The Talking Deaf Man Part 2

Here _I_ judge that we are not to pa.s.s 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 p.r.o.nounced like (_k_) but softer, so also the _French_ do p.r.o.nounce 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 _s.p.a.ces 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 _s.p.a.ces 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 pa.s.s 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 p.r.o.nounciation.

CHAP. III.

_Teacheth the Method its self, by which such as are Deaf, and consequently Dumb, may learn to Speak._

What hath been hitherto said may enough suffice to observant _Readers_, inasmuch as the Fundamentals of the whole Artifice, are therein contained; but least the curious should complain, that I have only made their Mouth water, I shall ingeniously discover to them what in four Years time, wherein I have endeavoured to instruct some Deaf Persons, I have observed what is worthy, and most necessary to be known.

Now what I have effected by this my Method, especially to the Daughter of Mr. _Kolard_, a Merchant of _Harlem_, I can appeal to a great part of _Holland_, and universally almost to the whole City of _Harlem_, and to innumerable other Witnesses, of all Ranks and Conditions.

The first thing which I require in the Person I am to teach, is, that he be of a docible Wit, and not too young of age; than that the _Organs of Speech_ be rightly const.i.tuted in him; for stupid Persons are capable of no Teaching, whose Age is yet too tender; nor do they mind enough, nor know how Teaching will be for their Use and Benefit; but those whose _Organs of Speech_ are altogether unfit, they may learn indeed to understand others when they speak, and discover their own Mind by Writing; but they will never learn to speak.

Having therefore a fit subject, my first Care is to make him to sound forth a _Voice_, without which, almost all labour is lost, but that one point, whereby Deaf Persons do discern a _Voice_ from a _Mute Breath_, is a great Mystery of Art; and if I may have leave to say so, it is the _Hearing of Deaf Persons_, or at least equivolent thereunto, _viz._ that trembling Motion and t.i.tillation, which they perceive in their own _Throat_, whilst they of their own accord do give forth a _Voice_; that therefore the Deaf may know, that I open my Mouth _to emitt a Voice_; not simply to yawn, or to draw forth a _Mute Breath_, I put their Hand to my _Throat_ that they may be made sensible of that tremulous Motion, when I utter my _Voice;_ then I put the same Hand of theirs to their own _Throat_, and command them to imitate me; nor am I discouraged, if at the beginning their _Voice_ is harsh and difficult; for in time it becomes more and more polite.

If I gain their _Voice_, which for the most part I do at the first time, I soon learn them to p.r.o.nounce _Vowels_, _viz._ I bid them so to moderate the _opening of their Mouth_, whilst they do form a _Voice_ in their _Throat_, as I have said above, concerning the Formation of the _Vowels_; but that they may do that the more easily, I hold a _Looking-Gla.s.s_ to them, because they cannot from Sight alone imitate those diverse Motions of the _Jaws_, of the _Tongue_, and of the _Lips_, unless they had oftentimes tried it before a Looking-Gla.s.s.

Thence I learned, that that common belief, (that so soon as Hearing is restored to Deaf Persons, they will speak) to be false, for it seems not to me, that there is so great a consent betwixt the Organs of _Voice_, and of Hearing, that at the first blush they can imitate a _Voice_ that is heard; but by often imitating a _Voice_ or _Breath_ received from another, and also by hearing their own at the same time, we find at length a likeness between both, and after this manner we all learn to speak; for he who learns to speak, it is all one, as if he did learn some other Art; for by a long accustoming, the Organs are rendered apt and pliable: Hence it is, that sometimes we come not to p.r.o.nounce aright Foreign Letters but after a long time. Now, it would be well observed or considered, that I presently prescribe all the Letters to Deaf Persons, or else they could not fix in their Minds their _Idea's_ of them, and I seldom teach more than two or three Letters in one day, least the _Idea's_ be confounded; but I bid them very often to repeat them, and to write them down as they are p.r.o.nounced by me.

