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.

Speed Writing Skills Training Course: Speedwriting, a guide to faster note taking, an easy to learn alternative to shorthand Most people need a note taking system for work or study but few people have the time or inclination to spend a year or two learning shorthand. BakerWrite Speed Writing enables you to learn a new system in a matter of hours and become proficient within weeks. This book is laid out in 6 easy to follow lessons, that take about an hour each. Practical guided exercises, with full answers, in each chapter and each session is rounded off with a dictation passage (available from http: //www.UoLearn.com) Save time and become more efficient taking dictation, in meetings, on the telephone, in lectures or interviews. No strange squiggles to learn - just different ways to use the letters you already know. Your notes will be easy to transcribe. A terrific opportunity to save time and change your working practices - for the better What do people think of this speed writing system? "The principles are very easy to follow, and I am already using it to take notes." "BakerWrite is the easiest shorthand system I have come across. Having studied all the major shorthand systems and even other speed writing courses, I find BakerWrite a sheer delight." "I will use this system all the time." "Your system is so easy to learn and use." Heather studied Pitman shorthand at school and then at secretarial college in England; she later learned Teeline shorthand and now regularly teaches these. BakerWriteTM is based on her experience with these systems and 22 years as a secretary and PA - taking notes daily. She has been training and coaching secretaries, PAs and administrators since 2000. Please note there is an alternative edition of this book, Easy 4 Me 2 Learn Speed Writing. Heather had over twenty years' experience as a secretary and PA before setting up Baker Thompson Associates Limited in 2000. The company specializes in the training and development of secretarial and administrative staff, www.bakerthompsonassoc.co.uk She now travels all over the UK working with large and small companies to enable their office staff and PAs to work more effectively. She developed this speed writing system to fulfill a requirement by many companies for a quick and easy way for their employees to take notes. The course became very popular and she was often asked if there was a book with the basics of the system - so here it is To contact Heather please visit the speedwriting section of the publishers' website, http: //www.UoLearn.com I am 51 years old and have been a secretary more or less since I left school. I took the requisite Pitmans shorthand course whilst at school and have never been able to understand it, all those squiggles and lines. I have used my own speed writing version of words through the years and have managed to get by (as long as I dealt with the notes as soon as I had written them and the dictator wasn't too quick - so it was half memory and half being able to read my own shorthand version). But now, everything is so clear and makes complete sense. I take your book on the train every morning and even after the first reading it completely made sense and I could even remember most of what I had read in the first chapter and believe me my memory at retaining new info is not as it used to be. Even when I was reading your abbreviations I was able to see what they were in a lot of cases before I checked the meaning. I am thoroughly enjoying learning a new skill from a book that is so simple to understand and I have already started to implement my new dictionary of words when taking notes. A great big thank you for developing a system that is so easy to understand and completely workable and I looking forward to showing off my new skills when taking notes (which I will actually be able to understand) at the next board meeting. Ann

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.