Pitman shorthand

Language writing system

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Description

Pitman shorthand is a system of shorthand for the English language developed by Englishman Sir Isaac Pitman, who first presented it in 1837. Like most systems of shorthand, it is a phonetic system; the symbols do not represent letters, but rather sounds, and words are, for the most part, written as they are spoken. Wikipedia

Creator: Isaac Pitman

Language: English Language

There are twenty-four consonants that can be represented in Pitman's shorthand, twelve vowels and four diphthongs. The consonants are indicated by strokes, the vowels by interposed dots.

Pitman shorthand (the most popular system in the U.K.)

How do you write shorthand?

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Shorthand

1. Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed and brevity of writing as compared to longhand, a more common method of writing a language. ...
2. Many forms of shorthand exist. ...
3. Shorthand was used more widely in the past, before the invention of recording and dictation machines.     

BASICS OF PITMAN SHORTHAND

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Pitman consonants

Pitman vowels

Pitman abbreviations

Punctuation:

Most punctuation marks are the same or close to regular printing. However, owing to the dots and dashes of Pitman symbols, changes have been made to eliminate confusion with Pitman strokes:

Short Writing Sample:

Here is a sentence written in Pitman. Below it is a guide to the consonants and vowels represented, and below that is the full meaning (taking into account any short forms and other tricks, some of which weren't mentioned yet).

Pitman's Shorthand is based on geometric forms, using straight lines and quarters of a circle at various angles. This allows precise and readable outlines to be formed, but does not prevent the shorthand also being easy and flowing to write.

The direction and angle of the strokes is meaningful and cannot be changed, i.e. there is no such thing as sloping handwriting in Pitman's Shorthand. Different writers' shorthand will always vary in appearance, just as handwriting does, but such variations must not impinge on the meaning, and one soon learns what one can and cannot do. Written shorthand will never look like the textbook shorthand. The textbook outlines have been very carefully drawn and they are the standard from which written shorthand should never stray too far.

Notable features

Pitman is phonetic: it records the sounds of speech rather than the spelling. For example, the sound [f] in f orm, ele ph ant and rough is written in the same way for each word.

Vowel sounds are optional and are written with small dots, dashes or other shapes next to the main strokes. This helps increase writing speed because most words can be identified from their consonants only.

The thickness, length and position of the strokes are all significant.

There are many special abbreviations and other tricks to increase writing speed.

The record for fast writing with Pitman shorthand is 350 wpm during a two-minute test by Nathan Behrin in 1922.

Sample text in Pitman:

'Translation'

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

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