STENO 3: MIDTERMS speeches of others – leading to birth of the

first corps of shorthand!

HISTORY OF SHORTHAND 6. EPOCH IV -ABOLITION OF SHORTHAND -
500 AD RENEWED INTEREST 1180 AD -
Evolution of A Timeless Profession - Few Shorthand was considered cryptography
professions are as old and time-honored as during the Middle Ages and its use
shorthand reporting, for it is the act of writing forbidden. The Middle Ages, or Dark Ages,
which has provided to all civilizations the were days of superstition, ignorance, and
knowledge of earlier thoughts and utterances. bigotry. Shorthand was seen as
1. EPOCH I - ANCIENT SUMERIAN SCRIBES cryptography (secret writing), “diabolical,”
3500 BC - The earliest form of written even black magic and witchcraft, and its
expression began in 3500 BC, in practitioners often were persecuted.
Southeastern Mesopotamia (now Iraq), by Emperor Justinian forbade its use after 534
one of the earliest civilizations. By 3100 BC AD. Although shorthand was generally
the Sumerians developed cuneiform script forbidden, the shorthand skills of monks
into a useable system of 2000 word- were both permitted and encouraged.
symbols, later adapted to other languages. Little would be known of the life and times
Ancient Sumerian Scribes were entrusted of the medieval world without them.
to preserve all important thought, using a 7. EPOCH V - REVIVAL OF SHORTHAND
stylus to carve wedge-shaped characters 1588 Early English-Language Shorthand
into clay tablets later hardened by the sun. Systems - The Vital 250 Years Four
2. EPOCH I - ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SCRIBES hundred years after Thomas Becket
3200 BC - The Egyptians devised two sparked an interest in Tironian Notes,
scripts, Hieratic (3200 BC) and Demotic eagerness to preserve sermons created
(650 BC), as alternatives to their complex renewed desire for fast systems of writing.
hieroglyphic form of writing. Although Timothe Bright’s 1588 invention of the first
based on hieroglyphs, these two scripts useable English-language method
employed more simplified symbols. triggered a flurry of writing systems.
3. EPOCH II - CHINESE SHORTHAND 206 BC Inventors and teachers increased rapidly,
CAOSHU and XIGSHU - Chine Grass Script each building on the work of predecessors.
(caoshu) and Running Script (xigshu) first Samuel Taylor was perhaps the greatest of
appeared during the Han Dynasty (220-206 the early masters. Two hundred years after
BC) of Imperial China. During Imperial Timothe Bright, Taylor invented a system
China’s extended history (221 BC-1912 AD), which became the most extensively used
clerks came to use abbreviated, cursive for the ensuing 60 years.
forms of characters to record court 8. EPOCH VI - FIRST PRACTICAL ENGLISH
proceedings and criminal confessions. SYSTEMS 1837 – Phonography (Pitman) -
These “shorthand” records were then used 1888 – Light-Line Phonography (Gregg) In
to create more formal transcripts. One the evolution of shorthand, Great Britain is
cornerstone of court proceedings was that rightly the birthplace of the first practical
all confessions had to be acknowledged by systems. Two inventors stand above all
the accused’s signature, personal seal, or others as the most pivotal in shaping the
thumbprint. Preparing these proceedings profession of shorthand reporting – Sir
required fast writing. Isaac Pitman and Dr. John Robert Gregg.
4. EPOCH III - ROMAN SHORTHAND SCRIBES The shorthand system created by each was
63 BC - The power of preserving the based on phonetics, and the functionality
spoken word did not escape Ancient Rome, of each led to enormous followings.
for oratory was an important part of 9. ISAAC PITMAN 1837 SOUND-
Roman culture. That is when Cicero, great HAND/PHONOGRAPHY - One hundred
orator of Rome, invented the first system years after Samuel Taylor, a student of
of short writing – erroneously attributed that system set out to design a more
by many historians to Cicero’s slave functional system, conducive to legibility
Marcus Tillius Tiro, for whom it is named: and rapid writing. In 1837, at age 24, Isaac
Tironian Notes (Notae Tironianae). Pitman’s system was published as
5. Responding to Senate colleagues, Cicero Stenographic Sound-Hand. He renamed it
and Tiro taught others and placed them in Phonography, or Writing by Sound in 1840
different parts of the Senate to write after several modifications. It became
 widely known simply as Pitman Shorthand. 13. EPOCH IX MECHANIZED SHORTHAND -
