Lesson 2 - Vowels 1

The vowels AH AW OO UH (short)

AH		as sounded in gnat is represented by a small circle
AW		as sounded in cod is represented by a large circle
OO		as sounded in foot is represented by a radiated circle
UH		as sounded in nut is represented by a dot

The joining of vowels and consonants

In the beginning of words

Join the vowel in such a way that it is either to the left or below. The reason for this will appear later. We may tabulate this rule thus:

The vowel goes to the left for

The vowel goes below for Ex: ag , ar , ob , om , at , od , as , us , ath , oth , ang , ur , ut , up , ug , etc.

In the body of words

Trace the vowel outside the angle formed by two consonants, viz f-d with a vowel f-a-d .

Ex: back , dock , rob , top , took , foot , full , pull , that , sad , mask , cast , charge , god , good , block , clock , etc.

At the end of a word

Vowels may be written either above or below, to the right or to the left.

Ex: shadow , show , to , body , army , know , blue .

The vowels AH AW OO O (long)

AH		arm
AW		all
OO		food
O		code
UR		urn

AH AW OO

These are the long sounds of the short vowels AH AW OO. We write no new sign for these, we simply place over the short vowel sign a horizontal dash that is commonly used to denote a long sound.

N.B. The dashes may, in practice, be omitted as the context will usually supply their omission. Such signs are necessary, however, in cases where any uncertainty may arise.

Ex: awl, all , bawl , dawn , walk , caught , bought , lawn , fought , laugh , palm , jar , art , farm , star , father , arm , food , flute , prove , fool , poor , tooth , room , suit , tool .

O

Represented by a large circle with a dot, .

Ex: foal , pole , soap , shoal , etc.