The Talking Deaf Man | Page 8

and [_i_]: But [_w._] is to [_u._] just as _j._ is to [_i._] for indeed _a. u. w._ are formed, when the Teeth and Tongue keep the same posture; but the Lips are more or less contracted, even as the Teeth are in [_e._] and [_i._] and so when they are less stricken, [_o._] is produced, but when a little more [_u._] or [_w._]; but we ought carefully to beware, whilst [_o._] or [_u._] are pronounced, least the Teeth should be seen; for else a certain kind of a soft _e._ will be mingled; and instead of _?._ or _��._ there will be produced _o._ or _u._ These Letters belong to the French, au and ou, when nevertheless they are nothing else but Diphthongs, also _oe._ of the Dutch is our _u._ but very improperly.
Mixt Vowels are _?. ?. ��._ These Characters are peculiar to our Language, and were invented very ingeniously by our Ancients, though our Moderns mostly know not the reason thereof. Each hath its simple Character, because the Sound which they signifie, is only one, tho' mixt; for _a._ _o._ and _u._ are so pronounced, that the passage of the Voice, the Tongue and Teeth being conjoyned for to pronounce, _e._ becomes Straiter, and so _e._ together with the said Letters, _a._ _o._ _u._ doth constitute but one only, yet a mixt vowel. The French utter them by _ai._ _eu._ and _u._ and in good truth, badly enough, as any one may see. The Dutch want _[?]._ _[?]._ and express them by _eu._ but _[��]._ by _u._ in no better a way than the French.
Concerning the Diphthongs composed out of these Vowels, and which may be thence compounded, I judge it needless to say much; for they are nothing else in our Language than a more then usual swift Pronunciation of the Component Vowels, yet successive; and thus they differ from the mixt Vowels, but how improper and absurd Diphthongs some Nations have, any one may easily gather from what hath been already said.
The other sort of Letters are _Semi-Vowels_, which are therefore so called, because that they be formed indeed out of a Sounding Breath or Voice, but such as in its progress is much broken. They are, as I said, either Nasalls, or such as are pronounced through that open passage, by which the Nose opens into the Hollow of the _Mouth_: Now the Voice is forced to go that way, either when it flows to the Lips shut close, and rebounding from thence, is formed into [_m_;] or when the Tip of the Tongue is so applied to the roof of the Mouth, and to the upper Teeth, the Voice is made to rebound through the Nostrils, and so [_n_] becomes formed; or lastly, when together with the hinder part of the Tongue, the Voice being applied to the Roof, is so straitned that there is no Egress left open for it, but through the Nose, and so [_n_] is formed; which is a Sound, which hath no peculiar Character in any Language, as I know of, yet it differs no less from the rest of the Nasals, (_k_) is divers from (_t_) or (p,) if any one desires to try this by himself, let him endeavour to pronounce; having his Nose held close with his Fingers, one of these three Letters, and he will not be able to do it.
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