SHORTHAND I (ENGLISH) 11. THE HALVING PRINCIPLE The strokes or denotes for each phonetic word is developed and accordingly the strokes are made. However in order to save the time and effort on part of stenographer, principle of shortening the stroke by half in length is developed which a stenographer should learn.
11.0 Objectives After going through this lesson you will be able to – 1)
make the stroke of ‘T’ or ‘D’ applying halving principles;
2)
vocalize half length of forms;
3)
know about halving of stroke when circle ‘S’ follows;
4)
know to make the half length;
5)
know where halving principle does not apply;
6)
know the position of half-length forms;
7)
know the half strokes of ‘M’ ‘N’ ‘L’ ‘R’;
8)
know about joining of S strokes of unequal length;
9)
know how to apply the principle of halving in phrasography; and
10)
make Grammalogues using the principles of halving.
11.1 Introduction In order to save the time and effort, strokes are shortened by half in length called halving principle. In this lesson, halving of strokes, their positioning and their joining have been explained in a very simple manner. The conditions when the halving principle is not applicable are also described by giving examples to make the student easily understand. Halving means half length of any stroke. It is called halving principle. The strokes are halved in length for the addition of 'T' or 'D' only.
189
11.2 Halving for either 'T' or 'D' In a word of more than one syllable, a consonant stroke may be halved to add the 'T or D'. For example:
11.3 Halving of 'T' only In the words of one syllable, light strokes, without a final hook or a joined diphthong, halved for 'T' only.
11.4 Halving of 'D ‘ only In words of one syllable, dark strokes, without a final hook or a joined diphthong, are halved for 'D' only.
11.5 Vocalizing Half-length Forms Vowel-signs to half-length forms are read next to the primary strokes. For example:
190
11.6 Circle S following Half-length Forms Circle S at the end of half-length forms is read after the t or d. For example:
11.7 Half-length H Half length H stroke not joined to another stroke is always written upward. For example:
11.8 Halving Principle does not apply The halving principle is not employed in words of more than one syllable when a vowel follows final 'T' or 'D', because a final vowel requires a final stroke. For example:
When a triphone immediately precedes 'T' or 'D'. For example:
Where a more distinctive outline is obtained by the use of the stroke 'T' or 'D'. For example:
191
Upward 'R' standing alone is not halved because the outlines will conflict with Grammalogues 'and' and 'should'. For example:
After 'N' stroke, 'M' is not halved and after 'M' stroke, 'N' is not halved. For example:
11.9 Position of Half-length Forms Upward or downward half-length characters must not be written through the line for the indication of vowels. Where the first upstroke or the first down stroke in an outline is halved, the outline is so written that the halflength stroke appears over the line for the indication of a first-place vowel, and on the line for the indication of a second or a third place vowel.
192
193
Self-check Questions 1.
Write the meaning of halving principle.
2.
Write four words which are halved for 'T' only.
3.
Write four words which are halved for 'D' only.
4.
Write the form (upward/downward) of half length 'H' when not joined to another stroke.
194
5.
Write the two words in which triphone immediately precede 'T' or 'D'.
6.
Is it possible to half upward R.
11.10 Half- length Strokes 'M', 'N', 'L', 'R' Half- length Strokes 'M', 'N', 'L', ‘R’ which are halved to express the addition of t. For example: Lt (Half-length stroke L) is written downward after 'N', 'NG' and 'W' if no vowel follows. For example:
Half- length Strokes 'M', 'N',’ ‘L (upward)’ , 'R (downward)' are thickened to indicate the addition of d. For example:
However, the words like sold, styled and hold must be written with the full strokes due to initial attachment. For example:
195
If a vowel comes between 'L' and 'D' or between 'R' and 'D', both strokes must be written in full. See comparative examples:
After shun hook half-length St may be written downward or upward. For example:
11.11 Joining of strokes of unequal length Two strokes of unequal length must not be joined unless there is an angle at the point of junction, or in the case of curve the difference of thickness clearly shows the unequality of the length. In such cases the strokes be written as full length stroke. For example:
196
Half-sized 'T' or 'D' is always disjoined when immediately following the strokes 'T' or 'D'. For example:
11.12 The Halving Principle in Phraseography The halving principle is employed in phraseography to represent the words it, not, word, and would. For example:
11.13 Halving Principle in Grammalogues Halving principle also applies to Grammalogues. For example:
197
198
199
Self-check Questions 7.
Write the name of consonants which are halved and thickened to indicate the addition of 'T'.
8.
Write four phraseography words in which halving principle is employed.
9.
The half length strokes M, N, L and R indicate for ‘D’ only if these are _________.
10.
In making the stroke of the word 'Held' in which form of ‘H’ will be written.
