One: Scansion and Related Matters
1.3 Conventions
As stated above two signs are used to indicate syllabic weight, they are:
⏑ = light (
− = heavy (
This is the convention that is normally used in Europe, and the one employed here. However it should be noted that in Indian works on the subject just the opposite convention normally prevails, as a straight line indicates the light syllable, and a bent one the heavy, therefore we sometimes see that ⏑ = heavy, Sometimes written upside down in Sinhala letter editions. Note that in Devanāgarī works S = heavy, and | = light. − = light! To avoid confusion when consulting works on metre care must be exercised to find out which convention is being employed.