But if by chance, as it sometimes happeneth, that they should
pronounce 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
pronounce [_m._] and not [_em._] as it's vulgarly pronounced.

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 pronounce 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 pronounce
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 pronounce 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 t