Part 3

The other _Nasalls_ [_u_] and [_ng_] have nothing peculiar, unless it be that I shew the Deaf the posture of the _Tongue_ in a Looking-Glass, and put their Hand to my _Nose_, whereby they may be sensible, that there comes forth thorough the _Nostrils_ a _Sounding Breath_. When I teach them [_l._] I bid them to apply the _Tongue_ to the _upper Teeth_; but to the _Cutters_, and to the _Dog-Teeth_ only, that then they may emit a _Voice_ thro' the Mouth I make a Sign with my Hand; but least, instead of [_l._] they should pronounce [_n._] which comes to pass when the _Tongue_ doth so hinder the coming forth of the _Voice_, that it returns to get out by the _Nostrils_; therefore, till they are better accustomed, I gently compress the _Nostrils_ with my Fingers.

The Letter [_r_] is the most difficult of all the rest, yet amongst six Deaf Persons, which I have hitherto instructed, four of them pronounce it with the greatest easiness; the other two cannot form it, but in their Jaws; but I teach them, by moving the Hand one while to the _Throat_, and another while to the _Mouth_, whereby they may, as it were, feel the subsulting and interrupted Expulsion of the _Voice_; also I bid them to look often in the Glass, to observe the tremulous and fluctuating Motion of the _Tongue_; but no one can expect at the first trial, the genuin Pronounciation of this Letter.

When the _Vowels_ and _Semi-vowels_ are well inculcated into them, _the Consonants_ are learnt without any trouble almost, for they are a _Simple and Mute Breath_, coming forth, either successively, or suddenly, according to the various _Openings of the Mouth_, and only with putting the Hand to the Mouth almost, they may all easily be learned.

[_h_] is the most simple of all, nor is it any thing else but Air, which is breathed out thicker, and more swiftly.

[_g_] or _ch._ is sharper than [_h_] which I teach thus, when I shew to my Deaf Patients the posture of the _Tongue_ in a Looking-Glass, and give them to feel the expiring _Breath_; it is so in like manner with [_s_] and [_f_] insomuch, as nothing is more easie than they, and which may most easily be learned by the fore-going Description.

I can teach a Deaf Man, (though he were blind) the _Explosive Consonants_; for if I cause him to feel the _Breath_ discharged upon him, he would necessarily pronounce one of the three; for I bid him to look simply on my _Mouth_ and _Tongue_, and then having put his Hand to my _Mouth_, I pronounce either [_k._] or [_b._] [_p._] or [_d._] [_t._] and command him to do the like.

(_x._) and (_z._) are pronounced no otherwise than is (_ks._) or (_gs._) (when (_g_) is an _Explosive Consonant_) and (_ts._) wherefore I shall add nothing concerning them.

Deaf Persons are to be diligently accustomed to pronounce these _Semi-vowels_, _n. ng. l. r._ also the following _Consonants_; _h. g. k. t._ with some kind of opening the _Mouth_, else they may joyn them sometimes with certain _Vowels_, not without a notable yawning, & a discordant noise. Now in general, Winter-time is fitter almost for to instruct the Deaf, because then they see the _Breath_ coming forth from the _Mouth_, whilst Pronounciation is in doing.

When therefore I taught any Deaf Person to pronounce the Letters hitherto enumerated, and that one by one, I taught him so to utter two or three of the easiest, that there should be interstice between them; as for example, _ab. am. da. fa. ef. &c._ so that they might be accustomed to pronounce the Letters successively; then by degrees I use them to the more difficult Combinations, mutually mixing _Vowels_, _Semi-vowels_ and _Consonants_, and thus with little trouble they learn to read; but if when they have read any thing, I bid them look upon my _Mouth_, and to repeat the same after it hath been pronounced by me; for thus they become by degrees to be accustomed to imitate the humane _Voice_, only by looking on; but I am unwilling to tire them out with this labour, troublesome enough, until they have profited much, because they may be frighted with it.