In 1852 Brother Benn brought the Pitman Early Attempts Sketchy details exist about
shorthand system to America. By 1889, early attempts to invent shorthand
about 97 percent of all US stenographers machines and keyboards, and uncertainty
wrote Pitman and it was adapted to more surrounds whether only prototypes were
than 30 other languages, at least 10 in constructed. Here is what The Gallery has
India. found.
10. JOHN ROBERT GREGG 1888 LIGHT-LINE  1827 – Gonod (Clermont-Ferrand,
PHONOGRAPHY - Fifty years after Pitman France) Designed a working model to
shorthand was announced, in 1888 John produce signs on paper by which
Robert Gregg published his system as words might be represented with
Light-Line Phonography. This 21-year-old “fidelity, precision, with the speed of
initially insisted that its application was speech, and with perfect regularity in
“for business correspondence instead of the writing.”
for the highly specialized work of the  1829 - Baron Karl de Drais de
shorthand reporter.” Gregg brought his Sauerbrun (Germany) Invented a
system to America in 1893, and renamed it shorthand machine that punched
simply Gregg Shorthand. Gregg declared holes in a paper strip.
that this more mature version was “rapid  1830 – Celestino Galli (Italy)
enough to reproduce verbatim the fastest Develoed the “Potenografo,” a device
oratory.” The 1910 Minor Cup shorthand which printed on a paper strip.
victory of Gregg speed writer Frederick  Machines were also designed by
Gurtler gave early credence to this claim. Italy’s Luigi Lamonica (1867) and
11. EPOCH VII PROLIFERATION OF Isidore Maggi (1871).
SHORTHAND IN EUROPE - Germany, Italy, 14. EPOCH X SHORTHAND IN THE 21ST
and France were at the forefront of CENTURY Using sophisticated shorthand
shorthand development, lagging only machines, specially designed computer
behind England. 16th Century Europeans software, and state-of-the-art wireless and
saw shorthand as a way of spreading the internet technology, skilled reporters
word of God by preserving sermons. In instantly produce text from speech and
18th Century England, it was sparked by simultaneously transmit it anywhere in the
increased popular demand to read the world. REALTIME REPORTING In the US,
actual debates of Parliamentary sessions, the application of this is commonly
fueled by slanted summary newspaper observed in legal settings, such as trials
accounts. The worldwide Industrial and depositions, where reporters
Revolution created enormous need for immediately provide text of proceedings
stenographers in order to ease the locally and to remote sites. CLOSED
burgeoning paperwork. CAPTIONING “Subtitles” of live broadcasts
12. EPOCH VIII PROLIFERATION OF seen on a TV monitor are the work of a
SHORTHAND IN AMERICA - Pitman’s shorthand reporter. CART –
system appeared in America in 1852. Communications Access Realtime
Gregg’s in 1893. Before then the only Translation To contrast this technology
known US shorthand system was A with captioning, CART is one reporter
Shorthand Book, authored by John Radcliff instantly converting speech to text and
in 1650. In America, the growth of displaying it on a screen for one viewer or
shorthand consisted mainly of authors many.
perfecting existing systems and users 15. EVOLUTION OF SHORTHAND MACHINES
meeting demands of the business, (Expanding Epoch IX) - 1863 Michela
government, and legal communities for Shorthand Machine ITALY Inventor:
their skills. As the Industrial Revolution Antonio Michela Zucco The world’s first
swept America, the business world needed successful chorded shorthand machine, his
clerical help to cope with the first prototype was built in 1851. It has
overwhelming paperwork. The newly been used continuously in the Italian
invented typewriter also needed operators. Senate since 1880.
Shorthand writers who had the ability to 16. 1875 The Stenographic Machine – FRANCE
type were therefore in great demand. Little is known of this recently-unearthed
machine. Its 12 black keys printed dashes,
 and its 12 white keys printed dots. 26. 1917 National Shorthand Machine -
“Supplementary signs” could be added to Inventor: Ward Stone Ireland - Ward
any stroke using a key stroked with the Stone Ireland patented and produced this
wrist. machine independent of The Stenotype
17. 1879 Bartholomew Stenograph – USA Company. It used a different arrangement
Inventor: Miles M. Bartholomew - First of consonants and added subordinate keys.
practical English-language shorthand 27. 1917 Master Model Three The Stenotype