But if by chance, as it sometimes happeneth, that they should p.r.o.nounce one Letter for another; I blame them not, but rather commend them, and grant with a nodd that they have satisfied me, and forthwith I write down the Character of that Letter upon Paper, that they may knit together the _Idea_ thereof with its figure. In the interim, whilst they learn the _Vowels_, I very often put their Hand to my _Throat_, that they may be accustomed to give forth a Sound.

When the _Vowels_ are become familiar to them, I go next to the _Semi-vowels_, which sometimes are more difficult, especially the _Nasals_; for Deaf Persons, unless they be taught, never give forth the _Voice_ by the _Nose_, thereupon I begin with [_m._] as that which is most plain, and easier learnt than the rest, so that they thereby may be accustomed to give a Sound at least thro' the _Nose_; therefore I bid them shut together their _Lips_, and putting their Hand to their _Throat_, to give forth a _Voice_, and by that means they necessarily p.r.o.nounce [_m._] and not [_em._] as it's vulgarly p.r.o.nounced.

The Daughter of Mr. _Kolard_, before she was committed to my Care, could indeed say _Pappa_; for indeed it is a little word, which is almost born with us; but her Father did confess, that he had more than 1000 times tried in vain to make her say _Mamma_, which yet I I brought her to in a small time.

And now, _Reader_, I commit to thee another Secret, _viz._ that if a Deaf Person be committed to thee to teach, beware that you do not teach him to p.r.o.nounce together _Semi-vowels_ and _Consonants_, together with their annexed _Vowels_; as for example, _em. en. ka. ef.

te, &c._

For thus they would learn neither to read, nor rightly to p.r.o.nounce any word. The power and force of _Semi-vowels_ and _Consonants_ consists not in the adjoyned _Vowels_, but in a peculiar _Voice_ or _Breath_; and when you would have a Deaf Person to say _Tafel_ or _Swartz_, you shall hear from him nothing else but _Te. a. ef. e. el._ or _Es. we. a. er. te. zet._ which is very uncouth, nor can you easily mend it: But by this Method, so soon as ever they know their Letters, they begin to read; for _to read is only to p.r.o.nounce the Letters successively_.

Here note well, that in the Schools this very thing would be of great use, chiefly when they are taught Languages, whose Letters are expressed by whole words, as _Alpha, Omega, Gimel, double u, zet, &c._ For more time is lost, and the desire of Learning taken away from Children, before they are able to abstract the Letters of these Sounds, and to connect them together in _Reading_; so that it is very much to be wonder'd at, that this most eminent short way of reading hath hitherto lain hid in the dark.

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-Gla.s.s, 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 p.r.o.nounce [_n._]

which comes to pa.s.s 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 p.r.o.nounce 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 Gla.s.s, to observe the tremulous and fluctuating Motion of the _Tongue_; but no one can expect at the first trial, the genuin p.r.o.nounciation 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-Gla.s.s, 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 p.r.o.nounce 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 p.r.o.nounce either [_k._] or [_b._] [_p._] or [_d._]

[_t._] and command him to do the like.

(_x._) and (_z._) are p.r.o.nounced 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 p.r.o.nounce 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 p.r.o.nounciation is in doing.

When therefore I taught any Deaf Person to p.r.o.nounce the Letters. .h.i.therto 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 p.r.o.nounce 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 p.r.o.nounced 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 p.r.o.nounciation, 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 p.r.o.nounced 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 p.r.o.nounce 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 p.r.o.nounce 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 p.r.o.nounced by another, as _m._ from _b. n._ from _d. ng._ from _k. &c._ or how the quant.i.ty 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, G.o.d 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_.

Books Printed for _Tho. Howkins_, in _George Yard, Lumbard-Street_.

Humane Prudence; or the Compleat States-Man. Address'd to the Right Honourable the _Earl of Nottingham. 0ct.

_aesops_ Fables, in English; adorned with many curious Sculptures cut on _Copper Plates_, in _Oct_.