Having covered most of the logic behind the alphabet, we’ll continue focusing on pronunciation, but with an increased emphasis on memory techniques. You might have noticed that distinguishing between similar character shapes can be challenging. To help with this, we’ll introduce some unique visualizations to make remembering and differentiating these characters easier.

Note on memory techniques: A key theme in our approach will be viewing time as flowing from left (the past) to right (the future), much like how we read. I also apply this concept to direction: left as backward and right as forward. This perspective helps anchor space and time in our visualizations, making it easier to organize and recall information.

Let’s start with 𐑪 - ('On'). This character represents the vowel sound in words like “song,” “long,” and “only.”

Now, let’s explore a character with a similar shape… 𐑨 - ('ash') captures the short “a” sound found in words like “ash,” “cat,” and “bat.” It’s one of the most common vowel sounds in English, so you’ll encounter 𐑨-('ash') frequently in Shavian writing.

Though the sounds differ between 𐑪-('on') and 𐑨-('ash'), you’ll notice that both characters share a curved, circular design.

If you take a closer look, you’ll see how 𐑪 - ('On') and 𐑨 - ('ash') resemble segments of a circle. When combined with 𐑧 - ('egg') and 𐑩 - ('ado') from previous lessons, these characters complete a full circle. To help remember which segment belongs to which character, remember this phrase:

Moving clockwise from the top:

• Only 𐑪-(On)
• Astronauts 𐑨-(Ash)
• Enjoy 𐑧-(Egg)
• Adventures 𐑩-(Ado)

Next, let’s look at 𐑝 ("vow"). This character represents the voiced 'v' sound, as in “vow,” “voice,” and “love.” To remember 𐑝 ("vow"), picture it as a person making a vow, facing the future (to the right). The slight hook on top represents them bowing their head in reverence. This visual helps connect 𐑝 with the idea of a vow, which is always a forward-looking promise.

Continuing with 𐑢 ("woe"), this character represents the "w" sound, as in "woe," "win," and "water." To help remember this character, think of the shorthand "/w" often used for "with," as the Shavian "woe" character resembles just the slash.

Finally, we have 𐑣 ("ha-ha"). This character represents the "h" sound, as in "ha-ha," "hat," and "hope." It's a breathy, light sound made with a quick push of air at the start of words. To remember it, think of a hearty laugh starting deep in your chest and rising up. Visually, the character even resembles the quick exhale that begins a laugh.

• 𐑪-('on')
• 𐑨-('ash')
• 𐑝-('vow')
• 𐑢-('woe')
• 𐑣-('ha-ha')