In my last post, we learned how to write the simple vowels I, Í, E,
and É in words where these sounds occur as linear descendants from
their Proto-Norse forebearers rather than through mutation or other
means. We will now learn some more characters based on these first 4
from my last post. Draw a basic Íss-rune (see last post for how).
Now create short natural E by placing a dot to the LEFT of the vert-
ical line and 1/2 of the way down from the top. This dot should be
close to the vertical line, but not touching it. (Note: the original
version of this E-symbol had the dot ON the line in this position -
our decision to move it and other dots to the side of the Íss-rune
has to do with visual elegance, printing and programming concerns).
Now that you have created natural E, place a 2nd dot below the 1st
one. This 2nd dot should be 1/4 of the way from the BOTTOM of the
vertical line. This character = Danish Ö # 2 (circle with line thru
it) from I-mutation of natural E. Please compare this character with
the character for Danish Ö # 2 from I-mutation of E from I-mutation
of natural short A (see characters based on Ár-rune). Notice that in
each character a 2nd dot is placed BELOW the 1st dot and to the LEFT
of the vertical line. This should help you understand the special
use of this corner in both of these characters: when a dot in this
lower position is found in conjuction with a higher dot for E on
either the Ár- or the Íss-rune, then it signifies mutation from E to
Danish Ö # 2; otherwise (that is to say, without the dot for E), a
lower dot in this corner signifies NASALIZATION of ANY of the other
characters based on either of these 2 vowel runes (also for the ÚrR-
rune - a 3rd, which we have yet to discuss in depth). This system is
simple and elegant for reasons we will later discuss. Having brought
up the subject of nasalization, you can probably guess what our next
character will be. Yes, you were right: nasal 'I'. I am not aware of
any instance of simple nasal 'I' in Old Norse (that is to say, where
it does not = Y from original I by W/U-mutation of I). Thus, unless
it is brought to my attention, we can tentatively allow the Íss-rune
with a single dot 1/4 of the way from the BOTTOM to = Y from I by U-
mutation of I (for example, 'Sigtryggr' from earlier 'Sigtriggw-').
This assumes that Y is the only nasalization of simple short I -
otherwise, we will allow only (at this point theoretical) nasal 'I'
itself to be sp represented (that is, as distinct from Y). Now draw
a basic Íss-rune. Now add a dot 1/4 of the way from the TOP to form
the character for 'Í'(long I). Now add the nasalization dot (1/4 of
the way from the BOTTOM - always on the LEFT of the vertical line!).
This character = long nasal Í, as in "í" (in). At this point I must
credit Haukur for having brought to my attention that the Í in the
prepostion "í" must be a nasal. This should be obvious enough, as we
are here dealing with yet another instance of loss of Proto-Norse N.
Nevertheless, writers on Norse phonology have routinely neglected to
mention this point. Regardless, we have found a simple solution to
any nasalization problem: the nasalization dot. When N disappeared
after A, leaving long nasal A (=Å) in its place, a separate runes
remained to signify this sound (and its I-mutation). When the N dis-
appeared after other vowels, no separate rune remained to signify
any of these changes - thus we have the nasalization dot. Due to the
peculiarities of language evolution, certain Old Norse vowels seem
never to have occured in nasal varieties, while others occur rather
regularly as such. Before we turn to the ÚrR-rune, let us introduce
some basic glyphs where Íss is the 1st rune of 2. Under ordinary
conditions, the combination I + U will occur in combinations where
Proto-Norse had EU (later IU - compare the attested m. leubaz and f.
liubu = ON m. ljúfr and f. ljúf). While there was likely a period in
later Proto-Norse where IU was pronounced as I + U, this musts needs
have been a transitional phase only. The reason for this is that the
transformation of the E of EU into I helped to force the raising of
U to Ú. This Ú is was further transformed into sounds like O and Ó
in later developments (compare ON 'þjóð' from Proto-Norse 'þeuðu'
with ON 'ljúfr' from Proto-Norse 'leubaz' - the B=V). It should thus
be clear that we will be using I + U to represent IÚ, IO, IÓ, IY, IÝ
- in short, I + any character based on the ÚrR-rune except U itself.
This can be considered ironic. Instead of discussing each of these
combinations in depth here, let us introduce a few common ones from
characters BASED on I + BASIC U. Then we can move on to the ÚrR-rune
itself. Long I (=Í, see my last post) + U = the Ý heard in ON 'Týr'.
What this means is that if Ý is from Proto-Norse ÍW (as in 'Tíwaz),
then it will be represented by Í + U (this rule will also apply when
short I + U = Y, as IU does not occur as JU in ON). Likewise, words
were short E became long E through change from EW (as in the Proto-
Norse 'þewaz') will be written I + U: 'þér' in 'Eggþþér' = þurs (þ)
+ É (see above) + U (=W in this position - see ÚrR rune) + íuR (R).
In fact, this spelling will apply to the rune-name 'íuR' itself,
were 'ý' is from Í + W. When the sounds Y and Ý result from mutation
of U and Ú, they will be represented by different charcaters based
only on the ÚrR-rune (see characters based on the ÚrR-rune). Instead
of diving further into characters based on the Íss-rune + characters
based on the ÚrR rune, we will now turn the the ÚrR-rune itself.

Regards,
Konrad.

P.S. Before I forget, the breaking of E (=IA and muations) will
always be represented as I + basic A or a character based on it,
such as Ö by I-muation of short A - as in 'jötunn', etc.. Finally,
J = I and is always written as such (compare both inscriptions in
the 16-letter alphabet and old manuscripts in Latin characters).
There is never any confusion about this.