The system of shorthand set forth in the follow-

ing pages received the name of Phonography (a term

derived from two Greek words meaning “ sound
writing ”) because it affords the means of recording
the sounds of spoken language* From the outset,
therefore, the student should remember that he is
learning to write by sound, i,e., to write words as
they are pronounced ; that each simple character
represents one definite sound and no other ; and that
the ordinary spelling — ^with its many irregularities
and inconsistencies — as exhibited in printing and
in longhand writing, is not to be followed or imitated.

When the student has mastered the value of

the phonographic signs, he should use those which
represent the equivalent sounds in forming the
characters for the words he desires to write. For
example, if he wishes to write in Phonography the
word knee (spelt with four letters, though made up
of only two sounds), he uses but two phonographic
signs, namely, that for the consonant n and that
for the vowel e. To spell in this fashion, a
mental analysis of the soimds of words must be
made, but the ability to do this is very easily acquired,
and is soon exercised without conscious effort.

For working the exercises and for ordinary

phonographic writing, a pen and ruled paper should
be used. Speaking generally, it is not so easy to
acquire a neat style of writing by the use of a pencil
as it is by the use of a pen. No doubt, the pencil
is frequently employed ; in some cases, indeed, it
may be found impossible to use a pen for note-taking.
The student would do well, therefore, to accustom

xii

DIRECTIONS TO THE STUDENT

himself to write either with a pen or a pencil in the

more advanced stages of his progress, though for
writing the exercises given in this book the pen only
should be used.

The pen should be held lightly, and in such a

manner as to permit of the shorthand characters
being easily written . The wrist must not be allowed
to rest upon the note-book or desk. In order to
secure the greatest freedom of movement, the middle
of the fore-arm should rest on the edge of the desk.
The writer should sit in front of his work, and should
have the paper or note -book parallel with the edge
of the desk or table. For shorthand writing, the nib
employed should not be too stiff, but should have
a sufficiently fine and flexible point to enable the
thick and thin characters of the system to be
written so as clearly to distinguish the one from the
other. Paper with a fairly smooth surface is
absolutely essential.

The student should thoroughly master the explana-

tions and rules which precede the respective exercises,
and write out several times the illustrative words
appearing in the text, afterwards working the
exercises. As the secret of success in shorthand is
PRACTICE, it is advisable that the various exercises
should be written and re-written until they can be
done with perfect freedom and accuracy. The
perusal of progressive reading lessons in printed
shorthand will also be found helpful to the student
in forming a correct style of writing ; and the practice
of writing the characters, at first with careful
accuracy, afterwards with gradually accelerated
speed, will materially assist him in forming a neat
style of shorthand writing.

The system is fully explained in the following

pages, and can be acquired from the instruction

DIRECTIONS TO THE STUDENT

xiii

books alone by anyone who is prepared to devote

ordinary perseverance and application to the study.
With the assistance of a teacher, however, more
rapid and satisfactory advance will be made in the
mastery of the art. Should any difficulty be ex-
perienced in finding a teacher, the publishers will be
pleased to furnish any student with the names and
addresses of the nearest teachers of Pitman’s Short-
hand, It should be pointed out that satisfactory
progress in acquiring the art of shorthand will only
be made if a certain portion of time is regularly
devoted to the study every day ; or, in the case
of school or class instruction, by a thorough and
punctual performance of the allotted portions of
work forming the course. Study at irregular
intervals of time is of little value ; but an hour, or a
longer period, devoted daily to the task will give the
student a knowledge of the system in a comparatively
short time, and constant and careful practice will
bring speed and dexterity.

“ Consonants are the result of audible friction or

stopping of the breath in some part of the mouth or
throat. ’’ {Prof, Sweet.)

Forms of Consonants. 1. For the representation

of all the consonant sounds, (except w, y, and the
aspirate h), the simplest geometrical forms are used,
namely, the straight line and the shallow curve, as
shown in the following diagrams —
Arrangement of Groups. 2. The order of the
arrangement of each group of consonants, as ex-
hibited in the Table on a following page, follows
the order of the oral movements from the lips
inwards in the utterance of their respective sounds.
The first pair of consonants, p, h, are pronounced
between the lips, and the next seven pairs at the
several barriers further back in the mouth, in the
succession indicated in the phonographic alphabet.

Glasses of Consonants. 3. The first eight con-

sonants, represented by straight strokes, are called
“ explodents,” because, in pronouncing them, the
outgoing breath is forced in a sudden gust through
barriers previously closed.

4. The next eight, represented by upright or

sloping curves, are called “ continuants,” because in
uttering these the outgoing breath, instead of being