L-6

SHORTHAND I (ENGLISH) 6. INITIAL HOOKS TO STRAIGHT STROKES AND CURVES To attain more speed initial hooks to straight strokes to represent consonant R, L and curves are developed. Alternate forms of fr, vr and fl, vl are also developed to increase the fluency in short hand writing.

6.0

Objectives After going through this lesson you will-

6.1

1)

be able to make the strokes of the words using Consonant `R’;

2)

be able to make the strokes of the words using Consonant `L’;

3)

know about alternate forms of fr and vr;

4)

know about alternate forms of fl and vl; and

5)

know about grammalogues related to initial hooks.

Introduction

In the earlier chapter we have discussed about loops and hooks. In this lesson we have discussed about initial hooks to straight strokes and curves to enable the students to attain more speed.

When the sound of ‘R’ and ‘L’ blends with any consonant, it makes a double consonant. In such cases the sounds of ‘R’ and ‘L’ are represented by attaching an initial hook to a stroke as discussed below: -

6.2. ‘R’ Hook to Strokes 6.2.1 If a small initial hook is attached to a straight stroke in the clockwise motion (right motion), it will represent the sound of ‘R’. For example:

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6.2.2 If a small initial hook is attached inside a curved stroke, it will represent the sound of ‘R’ .

Upward ‘R’ is not hooked initially, because it will form on outline similar to the outline of the character ‘W’ and ‘Y’.

6.2.3

6.2.4 When ‘R’ hook is attached to stroke sh, it will be written downward. For example:

6.3 ‘L’ Hook to Strokes 6.3.1 If a small initial hook is attached to a straight stoke in the anticlockwise motion (left motion), it will represent the sound of L. For example:

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The small initial hook ‘L’ is not attached to the straight strokes such as:

because it may form a figure that is similar to another consonant or there is no place to attach a hook for L. The hook for ‘L’ is written first but is read just after the stroke to which it is attached. The vowel signs are placed to them just as they are normally placed and read to a single consonant. For example:

6.3.2 If a big initial hook is attached inside the curved stroke, it will represent the sound of ‘L’.

As a rule, a large initial hook is not attached to the strokes such as:R(up), H(upward. downward), W, and Y 6.3.3 To obtain easier forms, the ‘L’ hook is sometimes used in words in which the ‘L’ belongs to the following syllable and not to the stroke to which it is attached. For example:

6.3.4 When ‘L’ hook is attached to stroke ‘sh’ it will be written upward.

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Self-check Questions 1.

2.

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Fill in the blanks: (i)

A small initial hook written with the left motion adds _________, to simple straight strokes except____________

(ii)

A small initial hook written with the right motion adds _________ to simple straight strokes except___________

(iii)

‘R’ Hook is _______to the strokes

(iv)

‘Ng’ with a small initial hook represents the sounds of ___________

(v)

Shl is always written ________

(vi)

Shr is always written _______

Is it possible to hook the strokes W & Y.

6.4. Alternative Forms for fr, vl Six strokes are having alternative forms viz.

The first form of each pair is called a left curve because it is made with the left motion, the second form of each pair is called a right curve, because it is made with the right motion. There is only one form for 'thl' namely the left curve.

When joined to another stroke the form which gives easier joining is used. For example :

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6.5

FL and VL

(i) An intervening dot vowel between a stroke and an initial hook is shown by writing a small circle for the dot vowel, either after or before the stroke. (ii) An intervening dash vowel or a diphthong is shown by intersecting the sign for the vowel or diphthong. For example:

(iii) If the vowel sign cannot easily be written through the stroke it may be placed at the beginning or the end for a first place or a third place vowel respectively.

For example:

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Self-check Questions 3.

Fill in the blanks: (i)

There are Alternative forms for the strokes__________.

(ii)

An intervening dot vowel between a stroke and an initial hook is shown by writing a __________

(iii)

An Intervening dash vowel, or a ____________sign for the dash vowel.

(iv)

The left curves fr, vr, thr are used if a vowel_____________

diphthong

is

shown

by

4.

Which form of curve (right/left) fl, vl are used after straight upstrokes and the horizontals k, g, n?

6.6

Assignments

6.6.1 Class Assignment

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Dear Sir, Thank you for yours of the first of April, and for mailing me your price lists and samples of blue and black inks and glue in the several sizes of bottles. I think the labels are better and brighter now. I shall give the samples a fair trial during the next few weeks, and, if suitable, I may be able to stock a large number of the smaller sizes. As I think you know, my principal business is with legal offices, and, as you will agree, it is essential to offer them only first-class inks.

Yours truly, 6.6.2 Home Assignment

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Have you ever noticed what useful lessons you may receive through a shrewd look at the faces of the people you come across in travelling? You will see in them humour and gloom; generosity and miserable stinginess; pluck and nervous fear; wisdom and simplicity. You will notice the drinker and the abstainer; the hopeful and the fearful; the clever talker and the bore; the flighty and the modest; the pilferer and the honest fellow; the loafer and the worker. Five minutes in a tramway car may offer us many lessons if we care to take them.

6.7

Summary

•

A small initial hook written with the Right motion adds R to simple straight strokes except upward R.

•

A small initial hook written with the Left motion adds L to simple straight strokes except upward R.

•

The hooked signs should be called by their syllabic names.

•

A small initial hook to curves adds R; a large initial hook to curves adds L.

•

Shr is always written downward, and Shl is always written upward.

•

Ng with a small initial hook represents the sounds of ng-kr, ng-gr.

•

When standing alone, the left curves of fr, vr, thr, thr are used if a vowel precedes.

•

When standing alone, the right curves of fr, vr, thr, thr are used if a vowel does not precede.

•

When joined to another stroke any form of curve i.e. left or right curve of fr, vr, thr, Thr can be used.

•

The right curves fl, vl are used after straight upstrokes, and after the horizontals K, G, and N; in all other cases the left curves fl, vl are used.

•

An intervening dot vowel between a stroke and an initial hook is shown by writing a small circle for the dot vowel, either after or before the stroke.

•

An intervening dash vowel, or a diphthong, is shown by intersecting the sign for the vowel or diphthong.

6.8 1.

Answers to Self-check Questions (i)

‘L’, ‘R’

(ii)

‘R’, ‘R’

(iii)

Prefixed

(iv)

ng-kr, ng-gr 107

(v)

Upward

(vi)

downward

2.

No

3.

(i)

F,V,Th

(ii)

Small Circle

(iii)

Intersecting

(iv)

Precedes

4.

6.9 1.

2.

Right

Terminal Questions (i)

What is the Double consonants?

(ii)

Describe the use of large initial hook.

Show the use of initial hook to straight strokes in curves in making the outlines of the following words.

Pray, trial, measure, preacher, driver, honourable, marshal, figure, joyful, clubs

3.

What is the difference between Circle S,Z and Stroke S,Z? examples.

4.

What are the rules of Initial Hooks to Straight Strokes & Curves?

Explain with

6.10 Reference •

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

6.11 Suggested Reading •

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

6.12 Glossary •

Intervening Vowel – Vowel sign in between consonants strokes.

•

Alternative forms – Alternative shapes of strokes.

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