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SHORTHAND I (ENGLISH)

4. PHRASEOGRAPHY, TICK 'THE', CIRCLE S AND Z-LEFT & RIGHT MOTION

So far we have talked about the strokes of different words . To write the phonetic sounds of a group of words speedily, some fixed symbols representing each group of words are devised. A stenographer is required to note these groups of words or phrases and learn to make the strokes fluently and speedily so as to save the time and space on the paper.

4.0 Objectives

You will be able to know -

1) the strokes of various phrases;

2) how to avoid lengthiness of the outlines;

3) the use of strokes with other logograms;

4) the strokes of the words in which consonant S or Z are used; and

5) the use of circles replacing consonants S & Z.

4.1 Introduction

To save the time and increase the efficiency and fluency in shorthand writing, fixed symbols for group of words or phrases are made. A stenographer should be able to understand this and practice the same to improve the working. In this lesson, commonly used phrases are described, the concept of making the strokes is explained in a lucid manner. In addition, symbol for ‘the’ when used in conjunction with other logograms is also described. Further, use of circles and their positioning which represent ‘S’ & ‘Z’ consonants is also explained.

4.2 Phraseography

Phraseography is the art of writing two or more words together without lifting the pen or pencil. The resulting outline is called a “Phraseogram”. The desirable features of a phraseogram are the facility (easy to write), linearity (it should not be too far above or too far below the line) and legibility (must be clear when written).

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In the practice of phaseography the following points should be kept in mind:

(a) Awkward joining must be avoided.

(b) The first word form in a phraseogram must occupy its own position. A first position word form may, however, be raised or lowered to permit the second stroke being written above, on or through the line. For example:

The first word-form of a phraseogram must occupy the position in which it would be written if it stood alone. The phrase ‘how can they’ would be represented by the outline commencing on the line, because how is written on the line. Similarly, the phrase “I have” commences above the line on its own position because ‘I ’ is written above the line.

The following points should be kept in mind while forming phrases:

(a) The sign of ‘I’ when joined to stroke K, M or L may be shortened as below:-

(b) The word ‘he’ is written in two ways. If the word ‘he’ stands alone, it is written as in (i) and if it is at the beginning of a phrase, such as He may, it is written as in (ii) below:

(i)

(ii)

In the middle of a phrase the word ‘he’ is represented by the logogram. For Example:

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For the sake of convenience in some phrases, such as ' so much ' the sign of 'much' is written in full as described under the chapter of consonants. For example:

In Shorthand, for the phrases ‘of him’, ‘to him’ the dot vowel should be inserted as below:

If we don’t put the dot before ‘m’ in aforesaid outline, one could read this as ‘I am’. Similarly, in case of phrase ‘to him’, one can read as ‘to me’.

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4.3 Tick ‘the’

The word ‘the’ may be represented by a light italic/slanting tick, joined to a preceding character and written either downward from right to left or upward from left to right. For example:

(a) Downward: “of the”, “and the”, “should the”, “with the”, “by the”, “if the”, “have the”

(b) Upward: "Beyond the", "what the", "how the", "at the", "which the", "was the".

NOTE:- 'On the' and 'But the' should slope a little to secure a better angle.

Tick ' the' should never be used initially.

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Self-check Questions

1. What do you know about phraseography?

2. Write in shorthand, "I have", "I may be", "it would be", "he should be", "too much"?

3. Is it possible to use tick for ‘the’ initially?

4. The word ‘The’ may be expressed by a _______________

4.4 Circle S and Z

Speed is the main object of shorthand writing. If full forms of all the consonants in a word are written it slows down the speed. Therefore, in Shorthand, the Consonant ‘S’ & ‘Z’ are represented not only by the strokes ‘S’ & ‘Z’ but also by a small circle S and Circle Z. The small circle in the beginning of the stroke represents light sound of ‘S’ only. The sound of ‘Z’ in the beginning of the stroke must be represented by the stroke ‘Z’ not by the small circle.

