But in the _German_ Alphabet, that which most disliketh me, is, their Order; which, in good truth, is none; because scarce two Letters of the same rank do follow mutually after one another, which would render the information of Deaf Persons to be so much the more difficult; wherefore I have reduced them into this following order, which seemed to me to be the most natural.
_a. e. i. j. y. o. u. ä. ö. ü. m. n. ng. l. r. h. g. ch. s. f. v. k. c. q. d. t. b. p. x. z._
To those who observe well, it will from this order alone, appear, that I have divided this whole Alphabet into _Vowels_, _Semi-vowels_, and _Consonants_. The _Vowels_ are a _Voice_ or _Sound_ modified by a various opening of the Mouth only, and are either _Simple_, or Uniform, as _a. e. i. j. y. o. u. w._ Or else they are mixt, which out of two, do so melt down into one, as that they are pronounced together, and are different from _Diphthongs_, in as much as their _Vowels_ are successively pronounced: Now these mixt _Vowels_, are ä. ö. ü. which some Nations either have not at all, or else do write them evilly; but of the manner of Formation, more shall be said hereafter.
The _Semi-vowels_ are a middle sort between the _Genuine Voice_, and a _Simple Breath_, and may at pleasure be brought forth in the manner as _Vowels_ are; and they are either of the _Nose_, or _Nasall_ such are _m. n. ng._ or else they be of the _Mouth_, or _Orall_, as _l. r._ _Consonants_ are a _Simple Breath_, not sonorous, yet variously modified, and are of three kinds:
For they are either pronounced successively, and may be produced at pleasure, as _g. ch. s. f. v._
Or are suddainly _shot forth_; which upon that score I call them _explosive_, as _k. c. q. t. d. b. p._
Or else being _Compounded_ out of two foregoing ones, their number is diverse in divers Nations; the _Germans_ have two; _viz._ _x._ and _z._
To this Division, in which I have had respect chiefly to the nature, and manner of pronouncing the _Letters_, may not impertinently be added, that those _Letters_ are formed mostly in three _Regions of the Mouth_, _viz._ in the bottom, or _Throat_; in the middle, or in the _Palate_ and _Teeth_; and lastly, in the utmost part thereof, or in the _Lips_: Hence it is, from every one of their Classes almost, are three sorts; one _Guttural_, another _Dental_, and a third _Labial_; but of these, more hereafter.