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SHORTHAND I (ENGLISH)

13. DIPHONIC AND MEDIAL SEMICIRCLE

By now you must be familiar with making strokes of consonants and vowels together. There are some words in which two vowel sounds are pronounced separately. A stenographer should be able to write shorthand script of such words.

13.0 Objectives

After going through this lesson you will be able to –

1) make the strokes of the words represented by First place diphone;

2) make the strokes of the words represented by Second place diphone;

3) make the strokes of the words represented by Third place diphone;

4) differentiate between Dipthongs and diphones;

5) make the strokes of the words indicated by right semicircle at First, Second and Third places of the stroke and representing the sound of consonant W according to the positions of vowels; and

6) make the strokes of the words indicated by left semicircle at First, Second and Third places of the stroke and representing the sound of consonant W according to the positions of vowels.

13.1 Introduction

In this lesson you will be made familiar with making strokes of the words having two vowel sounds consecutively. In addition to this, you will learn the use of left and right semicircles at different positions of the strokes representing the sound of consonant W.

13.2 Diphones

Diphone is a union of two vowel sounds occurring consecutively and pronounced separately (Di= double + phone= a sound)

Diphones are represented by two angular signs like sign of on the ( ) for dot vowel diphone, and like sign of and the ( ) for dash vowel diphone.

Dot Vowel Diphones : (like sign of on the)

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First Place Diphone: To represent the vowel ah or a (sound is PA or THAT) plus any vowel immediately following. For example: Second Place Diphone: To represent the vowel a or e (sound is MAY or PEN) plus any vowel immediately following. For example: Third Place Diphone: To represent the vowel e or i (sound is WE or IS) plus any vowel immediately following. For example:

First Place Diphone : To represent the vowel aw (sound is ALL or NOT) plus any vowel immediately following. For example: Second Place Diphone: To represent the vowel o (sound is GO or MUCH) plus any vowel immediately following. For example:

Third Place Diphone: To represent the vowel oo, or u (sound is TOO or GOOD) plus any vowel immediately following. For example:

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Differences between Diphthongs and Diphones

DIPHTHONGS DIPHONES

Two vowel sounds are pronounced simultaneously.

Two vowel sounds are pronounced separately.

Two vowel sounds occur consecutively. In diphones also two vowel sounds occur consecutively.

Signs can be attached and abbreviated with some strokes.

Signs cannot be attached or abbreviated with any stroke.

Are expressed by three angular signs and a semi-circle.

Are expressed by two angular signs only.

Are placed on 1st and 3rd vowel places only.

Are placed on all the three vowel places according to the vowel sound, i.e. Ist, IInd, and III Place.

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Self-check Questions

1. Write the number of sounds which are used in diphones.

2. Make the sign of first place of diphone and give one example where it is used?

3. Is it possible to attach the sign of diphones with any stroke?

4. What is a Diphone?

5. Which angular sign is used in Diphone.

6. Which sign is used in Diphonic for Dot Vowel?

7. Write the sign which is used in Diphone with dash vowel.

8. Write any four words using diphonic system.

13.3 Medial Semicircle

We have studied about the Semi Circle in the Chapter of Abbreviated 'W'. This right Semi Circle is attached initially to the strokes 'k', 'g', 'm', 'r'. For example:

On the other hand, Medial Semicircle is not attached to any stroke. It is used

like a vowel. First Place Left Semicircle : In the first vowel-place to represent W plus the vowel ah or a Sound = wah. For example: Second Place Left Semicircle : In the second vowel-place to represent W plus the vowel a or e. Sound = wa. For example:

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Third Place Left Semicircle : In the third vowel-place to represent W plus the vowel e or i. Sound = we. For example:

First Place Right Semicircle : In the first vowel-place to represent W plus the vowel aw or o. Sound = waw. For example:

Second Place Right Semicircle : In the second vowel-place to represent W plus the vowel o or u. Sound = wo. For example:

Third Place Right Semicircle : In the third vowel-place to represent W plus the vowel ōō or ŏŏ. Sound = wōō. For example:

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Self-check Questions

9. Is it possible to attach the sign of medial semicircle with any stroke?

10. Make the sign of right semicircle.

11. Make the sign of left semicircle.

12. Write the name of consonant which is used as semicircle.

13. Write the sound of medial right semicircle in all the positions (places).

14. Write the sound of medial left semi circle in all the positions.

15. Write the following two words in shorthand: herewith farewell

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13.4 Assignments

13.4.1 Class Assignment

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The rooms in the Nehru Museum are the resort of the theologian, the

geologist, the historian, and the scholar in every department of science and art.

There are to be found relics of the Aryan, the Dravidian, and other ancient nations

long since passed away. Wonderful specimens of beautiful Indian and other oriental

arts and crafts, miscellaneous ornaments ingeniously carved, and showing the most

delicate work and the liveliest imagination of the artist, are to be seen in the

Museum.

We have had to reappoint the late manager of the local theatre as Master of

Ceremonies, because he knows the ceremonial to be observed, and we shall have

to reassemble the members of the chorus, and readmit those who retired last June.

I am worrying the decorators, and doing my utmost to make these slowest of slow

people finish their work.

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13.4.2 Home Assignment

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We thank you for your letter of last Monday and we are asking Messrs. Yadav

to look into the matter forthwith. We hope that the flow of water into the workings

may dwindle away with the advent of the dry weather, and that the trouble may

cease of itself. In any case, you may rely upon us to do all that we can to stop the

nuisance in question. We have already told our engineer, to make close enquiry into

the matter, and we thank you again for the kindly way in which you have warned us

of the possible loss both to ourselves and to you.

He referred to the enormous size of the dominions, to the millions of people of

various races living in them, and to the bewildering variety of animal life to be found

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in the area included in the backward society. He deplored the frequent wars, which

had weakened India in the past, and expressed his belief that the future would tell a

very different story. Mr. Nehru spoke in warm appreciation of the ever growing co-

operation between state government and central government, and declared that

genuine affection was the best possible bond of union between us.

13.5 Summary

• A Diphone is the occurrence of two vowel sounds pronounced separately.

• Diphones are represented by two angular signs placed in three vowels, according to the first vowel sound. Like vowels, diphones are also divided into two groups, i.e., dot vowel diphones and dash vowel diphones.

• A semicircle is employed medially as an alternative to the stroke W.

• A medial left semicircle represents wah, wā, wē, or the corresponding short sounds.

• A medial right semicircle represents waw, wō, woo, or the corresponding short sounds.

13.6 Answers to Self-check Questions

1. Six

2. sahib = drawing =

3. No

4. Two vowels occur consecutively, each being separately pronounced.

5.

6. (angular sign)

7.

8. (i) (ii)

(iii) (iv)

9. No

10.

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11.

12. Consonant ‘W’

13. waw, wō, wōō

14. Wah, wā, wē

15.

13.7 Terminal Questions

1. What do you know about Diphones? Write the method of using Diphones; giving suitable examples.

2. Answer the following points regarding semicircle -

i. For which stroke is a semicircle employed medially?

ii. Which sound is represented by medial right semicircle?

iii. Which sound is represented by medial left semicircle ?

3. Explain the difference between Diphones and Diphthongs, giving suitable examples.

13.8 Reference

• Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key, Wheeler Publishing, Allahabad, 2003.

13.9 Suggested Reading

• Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key, Wheeler Publishing, Allahabad, 2003.

13.10 Glossary

• Left Semi Circle – half circle made by moving pencil/pen to left side or half circle made open from right side.

• Right Semi Circle – half circle made by moving pencil/pen to right side or half circle made open from left side.