The Talking Deaf Man - A Method Proposed, Whereby He Who is Born Deaf, May Learn to Speak, 1692 by John Conrade Amman
page 19 of 35 (54%)
page 19 of 35 (54%)
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that _Voice_ and _Breath_ are according to a triple Region of the
Mouth, triply figured or formed spontaneously. Therefore the Simple and Uniform _Vowels_ are, _a._ _e._ _i._ _j._ _y._ _o._ _u._ _w._ and are formed after the following manner. _a._ is a _Gutteral Vowel_, and the most Simple of all; the Key of the _Alphabet_, and therefore is by all Nations set first of all, excepting only (as far as I know) the _Abyssines_, by whom, as Ludolf testifieth, it is placed as the Thirteenth _Letter_. True indeed it may be pronounced by various Placings of the _Tongue_, yet the common, and most convenient is, that the _Tongue_ should be in its posture of rest; and then being gently stretched forth in the _Mouth_, it may only lightly, or not at all touch upon the utmost Border of the lower _Teeth_; if therefore the lower _Jaw_ be drawn downwards, and thereby the _Mouth_ be opened, that the _Voice_ formed in the _Throat_, strikes not neither against the _Teeth_, nor against the _Lips_, than a plain open [_a_] is heard, _e. i. j. y._ are _Dental Vowels_, or the _Voice_, which in coming forth, smites more or less against the _Teeth_; Hence it is that Infants, although they can say _Pappa, bo, &c._ yet can they not pronounce these Letters until they have Teeth, especially _the Cutters_, or _fore-Teeth_; and indeed [_e_] is formed, when the _Voice_, (the _Lips_ being gently opened), strikes against the _Teeth_ also moderately opened; now the posture of the _Tongue_ is such, that it somewhat presses on each side upon the _Dog-Teeth_ of the Inferior _Jaw_, for so the passage of the _Voice_ is made narrower, and the [_e_] much more clear. _i. j._ and _y._ are the same _Vowel_, pronounced one while more short, and another more long, nor doth it stand upon any Foundation, |
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