machine, its chorded keyboard used Company - This improvement on Ireland’s
dot/dash codes to form one letter at a mechanism added a numeral-shift bar, a
time. Top writing speed was about 150 continuous-fold paper supply housed
wpm. within the body cavity, and a pullout
18. 1886 Anderson Shorthand Typewriter paper-capture tray.
Inventor: George Kerr Anderson - First 28. 1921 Dictatype - Inventor: Paul F.
word-at-a-stroke shorthand machine, this Bourquin - Although used for many years
is the first chorded keyboard that printed as a 23-key device, this machine was
letters, not codes, and was designed to officially introduced in the late 1920s as an
write a sound in each stroke. 18-key device.
19. 1897 The Stenotyper – ENGLAND - Earliest 29. 1927 Master Model Four - The Stenotype
English-language device outside of Company produced this shorthand
America, this 3-pound machine, made in “workhorse of the 1930s.” Although its
Germany, produced chorded codes of dots mechanics at times faltered, its use in the
and dashes. It could be used in English, world-famous Hauptman (Lindberg-bady
French, German, Latin, and Hebrew, with a kidnapping) trial catapulted machine
top speed of 170 wpm. shorthand into mainstream reporting.
20. 1904 Stenophile Bivort – FRANCE Charles 30. 1930 Smith Stenotype Designers: Howard
Bivort invented this device for secretarial B. Smith and Walter Heironimus - This
use. Little is known of its longevity. was a unique redesign of Ireland’s machine.
21. 1907 Kehoe Stenographic Machine To enable immediate readback, it split the
Inventor: William J. Kehoe - Last of the keyboard, placing the paper-capture tray
mainstream coded machines, this between the hands.
improvement on the Bartholomew 31. 1939 Palantype – ENGLAND - Named for
machine claimed ability to write at 150 French teacher Mademoiselle Palanque,
wpm. the Palantype was patented by an English
22. 1908 Grandjean – FRANCE - Madame woman named Fairbanks based on design
Marc Grandjean invented this ruggedly- of the Grandjean. Production began after
built French-language device. In World War II.
continuous use since 1910, mass 32. 1939 Master Model Five – Textolite
production began in 1923. The 1994 Molded Shell ML Larsonneur was engaged
TempoSupra, 2003 Nova, and 2008 Reva to create this award-winning design in a
are computerized. last-recourse attempt to compete with
23. 1911 Chambonnaud Silbetype – FRANCE Stenograph’s successful competing entry.
Professor M.Chambonnaud invented this Rapid temperature changes caused
revolutionary device with the goal that its breakage of the housing, and the shell was
output could be read by anyone, not only soon replaced with a metal case.
the user. It was used in seven languages. 33. 1939 The Reporter Inventor: Thomas
24. 1911 Ireland Stenotype - Inventor: Ward Bilyeu - Mr. Bilyeu believed that more keys
Stone Ireland - This device forever defined meant fewer combinations to learn, thus a
the mainstream keyboard and remains the shorter learning curve. Consonants
English-language industry standard. It used occupied three rows, and all five vowel
a two-row, tripartite key arrangement of keys were used.
initial consonants, final consonants, and 34. 1939 Stenograph – Stenographic
middle vowels to create greatest output Machines, Inc. Stenograph’s inaugural
with the fewest strokes. machine was the product of Milton H.
25. 1916 The Shortwriter - Inventor: Alrah B. Wright, and son Robert. Used a light-
Edwards - Used a two-color ribbon, weight magnesium shell and dependable
alternating colors to represent letters clutch mechanism, plus silent operation,
missing from the keyboard. endless-loop self-inking ribbon.
35. 1940 Master Model Five – Metal Shell The into the 1990s, this device remained
metal housing cured the Textolite problem, popular even after computerized machines
but this heavy, unreliable device did not entered the marketplace.
compete well. It was used until about 1945. 45. 1977 BaronData StenoConverter –
36. 1943 Brevitype - Inventor: Wendell V. BaronData Systems - BaronData entered
Kirkpatrick - This attractive, 3-pound the computer transcription arena with this
device, printed standard English letters very successful, albeit weighty, device. An
and claimed to combine “the best features elongated case mounted next to the
of the three fastest writing methods – writing machine contained electronics
typing, machine shorthand, and written which digitally processed steno and wrote
shorthand.” it to a removable cassette. Succcessors:
