3.2.1.2 Cover symbols for Phondex. In order for the Phondex rules to be context sensitive, the environment must be specified. The two cover symbols are: 1) the virgule as a variable for consonants, and 2) the underscore as a variable for vowels. This system allows for the specification of just two rules: 1) a listing of double vowels, and 2) a listing of single vowels. The default understanding is that all other symbols not listed are consonants.

The acute accent has been used to represent the unstressed schwa. Most names have been given an accent on the initial syllable (not represented) having the effect of reducing other vowels to this unstressed sound.

Some symbols are used as place holders to exclude certain words (symbol sequences) from being changed by intervening rules. Among these are: +, %, +, &, <, and ~. The tilde did not really need to be declared a vowel. It has been used to prevent the ending /-less/ from serving as an environment or from being changed, yet none of the intervening rules take advantage of its being a vowel.