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_.