37. 1946 LaSalle Stenotype - LaSalle engaged  Models: II, III, IV, V, X, TX,
Stenograph to manufacture this very Transcriptor
popular aluminum black-and-grey machine,  These very popular computerized
bundled with correspondence course machines claimed built-in error
educational materials. correction, and high-capacity
38. 1957 Simla – GERMANY - Invented by removable magnetic cassette.
Dusseldorf Parliamentiary Stenographer 46. 1979 Lectro-Graph – Michael A. Smith,
Heinrich Hermann Bruckschen, the Simla Ben C. Fulkerson The first shorthand
used a tripartite keyboard. machine to electrically advance the platen.
39. 1963 Stenograph – Stenographic 1980 Steno-Lectric - Stenographic
Machines, Inc. Machines, Inc. Stenograph’s first electric
40. This machine had shell made of Cycolac platen-advance writer, this was an altered
plastic. This became the machine of the 1971 model.
sixties. 47. 1982 XScribe StenoRam – XScribe
41. 1963 Princess-Steno – GERMANY - This Corporation - XScribe captured digital
chorded machine used 18 lower-case notes on this device, placed beneath a
English typefaces to write syllables. Resting Stenograph Steno-Lectric machine fitted
on the user’s lap, it featured a light touch with XScribe’s contact plate. A built-in
and was noiseless. modem allowed it to transmit data to a
42. 1963 Stenograph Data-Writing Machine computer. Successor machines: FirstCAT,
Stenographic Machines, Inc. - This FirstCAT Plus, StenoRAM I, II, III, III-Plus,
revolutionary device – actually, more of a Ultra, Vision.
system than a machine – paved the way 48. 1987 SmartWriter - Stenograph, LLC - The
for all future computerized shorthand first Stenograph machine to capture notes
technology. Engineered by Bob Wright, it on a floppy disk, it remained a preferred
placed organ-type switches in the steno writer for many reporters through the
machine to sense key strokes, and used a 1990s.
cable to transmit them to a tape recorder. 49. 1988 Digitext-ST (“Steno Translator”) –
Sucessors: Jerry Lefler This paperless realtime
 1970 DataWriter - Used a black box to shorthand machine translated steno
capture digital notes on a cartridge. instantly and set the stage for the
 1974 DataWriter - Replaced the 1970 translating shorthand machines of the
cartridge with a cassette. 1990s. Successors: AccuWriter 1989,
 1983 DataWriter – Revamped, Impact Writer 1994, Fon’iks Writer 1998
integrated design. Data was written 50. 1991 Keyboard Input Machines - The 1991
to cassette located in a side ProModel, from Stenograph, launched this
compartment. launched this genre of machines, paperless
43. Stenoprint – The Hedman Company - The and without onboard display screen, which
first model featured angled vowel keys thus rely on an external computer for
with a supplemental “cardinal” key, readback. Others: 1994 Gemini, 1998 Tréal,
extending out between existing keys, used 2004 Digitouch, 2007 Lightspeed.
to indicate long-vowel sounds. The 51. 1992 Stentura - Stenograph, LLC - This
cardinal key was soon removed and the machine featured onboard translation and
vowel keys straightened. integrated screen. Wireless capabilities
44. 1971 Stenograph Curved Design - were also available. The 2005 version
Stenographic Machines, Inc. - Used well offered AudioSync™, a simultaneous audio
 track of the proceedings synchronized with Transcription software (Case Catalyst). Also
steno notes. capable with Realtime writing.
52. 1994 Yawei Stenotype – CHINA On May Initial Consonant - (to the left of the center
19, 1994, Tang Yawei produced China’s asterisk) begin words and syllables and are
first shorthand machine. operated with the fingers of the left hand. S, T,
53. 1998 CASwin – KOREA - This paperless P, H, K, W, K, R
keyboard device, without integrated Final Consonant- (to the right of the asterisk),
readback screen, is designed to be used finish words and syllables, and are operated
while connected to a computer. with fingers of the right hand. F, P, L, T, D, R, B,
54. 2003 élan Group – Stenograph, LLC This G, S, Z
line includes the élan Mira (paperless) and Vowels- The VOWELS at the center lower
élan Fusion (with paper). section of the keyboard are operated with the
55. 2009 Diamante - Stenograph, LLC - This two thumbs—vowels A and O are controlled by
shorthand machine features keystroke the LEFT THUMB and vowels E and U are
improvement and sleeker features. Its controlled by the RIGHT thumb.
graceful look continues the award-winning
design of its sister machine, the CybraPro. STKPWHRAO*EUFRPBLGTSDZ