The small circle at middle or end of the stroke represents the sound of ‘S’ or 'Z'. For example:

(a) In the following words, starting with S, S is represented by small circle at the beginning of stroke:

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(b) In the following words beginning with the letter Z, Z is represented by full stroke:

(c) S or S with a sound of Z or letter Z in the middle of the word is represented by

small circle in the middle of the stroke. For example:

(d) The consonant S or S with a sound of Z or the consonant Z at the end of the word is also represented by a small circle at the end of the stroke. For example:

The small S or Z circle at the beginning or at the end of a straight stroke is always made anticlockwise (by left-hand motion). For example:

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In curved strokes circle 'S' is written inside the curve whether in the beginning or at the end of a curve. For example:

4.5 Formation of Small Circle ‘S’:

Different positions of Circle ‘S’

1. Example of S circle at the beginning or the end of a straight stroke which is drawn anticlockwise

2. Example of S circle at the beginning of a curve stroke, which is inside the

curve.

3. Example of S circle outside the angle formed by two straight strokes:

Circle S in the beginning of the stroke is always read first, the circle at the end of a stroke is always read at as last and vowel signs are placed and read as per the vowel rules which have already been described in the chapter on Vowels. For example:

Initial circle S

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Middle Circle S

Final Circle S

4.6 Use of Circles with stroke l:

If the stroke ‘l’ immediately precedes or follows a circle attached to a curve it is written in the same direction as the circle. For example:

4.7 Use of Circle ‘S’ in Grammalogues

Some examples of Grammalogues with S circle:

Small circle 'S' may be added to grammalogues

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4.8 Grammalogues:

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Self-check Questions

5. Write any three Grammalogues having circle ‘s’.

6. Is it possible to add circle ‘s’ to Grammalogues?

7. Which Consonant is indicate by small circle?

8. In which motion circle ‘s’ is added to straight stroke?

9. In which angle circle ‘s’ is added to curve stroke?

4.9 Assignments

4.9.1 Class Assignment

Read and Practice the following -

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4.9.2 Home Assignment

Sentences related to Circle S and Z

Read and practice the following sentences :

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4.10 Summary

• In making an outline in phraseography the following points must be carefully noted:

- Awkward joinings must be avoided.

- The first word-form must occupy its own position.

- A first-position word may, however, be raised or lowered to make a stroke above, on, or through the line.

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• The word the may be indicated by a light slanting tick joined to a preceding character and written either downward or upward.

• The tick for the is never used initially.

• A small circle used initially represents S only.

• A small circle used medially and finally represents S or Z.

• The small S or Z circle at the beginning or at the end of a straight stroke is always made anti-clockwise.

• The circle S is written outside angles, inside curves.

• An initial circle is always read first.

• A final circle is always read last.

• The stroke L, immediately preceding or following a circle attached to a curve, is written in the same direction as the circle.

• The circle S may be added to stroke logograms.

4.11 Answer to Self-check Questions

1. Phraseography is the writing of two or more words together without lifting the pen.

2.

3. No

4. Light slanting tick

5. These, Those, This

6. Yes

7. S/Z

8. Anti-Clock wise

9. Inside the angle

4.12 Terminal Questions

1. What is Phraseography?

2. Write the following phrases as per phraseography rules -

Why do you, with each, how can they, it would be, too much, I have had, you were, beyond the, thank you, what was

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2. Clarify the use of Circle S and Z, indicating left and right motion and their use in stroke L. (with examples)

3. Write in shorthand:

sales, lesson, answer, poison, tasty,

desire, cancel, announce, savings, muscle

4.13 Reference

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

4.14 Suggested Reading

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

4.15 Glossary

• Tick the – ‘The represented by tick mark’.

• Initial circle – Circle at starting position of the stroke.

• Medial circle - Circle at middle position of the stroke.

• Final circle - Circle at last position of the stroke.