Each hath its simple
Character, because the Sound which they signifie, is only one, tho'
mixt; for _a._ _o._ and _u._ are so pronounced, that the passage of
the _Voice_, the _Tongue_ and _Teeth_ being conjoyned for to
pronounce, _e._ becomes Straiter, and so _e._ together with the said
Letters, _a._ _o._ _u._ doth constitute but one only, yet a _mixt
vowel_. The _French_ utter them by _ai._ _eu._ and _u._ and in good
truth, badly enough, as any one may see. The _Dutch_ want _[ae]._
_[oe]._ and express them by _eu._ but _[ue]._ by _u._ in no better a way
than the _French_.
Concerning the _Diphthongs_ composed out of these _Vowels_, and which
may be thence compounded, I judge it needless to say much; for they
are nothing else in our Language than a more then usual swift
Pronunciation of the Component _Vowels_, yet successive; and thus they
differ from the _mixt Vowels_, but how improper and absurd
_Diphthongs_ some Nations have, any one may easily gather from what
hath been already said.
The other sort of Letters are _Semi-Vowels_, which are therefore so
called, because that they be formed indeed out of a _Sounding Breath_
or _Voice_, but such as in its progress is much broken.
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