the same Letters in
their own Language. Now in this Explication I shall observe the same
order as I did in the Division of them, where readily it will appear,
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,
[_i_] sometimes doth become a _Consonant_, but then is pronounced only
more swiftly, so as together with the following _Vowel_, it can make a
_Diphthong_; but [_i_] is formed after the same manner almost,
as [_e_] except that the _Teeth_ are for the most part, more stricken,
and the _Tongue_ put close to the _Teeth_, the passage of the _Voice_
is rendred more strait, whence a more smart Sound also breaks forth,
which notwithstanding, can sometimes be hardly distinguished from
[_e_] [_y_,] also is [_i_] prono