Sitting Position At The Shorthand Machine

1. Place your machine on its tripod.

2. Sit back in your chair with feet flat on the
floor, one ahead of the other.
3. Place the machine within comfortable
reach so you do not stretch forward to the
keyboard.
4. The height of the machine should allow
the forearms to remain parallel with the
floor when the hands are placed with
fingers curved over the keyboard.
5. The arms are relaxed and held close to
the body. The operation of the machine
will be through the fingers and wrists,
with fingers moving from key to key
with minimum hand motion.

Stenography, commonly known as shorthand, is

a method of quick writing that uses symbols in
place of letters, words and phrases. It's used to
make note taking easier in classes, lectures,
court hearings, business meetings and etc.

Types of Stenography
 Pen Writers- Uses Pen and Paper
 Machine Writers- or Steno typist and uses
steno machine

Steno machine- also called Shorthand writer,

Steno writer, or simply Writer.
Manual Steno Machine – uses a paper tape and
ink to write down steno notes then you can
read-back the steno notes and translate it word-
for-word (or outline-by-outline)
Computer-aided Steno Machine (paper-less) –
electronically stored the steno notes and can be
translated automatically via Computer-aided
AEU: This is used for the 'a' sound in words like • -PBLG: This is used for the 'j' sound.
'grape' and 'saint'
AOE: This is used for the 'ee' sound in words like Digraphs are consonants that combine in
'seen' and 'preach' English to make a single distinctsound:
AOEU: This is used for the 'i' sound in words like On the left side of the keyboard:
'guise' and 'spite' • TH-: This is used for the 'th' sound.
OE: This is used for the 'oh' sound in words like • KH-: This is used for the 'ch' sound.
'boat' and 'grown' • SH-: This is used for the 'sh' sound.
AOU: This is used for two types of sounds: On the right side of the keyboard:
The 'oo' sound in words like 'glue', but not when • *T: This is used for the 'th' sound.
spelled "oo". • -FP: This is used for the 'ch' sound.
• -RB: This is used for the 'sh' sound.
DIPTHONGS • -PBG: This is used for the 'ng' sound and the
AU: This is used for the 'aw' sound in words like 'nj' sound.
'bought', 'tawny', and 'faun'
OU: This is used for the 'ow' sound in words like
'down' and 'mound' A pronoun is used as a direct object of a verb,
OEU: This is used for the 'oi' sound in words like indirect object of a verb, and as an object of
'toil' and 'ploy' preposition.
The seven basic pronouns take on different
AE: This is used to disambiguate word conflicts forms when used as object pronouns rather
where one of the words is than as subject pronouns:
spelled with "ea". 1. I becomes Me
 The word 'pair' is chorded PAEUR using the 2. You becomes You (this rule applies for
AEU chord, while the word 'pear' is spelled singular and plural use)
with "ea" and so is disambiguated PAER. 3. He becomes Him
AO: This is used for two types of words: 4. She becomes Her
 The word 'horse' is chorded HORS, while 5. It becomes It
the word 'hoarse' is spelled with an "oa" 6. We becomes Us
and so is disambiguated HAORS. 7. They becomes Them

The Missing Keys - Some keys, like S, T, and P, ABBREVIATIONS

are found on both sides of the keyboard. But 1. PURCHASE - /PUR
keys like K, D, and F are only found on one side. 2. PART, POINT - /PT
3. PRESIDENT, PRESENT - /PR
On the left side of the keyboard: 4. PUBLIC RELATIONS - /URT
• TK-: this is used for the 'd' sound 5. SUPERINTENDENT - /SP
• TP-: this is used for the 'f' sound 6. PLAINTIFF - /P
• HR-: this is used for the 'l' sound 7. IMPORTANT, IMPORTANCE - /POR
• TKPW-: this is used for the hard 'g' sound, as 8. APRIL - /AP
in 'gulp' and 'gulf'
• PW-: this is used for the 'b' sound DERIVATIVES
• S*-: this is used for the 'z' sound 1. PURCHASER - /PURR
• SR-: this is used for the 'v' sound 2. APART - /APT
On the right side of the keyboard: 3. PURCHASES - /PURS
• -BG: this is used for the 'k' sound 4. POINTERS - /PTR
5. ADVERTISES - /TISS
On the left side of the keyboard: 6. POINTS - /PTS
• TPH-: This is used for the 'n' sound. 7. ADVERTISER - /TISR
• PH-: This is used for the 'm' sound. 8. APPOINT - /APT
• SKWR-: This is used for the 'j' sound. 9. PARTS - /PTS
• KWR-: This is used for the 'y' sound. 10. APPOINTS - /APTS
On the right side of the keyboard:
• -PB: This is used for the 'n' sound.
• -PL: This is used for two related sounds:
o the 'm' sound.
o the 'lm' sound as in 'realm', 'palm', and 'calm'.
 LETTERS INITIAL FINAL
A A A
B PW B
C
D TK D
E E E
F TP F
G TKPW G
H H
I EU EU
J SKWR PBLG
K K BG
L HR L
M PH PL
N TPH PB
O O O
P P P
Q KW
R R R
S S S
T T T
U U U
V SR F
W W
X S BGS
Y KWR EU
Z S S

PERIOD - FPLT
COMMA - RBGS
QUESTION MARK - STPH
NEW PARAGRAPH - PF
CORRECTION - *