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SHORTHAND I (ENGLISH) 2. POSITION OF VOWELS, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMALOGUES In the last lesson, you learnt about the consonants, vowels and their joining to form an outline of the words. Some more styles and signs of representing the consonants and vowels are described in this lesson. Positioning of vowels differ according to the sound and are placed accordingly in between the consonants.

2.0

Objectives After going through this lesson, you will be able to know –

2.1

1)

how to represent the vowels in between the consonants;

2)

positioning of outline;

3)

different punctuation marks;

4)

grammalogues / Logograms; and

5)

alternative signs of R & H.

Introduction

In this lesson, the students are made familiar with representation styles of vowels in between the consonants. The words which are mostly represented by fixed symbols, called logograms or grammalogues, are taught in this lesson. There are two signs representing consonant R & H, rules for using each sign are also given in this lesson.

2.2

Intervening Vowels

The vowel sign which is made in between two consonant strokes is called an Intervening vowel. The vowel in between the strokes is made at three different places along with consonant strokes. These vowel signs should not touch the stroke.

1. (a). First place vowel sign is always placed at the beginning of the first stroke (b). It can be on the left or the right side of the stroke. If the vowel is preceding, the vowel sign should be made on the left side of the stroke. For example:

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If the vowel is following a consonant then the vowel sign should be made after the first stroke. For example:

In the above outlines you may observe that the vowel sign has been made in the first place i.e. at the beginning of the stroke.

2. Second place vowel sign is always placed at the middle of the first stroke. The vowel sign can be on left or right side of the stroke. If the vowel is preceding the consonant then vowel sign should be made on the left side of the stroke.

For example:

If the vowel is a following consonant then vowel sign should be made after the first stroke For example:

In the above outlines you may note that the vowel sign has been made in the second place i.e. in the middle of the stroke.

3. Third place vowel sign in between two strokes are written at the end of the second stroke, on the left hand side. Making a vowel sign on the left side of the stroke will avoid the confusion in reading the third place with second stroke. For example: Preceding Vowels:

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Following Vowels:

In the above two outlines you may see that the vowel sign has been made at the third place, i.e. at the end of the second stroke on the left side.

2.2.1 Positioning of Outline As mentioned previously, the position of outline changes depending upon the place of the vowel sign. The first stroke will decide the position of the outline in reference to the line on which outlines are made.

The outline or stroke with first place vowel sign is made above the line, the outline with second place vowel is made on the line and the stroke with third place vowel is made through the line as shown in the above examples.

In case of a horizontal stroke one may get confused with regard to the positioning of the stroke, particularly in a case of stroke position through the line. The horizontal stroke will have only two places of positioning the vowel. The first place vowel is placed at the beginning of the horizontal stroke above the line. In the case of second place vowel, the position of the horizontal stroke is made on the line and vowel is positioned in the middle of the stroke on the line. In case of third place vowel the position of the horizontal stroke is made on the line and vowel is positioned at the end above the second stroke. For example

If the first consonant is horizontal and the second stroke is upward stroke which can be a straight line or curved line, the horizontal first stroke is always made below the line and the second stroke passes through the line. For example:

If the first consonant is horizontal and the second stroke is downward stroke which can be a straight line or curved line, the horizontal first stroke is always made above the line and the second stroke passes through the line. For example:

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Self-check Questions 1.

Fill in the blanks: (i) First place vowel sign is always placed at the __________ of the first stroke. (ii) The second place vowel sign is always placed at the _________ of the first stroke. (iii) The third place vowel sign is ______________ written at the_________. (iv) If the first consonant is horizontal stroke and second is upward stroke, the horizontal strokes is written _____________ the line.

2.

2.3

Write in shorthand attack, cap,

escape,

make,

meal

Punctuation The following signs represent the English language punctuation marks:

Two short lines like equal (=) underneath an outline indicate the initial capital letter. The normal full stop sign (.) is used as vowel sign in shorthand .Thus, different punctuation marks are adopted in shorthand.

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2.4

Grammalogues A grammalogue is a frequently occurring word represented by a single sign.

The sign for a grammalogue is called a logogram.

Some of the logograms are given below, which one must remember by heart:

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Self-check Questions 3.

What is a Grammalogue?

4.

Grammalogue is called ___________.

