Variously identified as an art, a technology, and a professional prerequisite, forms of shorthand have been in use from Antiquity to the modern day. Far from a niche corner in manuscript studies, shorthand represents an almost global phenomenon that has touched upon many aspects of everyday life and of scholarship. Due to its immediate illegibility, however, and the daunting task of decipherment, shorthand has long been neglected as a research object in its own right. The immense quantity of extant and unread shorthand manuscripts has been downplayed, as has the technology's place in cultures of learning, religious devotion, court practice, parliamentary procedure, authorial composition, corporate life, public and private writing, and the academy. As the first ever peer-reviewed volume on the subject, this book presents a much-needed introduction to shorthand, its history, and its disparate historiography, alongside eight contributions by shorthand specialists that showcase some of the many lines of inquiry that shorthand inspires across a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. For readers with a vested interest in shorthand, this volume provides a range of approaches to shorthand in the Latin West, from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century, upon which to orient, substantiate, and inform their own work. For general readers, this publication invites scholars to consider ways in which historically overlooked or underestimated forms of writing facilitated a variety of writing cultures in different contexts, periods, and languages.

Variously identified as an art, a technology, and a professional prerequisite, forms of shorthand have been in use from Antiquity to the modern day. Far from a niche corner in manuscript studies, shorthand represents an almost global phenomenon that has touched upon many aspects of everyday life and of scholarship. Due to its immediate illegibility, however, and the daunting task of decipherment, shorthand has long been neglected as a research object in its own right. The immense quantity of extant and unread shorthand manuscripts has been downplayed, as has the technology's place in cultures of learning, religious devotion, court practice, parliamentary procedure, authorial composition, corporate life, public and private writing, and the academy. As the first ever peer-reviewed volume on the subject, this book presents a much-needed introduction to shorthand, its history, and its disparate historiography, alongside eight contributions by shorthand specialists that showcase some of the many lines of inquiry that shorthand inspires across a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. For readers with a vested interest in shorthand, this volume provides a range of approaches to shorthand in the Latin West, from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century, upon which to orient, substantiate, and inform their own work. For general readers, this publication invites scholars to consider ways in which historically overlooked or underestimated forms of writing facilitated a variety of writing cultures in different contexts, periods, and languages.

"A new and easier version of Gregg shorthand--the world's most widely used shorthand system"--Jacket.

The problem to be considered was: Would the use of Russon's early-new-matter approach in a beginning shorthand class significantly influence the achievement of the students in that class? Because the ultimate goal of shorthand is the ability to take new-matter dictation and transcribe that material in accurate form, it seemed reasonable to assume that, if students had early experience in these activities, their skills would be higher at the end of the period of instruction than if they had no such experience until midway through the course. This study was undertaken in order to find answers to the following questions: 1. Would the application of methods as delineated in Russon's early-new-matter approach significantly affect the achievement (as measured by 5-minute new-matter dictation tests) of first-year shorthand students at the end of the first year of instruction? 2. How would the level of achievement (as measured by 5-minute new-matter dictation tests) of two groups of shorthand students taught by two different methods for the first semester compare at the end of the first year of instruction?

A unique approach to fast-writing for both professional and general note-taking. The primary textbook of this method of contemporary shorthand, presents the two levels of the system; Basic mode for professional and frequent shorthand writers. Alpha level for the general or occasional note-taker (this is the 'alphabetic' version which uses familiar longhand letters), Basic mode uses only simplified letters written as single pen-strokes. A special Keyboard level is included for those who wish to take quick notes on a keyboard or laptop computer. The system is particularly easy to learn in only a few hours. The few simple rules are common throughout the integrated system. This unique approach to shorthand enables the method to be used by all categories of note-takers. Students choose their starting level according to anticipated frequency of use -high frequency by professionals, or occasional use by the general note-taker. The two levels can be combined to meet personal needs. This is a preferred shorthand system for reporters, journalists, secretaries and all professionals who need an accurate system of rapid writing which can be acquired in a matter of hours. The system is equally suitable for all student note-taking, from high-school to university and beyond.