141. Triple Consonants

When s precedes the double consonants a series of triple consonants is formed, as heard at the beginning of such words as splash, spray, straw, scream, etc. This series of sounds is expressed in phonography by writing the circle-s within the / or r-hook, as in lines 1 to 3.

141a. Vocalizing of Triple Consonants. When a vowel is written after a triple consonant it is read last (see line 1), but when it is placed before, it is read after the s and before the double consonant. See lines 2 and 3, and compare par. 82a.

142. Medial Triple Consonants

Triple consonants are frequently found in the middle of words (see lines 4 to 8), and in such cases the circle may represent 2 as well as s.

143. Imperfect Triple Consonants

When a circle is written within an imperfect double consonant hook (see paragraph 134) the circle cannot be perfectly formed and written completely within the hook. It must therefore be lengthened into a loop in such a direction as shall indicate the hook as distinctly as possible. See line 8. In a few cases an imperfect str follows the n-hook, as in line 9.

144. Irregular Triple Consonants

When skr, sgr, sfr, or svr follows t or d, and when spr or sbr follows ch or j, the loop becomes so imperfect as to be too difficult for practise and the forms are therefore written irregularly, as shown in line 10.

145. Initial Spr Series

When the circle precedes a straight double consonant of the r-hook series at the beginning of a word, it is not necessary to write it within the hook, but the whole combination may be contracted to a small circle on the evolute side of the stroke (see lines 11 to 14). This will be perfectly legible, as the small circle is always written to straight strokes with involute motion to represent s. See par. 79 a, and compare par. 105.

146. S Before Stroke-H

By analogy with the spr series, s may be written before stroke-h with the outline . This form is rarely used but may be employed in writing such words as Soho, Sahara.

147. Quadruple Consonants

The loop-st may be expressed as preceding a straight stroke of the r-hook series at the beginning of the word by writing the loop with evolute motion. See line 15, and compare par. 107.

Exercise on Triple and Quadruple Consonants.