Encyclopaedia Britannica > Volume 21, ROT-Siam

840
Systems
subse¬
quent to
Pitman’s.
SHORTHAND
Specimens of Phonography.
Corresponding Style.
i- C- \ / i '
^ 1 I N ^ X v_<
-Vf '
^ . V], V \
V V -T? . Vti ' N|.m
^ \ ^ ° -I1, N. . r- ’V’
" ^ -i T -L ■ ^y"f ^ h-
^.. .Vs, ^ ' 0 / -^l.,' y°
.A ° V. «— 1 X ' . Lp i—i c—^ | \
^ x
Key.—If all the feelings of a patriot glow in our bosoms on a perusal of those
eloquent speeches which are delivered in the senate, or in those public assem¬
blies where the people are frequently convened to exercise the birthright of
Britons—we owe it to shorthand. If new fervour be added to our devotion,
and an additional stimulus be imparted to our exertions as Christians, by the
eloquent appeals and encouraging statements made at the anniversaries of our
various religious societies—we owe it to shorthand. If we have an opportunity
in interesting judicial cases, of examining the evidence, and learning the pro¬
ceedings with as much certainty, and nearly as much minuteness, as if we had
been present on the occasion—we owe it to shorthand.
Reporting Style.
' cjX . ^ V, vO^(* * ^ -X-
^ ^ V / ^ ^ ^
■ O ^ x V " v/°
' t 19 v . U, ' ^ '..u . I
V -fo ^ v, U N v X_ ^ ^ ^ —p)
W ' ) X w ^ ° Ar “
Key (the phraseograms being indicated by hyphens).—Characteeistics of
the Age.—The peculiar and distinguishing characteristics of the present-age
are-in every respect remarkable. Unquestionably an extraordinary and uni¬
versal-change has commenced in-the internal as-well-as-the external-world —
in-the-mind-of-man as-well-as in-the habits of society, the one indeed being-the
necessary-consequence of the other. A rational consideration of the circum¬
stances in-which-mankind are at-present placed must-show-us that influences
of the most-important and wonderful character have-been and are operating in-
such-a-manner-as-to bring-about if-not-a reformation, a thorough revolution in-
the-organization of society. Never in-the-history-of-the-world have benevolent
and philanthropic institutions for-the relief of domestic and public affliction ;
societies for-the promotion of manufacturing, commercial, and agricultural
interests; associations for-the instruction of the masses, the advancement of
literature and science, the development of-true political - principles, for-the
extension in-short of-every description of knowledge and-the-bringing-about
of-every kind-of reform,—been-so numerous, so efficient, and so indefatigable
in-their operation as at-the-present-day.
Of the numerous systems published since the invention
of phonography the principal are A. M. Bell’s Steno-
phonography (Edinburgh, 1852), Professor J. D. Everett’s
(London, 1877), Pocknell’s Legible Shorthand (London,
1881), and J. M. Sloan’s adaptation of the French system
of Duploye (1882). Of these Professor Everett’s must
be pronounced much the best. The author claims to have
adhered to the phonetic principle more strictly than Mr
Pitman. Thus he distinguishes the o in home, comb, from
that in so, and treats ur, er as a diphthong. The alphabet
is very like Mr Pitman’s in construction, light and heavy
sounds being represented by light and heavy strokes.
The chief feature of the system is that all vowels are
marked in. This is done by joined signs, by lengthening
the preceding consonant, by separating the preceding from
the following consonant, by lifting the pen and writing
the one consonant attached to the other, and by intersec¬
tion. Mr Pocknell, in his somewhat bewildering system,
seeks (like Mr Melville Bell) to provide a method of indi¬
cating whether a consonant is preceded or followed by a
vowel or vowels. To this end he gives to each consonant
three linear signs (two curves and a straight line), the
requisite number of signs being made up by using three
lengths of stroke. The selection of the right sign is deter¬
mined by the length and class of the words represented.
Much energy is devoted to indicate where a vowel stands,
but not to what it is. The vowels, when expressed, are
disjoined, as in phonography and most systems. Though
Mr Bell’s too elaborate classification of vowels is adopted,
the phonetic method of representing consonants is fre¬
quently discarded in favour of the alphabetic. Thus, no
sign is provided for zh (as in vision), and the barbarous
p'A (as in bright) is often retained “for the sake of legi¬
bility.” .Mr Pocknell goes back to the antiquated device
of pictorial and arbitrary signs. The Sloan-Duployan
system has been vigorously propagated; but it does not
provide alphabetic characters for all the vowels and con¬
sonants in the language, contents itself with representing
not actual but “approximate” sounds, does not always
indicate the order in which the characters should be read,
recommends the frequent omission of consonants and
syllables at the “ discretion ” of the student, avoids angles,
and introduces three slopes, instead of one, between the
perpendicular and the horizontal, and therefore is not
likely to meet with general acceptance.
A considerable number of American systems, as well as American
systems based on Taylor’s and Gurney’s, were issued dur- systems,
ing the early days of the republic. Since the introduction
of phonography into the States in 1845, the dissemination
of the art has gone steadily forward, and its use since 1880
has been greatly on the increase, shorthand being now
taught in a large number of schools. From elaborate
statistics given in Mr Kockwell’s Circular of Information
it appears that during 1882 10,197 persons received in¬
struction in schools and classes and 2273 by correspond¬
ence. But these figures probably bear no proportion to
the number of persons studying without a teacher. In
almost every case phonography, or a modification of it,
was selected for instruction. American shorthand societies
are very numerous, most of them having been formed
since 1880. Two are devoted to the Stolzean system.
Of the fourteen shorthand magazines which Mr Bockwell
enumerates eleven are phonographic.
In nine cases out of ten phonography will be found
admirably adapted to the purposes of verbatim reporting.
But to be legible it must be written with care. This
necessity arises from its brevity and its use of light and
heavy, halved and double-length strokes. Hence a clumsy
scribe may find a longer system, such as Gurney’s, answer
his purpose better. A theoretical knowledge of most
systems may be gained in a few hours. Pitman’s method
is not so easily acquired, but an intelligent person can
master its details in a few weeks. Shorthand writing is,
however, mainly a matter of practice. Few can make any
considerable use of it with less than six months’ assiduous
practice. The average rate of public speaking is very
slightly over 120 words a minute. Some speakers average
150. The slowest utterance is now and then exchanged
for a rapid flow of words, and 180 or 200 words a minute
is no uncommon speed in certain styles of speech such as
the conversational,—a speed which many persons would
never acquire.1 Most persons of average intelligence may
1 Phenomenal rates of speed are recorded in the Phonetic Journal
for 1885, p. 338. Mr T. A. Reed, the veteran phonographer, had been
engaged to report a well-known American divine preaching at West¬
minster Abbey. The sermon was carefully timed, and the words in
the printed report counted. The average came out at 213 words a
minute. A photographed specimen page of Mr Reed’s notes on this
occasion is given in the Reporters’ Magazine, September 1885.