113.   Besides the heavy stems, Hay, Way, and Yay, for the sounds of h, w, and y, light breve-signs for writing these consonants are also provided, as explained below.

114.   "Breve" Defined. - As the term is most generally used in this book, a "breve " is a short phonographic character, struck in various directions, and made either straight or curved, and about one-fourth the length of a consonant-stem. It is also sometimes applied to the circles and loops.

Remark. For the names of the breves see paragraph 151.

115. Breve-hay. - H may be written with a short, light tick-sign, attached to a consonant-stem at either end, being made either perpendicular or horizontal, according to which position gives the easiest junction with such stem. Used initially before the stems En and Ing, it is struck vertically upward. It is also written upward in the middle of the outlines of a few words, to avoid using the stem Hay. This sign is usually called "Breve-hay." Examples:

Remark. It is optional with writers whether they employ the stem or the breve sign for h before En and Ing, as in writing the words hinge, hang, etc. But if the breve is used it should be struck vertically upward; or, if it be inclined at all, it should be toward the slant of Pee rather than toward that of Chay.

116. When breve-hay is joined at the beginning of an / stem standing alone, the rule for writing / when it is the only stem of a word applies, - that is, it is struck upward.

117. Breve-way. - W may be written with a small semicircle, attached to a consonant-stem, and opening either to the right or to the left, according to which

position gives the easiest junction with such stem. When used initially, except before horizontals, it is generally made to open rightward. But in the middle of outlines, it is frequently turned the other way. This sign is usually called " Breve-way."

118.   Breve-yay. - Y may be written with a small semicircle, attached to a consonant-stem, but opening either upward or downward, according to which position gives the easiest junction with such stem. This sign is usually called " Breve-yay."

Examples:

119.   Stem-signs instead of Breves. -At the beginning of outlines of words with initial vowels, and at the finish of outlines of words that end with vowel-sounds, as a rule the stem-signs of these consonants must be used and not the breves ; as in the words O'Hara, awake, Owego, Ayora, Lehigh, Kanawha, Himalaya, etc.

120.   The principle underlying the foregoing rule is of universal application,—that if a vowel must of necessity be written to a particular consonant, such consonant must be written with its stem-sign. The reason for this is that as the vowels are distinguished by differ ence of place, we must write them to signs that have length in order to show whether they are first, second, or third place ; and nothing but the stem-signs will enable us to so write the vowels. Thus, in writing wake, weary, etc., we may use the breve for w, because the first vowel being medial may be written to the second consonant in stead of to the w. But in writing awake, Owego, etc., the first vowel being initial must be written to the w, so the stem Way and not the breve must be used. Likewise, in writing hurry, Harry, hem, etc., breve-hay may be used ; but in writing O'Hara, ahem!, etc., stem Hay must be used, because of the initial vowel.

121.     Breve-way for Syllable "Way."—Breve-way, however, notwithstanding the foregoing rule, may sometimes be used to represent the terminal syllable

119. Stem-signs instead of Breves. - At the beginning of outlines of words with initial vowels, and at the finish of outlines of words that end with vowel-sounds, as a rule the stem-signs of these consonants must be used and not the breves ; as in the words O'Hara, awake, Owego, Ayora, Lehigh, Kanawha, Himalaya, etc.

120.   The principle underlying the foregoing rule is of universal application, - that if a vowel must of necessity be written to a particular consonant, such consonant must be written with its stem-sign. The reason for this is that as the vowels are distinguished by difference of place, we must write them to signs that have length in order to show whether they are first, second, or third place ; and nothing but the stem-signs will enable us to so write the vowels. Thus, in writing wake, weary, etc., we may use the breve for w, because the first vowel being medial may be written to the second consonant instead of to the w. But in writing awake, Owego, etc., the first vowel being initial must be written to the w, so the stem Way and not the breve must be used. Likewise, in writing hurry, Harry, hem, etc., breve-hay may be used ; but in writing O'Hara, ahem!, etc., stem Hay must be used, because of the initial vowel.

121.     Breve-way for Syllable "Way." - Breve-way, however, notwithstanding the foregoing rule, may sometimes be used to represent the terminal syllable

BREVE-SIGNS FOR HAY, WAY, AND YAY.       39 way, especially when it will make a better junction with the preceding consonant-sign than the stem Way; as in the outlines of the words by-way, Rockaway, pathway, hallway, etc.

122.    Breve-yay for Syllable "U."—Breve-yay, besides representing the simple consonant y, is frequently used for the sound ū, when it alone forms a distinct syl lable; as in the words u-tility, eu-logy, eu-phony, U-tica, nephew, etc. In the middle of outlines it need not always be inserted. Thus, annual may be written N-Noid-L* or N-L1, annually N-L1, manual M-N-Noid-L1 or M-N-L*.

123.   Dot-sign for Hay. -Before the stems Pee and Bee at the beginning of words, and occasionally before those and other stems in the middle of words, h may be written with a light dot placed near the succeeding vowel. This sign is called "Dot-hay" or "Hay-dot." Examples :

124.   Breve-hay may be joined initially to breve-way, in words like whiff, etc. But generally in such cases the outlines are sufficiently complete for legibility with the aspirate omitted.

125.   Hook-breve for W on Lee. -The stem Lee, with a large initial-hook, is used for wl, in writing such words as well, Welsh, wealth, wolf, etc. The hook is read before any vowel-sign placed to the stem. The name for this character is Weel.

Remark. -This Hook-breve, which is the only exceptional expedient of the kind in the system, is of much value generally, but is especially useful in enabling us to write the word well in full, instead of with an abbreviation.

124. Breve-hay may be joined initially to breve-way, in words like whiff, etc. But generally in such cases the outlines are sufficiently complete for legibility with the aspirate omitted.

125. Hook-breve for W on Lee. - The stem Lee, with a large initial-hook, is used for wl, in writing such words as well, Welsh, wealth, wolf, etc. The hook is read before any vowel-sign placed to the stem. The name for this character is Weel.

Remark. - This Hook-breve, which is the only exceptional expedient of the kind in the system, is of much value generally, but is especially useful in enabling us to write the word well in full, instead of with an abbreviation.

Reading Exercise.

Writing Exercise.

126.   Huge, haughty, hog, Harry, hale, hull, hoof, hive, hung, ham, hollow, holy, hackney, harp, harangue, heresy, healing, havoc, hinge, homage, hemp ; unhook, mayhem, unholy ; Mohawk. Wedge, witty, wide, webb, wake, wag, weary, wife, wave or waive, width, washing; bewitch, outwear. Yore, yam, Yeddo, yelp. By-way, pathway, Hathaway, alley-way. Utica, unique, nephew, Cayuga. Hip, whoop. Will (noun), Welsh, wolf.