in the Cavity of their Breasts, seems to have somewhat of an affinity to the _Voice_; wherefore I desire the Learned to examine, whether those small _Muscles, which are proper to the Cartilages of the Wind-pipe_, cannot perform somewhat like to that.

Many more Particulars concerning the _Voice_ might yet further be inquired into, such as, how it is, that every one may be known by his _Voice_? How that _Sound_, which in Singing is called _Quavering_, or _Trilling_, by a peculiarity, is excited, &c, But seeing that these things do not properly respect the nature of the _Voice_, I, for Brevities sake, do omit them.

CHAP. II.

_Expounding the Nature of the_ Letters, _and the manner how they are formed_.

Hitherto we have treated concerning the _Voice_ and _Breath_, and of the manner of the formation of both of them, in general; now let us see how the said _Voice_ and _Breath_ are, as a fit Matter for them, framed into such or such _Letters_; for the _Voice_ and _Breath_ are alone the material part of _Letters_, but the form of them is to be sought out from the various Configurations of those hollow Channels, thorough which they pass; _Letters_ therefore, not as they be certain Characters, but as they are Pronounced or Spoken, are the _Voice_ and _Breath_, diversly Figured by the Instruments ordained for the Speech.