Lesson 3 - Vowels 2

The vowels EH and EE

EH		net
EE		knit

The short vowel EH as sounded in net and let is represented by any one of the four small semicircles .

For the short vowel EE, as in knit, give, the same signs are used but with the addition of a small dot placed above them .

The method of joining these signs to others

It is important to clearly understand and faithfully follow this rule, viz. “In joining these signs to others you must avoid in so doing forming an angle. From a consonant to a vowel an angle must never be formed. Nor from a vowel to a consonant, when at the beginning of a word.”

In the body of a word there will be an angle sometimes, from a vowel to a consonant, but never from a consonant to a vowel.

The following examples will illustrate this rule.

When a word begins with a vowel

Begin with the little semi-circle and place the consonant-sign that follows, to the right or above, in accordance with the rule enunciated in Lesson 2, 2, a.

Ex: echo , ebb , elm , elbow , if , it , is , ill , elk , elf , effort , error , Italy , idiot , essay , ember , else , ell , egg , embark , ignore , imp , etch , livery , irritable , image , etc.

Of the for equivalent signs choose the one that can be used without forming an angle, e.g. in joining ‘e’ to ‘b’ if forms an angle, viz ; nor no. 2 , or no. 4 ; but with no. 3 there is no angle formed: .

From a consonant to a vowel

Choose the semi-circle that will not form an angle with the consonant-sign.

Ex: bill , bell , sell , sill , mill , melt , effect , this , else , ell , elder , egg , best , practice , tell , till , chest , dip , rip , cellar , fellow , bellow , below , jest , skip , whip , rest , mistress , nest , get , give , jet , gelid , people .

The vowels EY and EE

EY		eight
EE		deep

These are the long vowels corresponding to the short vowels EH and I. The outline figure is the same in both cases, but EH is distinguished from EY by the latter having a dot placed under it, e.g. EH , EY .

Also, EE is distinguished from long EE by the latter having the horizontal dash placed above it, e.g. EE , long EE .

Ex: eight , late , place , maid , afraid , mislaid , plate , age , chamber , brief , deep , steep , meat, meet , feature , leader , seem , believe , green , vain , air , see , say , thee .