5.

Make sign of the followingFull stop, Dash, Mark of interrogation

6.

Write in shorthand a, the, too, each, ought

2.5

Alternative Signs for R and H

Consonants ‘R’ and ‘H’ can be written in two ways. R can be represented either by a downward curve or upward straight line. Similarly ‘H’ can be represented either by downward stroke or by upward stroke.

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2.5.1 Rules for R 1.

The consonant R (r) initially is written downward if a vowel precedes, (as in Air and Arab) and upward if a vowel does not precede, (as in Rope and Rock) For example:

2.

The consonant R at the end of a word is written upward if a vowel follows (as in Carry) and downward if it is not followed by a vowel (as in Car).

3.

R before m is always written downward (as in Ram, Aroma and Arm)

2.5.2 Rules for H The upward form of H is most commonly used. The downward form of H is written when the letter stands alone or is immediately followed by consonants K (kay) or G (gay).

Upward Form:

Downward Form:

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H followed by consonant:

Alternate use of R and H will be explained in detail in a subsequent chapter.

Self-check Questions 7.

Fill in the blanks: (i) R is represented by _________ strokes, written in ________ & ________ directions. (ii) In the beginning of a word `R’ is written a.

When preceded by a vowel _________.

b.

When followed by a vowel __________.

(iii) Before `M’ ____________ `R’ stroke is used. (iv) The two forms of H are : _______ & ___________. (v) `Hockey’ is written with __________ `H’. (vi) `Happy” is written with ___________ `H”.

2.6

Assignments

2.6.1 Class Assignment

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2.6.2 Home Assignment

2.7 •

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Summary Intervening Vowels & Positions -

First-Place vowel signs when occurring between two strokes are written after the first stroke.

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Second-Place vowel signs when occurring between two strokes are written after the first stroke.

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Third-Place vowel signs are written before the second stroke.

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The position of an outline is governed by the first sounded vowel in the word.

Grammalogue -

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Alternative sign for ‘R’ & ‘H’ -

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A grammalogue is a frequently occurring word represented by a single sign. The sign for a grammalogue is called a logogram.

Consonants ‘R’ & ‘H’ have two forms, upward ‘R’ & Downward ‘R’, Upward ‘H’ & downward ‘H’.

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Downward ‘R’ is written initially if a vowel precedes.

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Downward ‘R’ is written before ‘M’.

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Upward ‘R’ is written if a vowel follows.

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Downward ‘H’ is written if it is standing alone.

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Downward ‘H’ is written if it is followed by ‘K’ or ‘G’.

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Upward ‘H’ is commonly written.

2.8

Answers to Self-check Questions

1.

(i) Beginning of the stroke (above the line) (ii) Middle of the stroke (on the line) (iii)End of the stroke (through the line) (iv) Below the line

2.

3.

A grammalogue is frequently occurring word represented by a single sign.

4.

Logograms

5.

6.

7.

2.9

(i)

two, Downward & Upward

(ii)

a. Downward

(iii)

Downward

(iv)

Upward & Downward

(v)

Downward

(vi)

Upward

b. Upward

Terminal Questions

1. From which position an outline is governed (with examples). If the outlines are not made with correct procedure what difficulties will you face?

2. Frequently occurring words are represented in shorthand by a single sign what is it called.. Write signs for 10 such words.

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3. (A)

(B)

Make sign for the following: (i)

Full Stop

(ii)

Dash

(iii)

Mark of interrogation

(iv)

Mark of exclamation

(v)

Indication of initial capitals

How many strokes are written upward and downward? Give examples.

4. Consonant R and H are provided with two different forms in order to facilitate the joining of two strokes together. Justify the same.

5. (A)

Write the following words in shorthand Haig, sherry, arm, array, share, repair, hood, arcade, retail, ruth

(B)

Write the following words in English shorthand as Grammalogues Should, but, which, had, different, who, for, beyond, have, two,

2.10 Reference •

Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key, Wheeler Publishing, Allahabad, 2003.

2.11 Suggested Reading •

Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key, Wheeler Publishing, Allahabad, 2003.

2.12 Glossary

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•

Downward – a stroke made starting from top to bottom.

•

Upward – A stroke made starting from bottom to top.

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Logogram – Fixed symbols for representing frequently used words.