11.
If a vowel comes between ‘L’ and ‘D’ or between ‘R’ and ‘D’ which form (short/full) of strokes will be written?
11.14
Assignments
11.14.1
Class Assignment
200
There are three kinds of truth. Truth about things; truth of thought about things; and truth in the accurate expression of thought about things. According to ancient authorities, truth could be said to be a correspondence between thought and thing. It seems perfectly easy for anyone to think accurately about a thing with which he is quite well acquainted. But the case is not quite so simple as that, and there is, without doubt, a great deal to be said before it can be called simple. Suppose an unfortunate accident occurred. Six people witnessed the accident, and were asked to relate exactly what had happened. 11.14.2
Home Assignment
201
202
If the little stones which you have rolled from under your feet were able to speak, they would relate to you a great story, the story of this old world of our as it was thousands of year ago. They cannot, however, and the story will not be told by them. But let us suppose that one particular pebble could talk, and that it seized the opportunity to do so. It would tell you, and the other gentlemen of your party, of changes in climate, great mad upheavals, when the mighty ocean turned to dry land, and the highest hills and the hard rocky mountains tottered and fell towards the sea and became, indeed, the sea bottom.
This is evident, from the hot springs found in different parts of the world, and still more evident from the volcanoes which, when violently active, pour out molten rock until it cover the country around to a thickness of many feet. A great authority on the subject has asserted that there are slight earth tremors every quarter of an hour. The hand of man seems weak indeed when we think of the wondrous power of these mighty forces.
11.15
Summary
•
Halving a stroke indicates the addition of T or D.
•
In words of more than one syllable, a consonant stroke may be halved to add the 'T or D'.
203
204
•
In words of one syllable, light strokes, without a final hook or a joined diphthong, halved for 'T' only.
•
In words of one syllable, dark strokes, without a final hook or a joined diphthong, are halved for 'D' only.
•
Vowel-signs to half-length forms are read next to the primary strokes.
•
Circle S at the end of half-length forms is read after the t or d.
•
Half length H stroke not joined to another stroke, is always written upward.
•
The halving principle is not employed in the words with more than one syllable when a vowel follows final 'T' or 'D', because a final vowel requires a final stroke.
•
Upward 'R' standing alone is not halved because the outlines will conflict with Grammalogues 'and' and 'should'.
•
After 'N' stroke, 'M' is not halved and after 'M' stroke, 'N' is not halved.
•
Strokes 'M', 'N', 'L' and 'R' are halved to express the addition of t.
•
Lt (Half-length stroke L) is written downward after 'N', 'NG' and 'W' if no vowel follows.
•
Strokes 'M', 'N', ‘L (upward)’, 'R (downward)' are halved and thickened to indicate the addition of d.
•
The words like sold, styled, hold must be written with the full strokes due to initial attachment.
•
If a vowel comes between 'L' and 'D' or between 'R' and 'D', both strokes must be written in full.
•
Full sign Ler (L thickened) and Rer (R thickened) cannot be halved to represent the syllables - Lerd and Rerd, respectively, because these strokes are halved for representing Ld and Rd.
•
The strokes mp, mb, and ng may be halved when initially or finally hooked.
•
Two strokes of unequal length must not be joined unless there is an angle at the point of junction, or unless in the case of curve the difference of thickness clearly shows the unequality of the length.
•
Half-sized 'T' or 'D' is always disjoined when immediately following the strokes 'T' or 'D'.
•
The halving principle is employed in phraseography to represent the word it, not, word, and would.
11.16 Answers to Self-check Questions 1.
Halving means half length of any stroke. It is called halving principle. The strokes are halved in length for addition of ‘T’ or ‘D’ only.
2. Rabbit
Plate
Credit
thought
Rapid
applied
grade
brayed
3. 4.
Upward
5. Fiat 6.
No
7.
M, N, L, R
Diadem
8. If it 9.
I will not
This word
We would
Thickened
10. Tick ‘H’ 11. Full form
11.17 Terminal Questions 1.
What do you know about Halving Principle With M,N,L,R (with examples)
2.
In which situation Halving Principle is not used (with examples)
3.
Write in shorthand: credit, plate, grade, secret, unavoidable, artificial, body, resident, friend, opened, married, treated, heard, answered, sunlight, poisoned, retired, doubled, worried, insured
11.18 Reference •
Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key, Wheeler Publishing, Allahabad, 2003.
205
11.19 Suggested Reading •
Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key, Wheeler Publishing, Allahabad, 2003.
11.20 Glossary
206
•
Halving - To reduce the length of the stroke by half.
•
Primary Strokes – Initial or first stroke.
•
Unequality of length – Two strokes with different lengths.