Shorthand
an art by which writing is abbreviated, so as to keep pace with speaking. Its great and general utility has been recognized in every age, and numberless systems have been devised to facilitate its acquirement. It was practiced by the ancients for its secrecy as well as for its brevity, and a work is extant on the art, which is ascribed to Tiro, the freedman of Cicero. The first English treatise on stenography, in which marks represent words, was published in 1588 by Timothy Bright, M. D., under the title, "Characterie; an Art of Short, Swift, and Secret Writing by Character."
In 1602 appeared "The Art of Stenography, or Short Writing by Spelling raphy, Characterie," by John Willis. Notwithstanding the intricacy of this system, in which "arbitraries" are extensively used, it became popular and found many imitators. It was succeeded by the systems of Edmond Willis (1618), Henry Dix (1641), and Jeremiah Rich (1659 ). In 1672 appeared "A Pen Plucked from an Eagle's Wing: or, The Most Swift, Compendious, and Speedy Method of Short Writing." The author was William Mason, the most famous shorthand writer of the 17th century. His alphabet was formed from Rich's by altering the signs of six letters, viz., g, h, j, o, r, w.
In 1767 was published the system of Dr. Byrom, four years after his death, which, however, had been completed as early as 1720. This was in many respects SHORTHAND an admirable system-characterized by "simple strokes and no arbitrary characters." In 1785 Dr. Mavor published his "Universal Stenography," an ambitious improvement on Byrom. His alphabet consists of 18 letters, two of which are for vowels. The characters for the vowels are a dot (.) and a comma (,). The comma in different positions indicates a, e, i; the dot, o, u, y. In 1786 appeared the famous system of Taylor, which was almost universally used previous to the publication of "Phonography" by Mr. Pitman in 1837. Taylor has 22 marks or characters: of these, 16 represent the alphabet; the remaining 6 standing for ch, sh, th, ious, etc., viz.
In 1837 appeared Pitman's "Phonography" the first really popular system. Melville Bell, following in the path marked out by Pitman, founded his system on the sounds of the language. The first sketch appeared in 1849; in 1852 the first complete edition, under the title "Steno-Phonography." An improved edition was published as "The Reporter's Manual" in 1857. Bell's letters are written in three sizes; full size, half size, and "tick" size. Pitman makes his letters of two lengths only, full size and half size (the half-sized letters expressing an additional t or d.
The principal point of difference in the two systems is, that Bell subordinates his alphabet to a theory of sounds which is strictly correct; and Pitman, while acknowledging the principle of a phonetic representation, consults the convenience of the writer in the selection of signs.
For example, the broad distinction of voice and breath consonants was first marked by Pitman by the happy expedient of writing heavy strokes for the voice letters b, d, j, g, v, th (in then), z, zh, and light strokes for the breath letters p, t ch, k, f, th (in thin), s, sh. Bell adopted the same principle.
Shorthand is now largely practiced in both England and the United States, and has extended its benefits to many classes besides that of the professional reporter.
This is due chiefly to the excellences of Pitman's system and to his activity in disseminating its principles. The existence of two styles of phonography , one adapted for letter writing and the other for reporting-the second, however, being only an extension of the first, and not a new system in itself-has been the chief basis of the popularity of phonetic shorthand. Popular modifications of Pitman's system have been made in the United States by Graham, Burnz, Munson and others. Shorthand machines for rapid dictation are considerably used. In 1909 the National Shorthand Reporters' Association appointed a committee to standard- SHORTHORN ize variations and establish shorthand on a thoroughly scientific basis. acterized by short horns, rapidity of per. It was produced by Charles and Robert Colling, at Ketton and Barmpton, near Darlington, England, by a process of in-and-in breeding between 1780 and 1818. The Collings were imitated by R. T. and J. Booth between 1814 and 1863; by Thomas Bates between 1818 and 1849. The process has been followed in the United States since 1817.