In the mean time we must endeavour diligently; that when one _Consonant_ follows another _Consonant_, as _ps. kt. ks. sch. &c._ or a _Semi-vowel_, as _ls. lk. md. &c._ that they do immediately joyn them in Pronounciation, least some (_i_) or (_e_) be heard between them, which unless it be cautiously avoided, often happens.

When they can read, and in a manner understand others when they speak, I treat them like new-born Babes; first, I teach them _Nouns_, which are obvious, as well _Substantives_ as _Adjectives_, so also the most necessary _Verbs_ and _Adverbs_, than _Declinations_ and _Conjugations_; but here that five-fold turning Orb was of most excellent use to me, it being a rich Treasury of the whole _German_ Tongue, which I found in the Mathematical Delights of _Swenter_, I augmented it, and applied it also to the _Dutch_ Idiome; out of it may they quickly, and with pleasure learn all possible _Combinations_ of _Vowels_, _Semi-vowels_, and _Consonants_, also all terminations of _German_ words, and that as well Derivatives as Compounds. The first Orb contains _Prepositions_ and small _Mono-Syllables_, with which _Nouns_ and _Verbs_ are compounded; the second, the _Initial Letters_; the third, _Vowels_ and _Diphthongs_; the fourth, the _Final Letters_; lastly, all the _German Terminations_.

But there seems to be a great difficulty, that some Letters, as _e._ and _i. a._ and _u._ are uttered by the same opening of the Mouth, and consequently they must needs be confounded; but in good truth, it's of small moment, because for the most part the difference is not heeded, and the Letters, which according to their nature, are by far, more different, are written almost after the same manner, chiefly when they are pronounced hastily, as _m._ and _n. r._ and _n. a._ and _o. &c._ which yet puts no stop to an exercised _Reader_.

Others object, that the _Deaf_ thus taught, will, it may be, understand no Body but my self: Indeed, this difficulty Teems to have something of weight in it; but we must know, that Menst Men pronounce most Letters badly alike, and write their Characters negligently; but with such a one who learns to speak, it is all one as it is with him, who is taught to read other Men's Writings: For first, he can scarce read any thing but what is written by his Master, and then the Writings of his School-fellows; and lastly, there is nothing which he cannot read, tho' very badly written, it is therefore not to be wondred at, if those I teach to speak, do at the beginning more easily understand me, than others; (for I pronounce the Letters in their full _extension_) and not _lamely_ (as many are wont to do) and after that they come to understand their Domesticks and Familiars, and at last, any Body.

Here in the end I add, that most of the Letters may be formed, as well by inspiring as by expiring, which thing I have very much wondred at in some Persons, who _speak out of the Belly_: And once at _Amsterdam_ I heard an old Woman speaking both ways, and made answers to her self, as to questions, so as I would have sworn that she talked with her Husband two or three Paces distant from her; for the _Voice_ being swallowed up in her in Breathing, would seem to come from far.

Behold, _Reader_, a small Tract of three days; if thou wilt offer any thing more, right and true, I will receive it with thank: There are yet some other things, _viz._ how a deaf Person may be made, so as to be able to discern from one the other, some Letters pronounced by another, as _m._ from _b. n._ from _d. ng._ from _k. &c._ or how the quantity of Syllables is to be govern'd. But these, and the like, can scarce be learnt, but by teaching.

_A word is enough to the Wise._

THE CONCLUSION.

The _Author_ is thinking to turn this small Treatise into the _Dutch_, and very speedily, God willing, to publish it for the good of the Nation, and will so adapt it to the Idiom thereof, as to make it to be accounted proper. Nothing being more in the _Authors_ care than that by this his slender endeavour, he shall stir up some one to perform the like, or at least to attempt it: Now if there occurs to any Body, any thing, either too hard, or not sufficiently explained, he may expect a more full Edition, or else let him repair to the _Author_, who according to the Light granted unto him, will refuse nothing to any Man.

_THE END_.

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