flowchart TD
A([Encounter a Shewa]) --> B{Word-initial?}
B -- Yes --> VOCAL1[Vocal]
B -- No --> C{Preceding vowel\nlength?}
VOCAL1 --> Q
C -- Short --> D{Preceding consonant\nhas gaya?}
C -- Long --> E{Is this an\nexceptional case?\nsee note}
D -- Yes --> VOCAL2[Vocal]
D -- No --> SILENT1([Silent])
VOCAL2 --> Q
E -- No --> SILENT2([Silent])
E -- Yes --> VOCAL3[Vocal]
VOCAL3 --> Q
Q{Quality: which\nconsonant?}
Q -- "Guttural א ה ח ע" --> R1["Short vowel with\nquality of the\nguttural's vowel\n(assimilation)"]
Q -- "Yod י" --> R2["Short ḥireq\n[i]"]
Q -- Other --> R3["Default pataḥ\n[a]"]
R1 & R2 & R3 --> END([Done])
NOTE["Exceptional vocal cases after long vowel:
1. First of two identical consonants
2. Nesiga accent retraction before identical consonants
3. Resh beginning a noun, preceded by particle with qameṣ or ṣere
4. Cases marked ḥaṭef pataḥ in Masoretic manuscripts"]
style NOTE fill:#fff8ee,stroke:#c8a96e,color:#3d2000
style SILENT1 fill:#3d2b0f,color:#f5f0e8
style SILENT2 fill:#3d2b0f,color:#f5f0e8
style VOCAL1 fill:#2d5a2d,color:#f5f0e8
style VOCAL2 fill:#2d5a2d,color:#f5f0e8
style VOCAL3 fill:#2d5a2d,color:#f5f0e8
style END fill:#1a1208,color:#f5f0e8
style A fill:#1a1208,color:#f5f0e8