SHORTHAND

a system of writing words by means of signs which can be more rapidly written than ordinary letters, the object being to enable the writer to keep pace with a speaker. Also known as tachygraphy (quick writing’), stenography (‘compre ed writing’), and phonography (‘sound-writing’). Shorthand was used by the Greeks and Romans, not only for the sake of brevity, but also to ensure secrecy. knowledge of the art was lost between All the 1Cth and 16th ceuturies, but in 1587 Bright pub. his Characterve, and Dr. used signs for words—a hopele method for a language with growing vocabulary. In 1590 Peter Bales wrote The Arie of Brachygraphie; he also used separate si for each word, as did Bright. In 1602 John Will is published Zhe Arte of Stenographie, and his system, in which signs were used for letters, was perhaps the first of any practical value. tt was fairly popular, and much used until Pitman’s system was introduced. In 1620 Skelton imitated Will is's system, and his method was used by Samuel Pepys. Jeremiah Rich in 1640 brought out a system which was commended by Locke, and in 1753 Thomas Gurney pub. his Brachygraphy. The most popular method, and that in general use by all cla es of shorthand writers at the present time, is the phonetic system of Pitman, first brought out in 1837. Its princ‘ple is entirely dependent on sound, as the name impiies. Words are written as they sound, not as they are spelled: thus cough becomes ‘cof;’ though, ‘tho.’ Straight and curved lines indicate consonants, while vowels are shown by dot and dash. The same line is used to represent a different sound as it is thick or thin, wiitten vertically horizontally, or at an ang!e of 45° or 60°, Many abbreviations are tsed, and contractions are often employed in that branch of the system known as the reporting style. An expert writer is able. to take down a verbatim report at the rate of about 180 words per minute. The record speed so far attained is 322 words per minute.