Sec. 4. There are sixteen vowel sounds provided for in Phonetic Shorthand, and these are divided into three classes, namely: 1. Long Vowels; 2. Short Vowels; 3. Diphthongs. Long vowels are indicated by a heavy dot or dash, placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a consonant stem; short vowels, by a light dot or dash similarly placed; diphthongs, by compound characters, placed at the beginning or end of a stem. The vowel signs are called first-, second-, or third-place, according to the positions they thus occupy. If placed at the left of any upright or inclined stem, or above a horizontal stem, a vowel sign is read before the stem; if placed at the right of an upright or inclined stem, or below a horizontal stem, it is read after the stem. When vowels are inserted in an outline, it is said to be vocalized. * a. Long Vowels. - These are indicated by heavy dots or dashes, placed near the stem, in the positions above described. Dash vowels are struck at right angles with the stem, but must not be allowed to touch it. The sound of â, as in fair, dare, is indicated by the second-place heavy dot. (See lines 1-3.) b. Positions of Words. - Few vowels are used by reporters, but the leading or accented vowel is indicated by the position in which the outline is written.

1. When the accented vowel is a first-place vowel, the first upright or inclined stem of the outline is written above the line. (Lines 4-6.)

2. When the accented vowel is second-place, such stem is written on the line. (Lines 7-9.)

3. When the accented vowel is third-place, such stem is written through the line. (Lines 10-12.)

If the outline contain horizontal stems only, it is written above the line, on the line, or below the line, in like accordance with the position of its accented vowel. (Lines 13-14.)

* Writing exercises under this section, will be found on page 73, post.

Long Vowels

c. Short Vowels. - These are indicated by light dots and dashes. The difference in the sizes of the long and short vowels should be distinct, but without making the former so heavy as to detract from the beauty of the writing. The sound of ẽ, as in mercy, is indicated by the second-place light dot. {Lines 1-5.) d. Vowels between Consonants. - When a vowel occurs between two stems, observe the following rules:

1. First-place vowels are written after the first stem.

2. Second-place long vowels (3, 0) are written after the first stem.

3. Second-place short vowels (ĕ, ŭ) are written before the second stem.

4. Third-place vowels are written before the second stem.

Notice carefully the illustrations of each of these rules, in lines 1 to 8. See, also, Diagram of Vowels, p. 71.

e. Diphthongs. - These signs should be accurately made, and should never be inclined from the perpendicular. The character for I, in words containing more than one stem, may be written in either the first or third place, but it is always to be considered as first-place when the position of an outline depends upon it. (Lines 9-12.) f. A small tick, joined to one of these signs, indicates that another vowel sound follows the diphthong. {Line 13.) g. When two vowels occur between two stems, one of them may be written to each; or both vowels may be indicated by an acute angle, inclined in the direction of Chay, written in the place of the first of the two vowels. This angle opens upward if the first one be a dot vowel, and downward if it be a dash vowel. The down-stroke of the angle is shaded, if the first vowel to be indicated be long. (Line 14.) h. When two vowels are written to the same stem, the one pronounced nearest the stem is placed somewhat nearer it than the other. (Line 15.) i. When a word begins with I or Oi,the diphthong sign may often be joined to the stem. The signs for I, Ow, and Ew, may sometimes be joined to a stem at the end of a word. (Line 15.)

Short Vowels

Diphthongs

j. W and Y are often conveniently indicated by small semicircles prefixed to a stem. The semi-circle for W may open either to the right or left; that for Y, either upward or downward. They should be written in such direction as to make a distinct angle with the stem, and vowels may be placed to the stem in the same manner as if the semi-circle were not used. (Lines 1, 2.)