Blog Post
What is Pitman's Shorthand?
Have you come across a document which looks like a page of doodles, lots of lines and circles which make no sense whatsoever and do you wonder what it means? It may be that you have come into possession of an old diary which includes squiggles which you cannot understand. A diary is after all a place where one can write one's secret thoughts and, to ensure that if found it could not be read, the writer may have recorded their feelings in shorthand. If you want to know what these scribbles mean, I can help.
Shorthand transcription (or translation if you prefer) is my speciality and I have been using shorthand daily for over 35 years now. I was extremely lucky to learn Pitman's New Era Shorthand in the mid 1970's - it wasn't even being taught at my school at that time; it had been replaced by Pitman's 2000 which you could only learn at college, and I remember the book I used had a picture on the front cover of a sexy secretary taking dictation from a handsome man – it was very 1950's! I have now come to realise that there are so few people in the UK who can read shorthand and I believe it is slowly dying out and will become extinct – which is a shame because it is a beautiful form of writing in its own right.
Pitman's Shorthand is a phonetics-based system developed by the Englishman, Sir Isaac Pitman (1837-1897). Sounds are written as outlines made up of light and dark strokes, curves, circles, loops, hooks, ticks, dots, dashes and diphthongs. Other techniques, such as short forms, intersections, doubling and halving, help the writer to take down sounds at an even faster rate. Pitman's Shorthand is an extremely clever and enduring system but unfortunately technology has replaced this amazing form of speedwriting and it is in danger of becoming extinct. Why not have a look at Wikipedia or some of the shorthand videos on YouTube?
One major advantage of Pitman's New Era shorthand is that it can be read by everyone who studied the subject. That is why I can read my mum's shorthand and vice-versa. It is also why I can transcribe (or translate, it is another language in any case) any document written in New Era or 2000, although it doesn't work the other way round!
So, if you would like to know what your grandparent's journals say, email me. It may just be a shopping list, but who knows, it could be something really interesting. What looks like a load of old scribbling on files and documents (and I'm guilty of making notes like that rather than writing things out properly) can be very important. Find out the meaning of these scribbles.
And it isn't restricted to your granny's diary, shorthand is still used by legal secretaries and journalists, but can today's writers read yesterday's writings? I can!
If you would like to know more, please contact me.
Tihis book was written by Rory Palmer and I did the editing - a first for us both!
This is the result of my latest undertaking. My very good friend, Rory Palmer, has written his first book and he somehow managed to persuade me to get involved in his endeavours. He can now say he is an Author and I can say I am an Editor. This is a case of teamwork, between us we have managed to achieve something of which we are immensely proud. Certainly last year I would never have dreamed of doing something like this but you never know until you try.
My first Video
I have recently completed the transcription of the journal belonging to a lady during what I can only describe as pioneering years. It was an insight into the life of a young woman who worked extremely hard but I think she had a fulfilling life too! “ Hello Tracey, Just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you what a wonderful job you have done on transcribing the 1851-1855 shorthand diary left from an ancestor. We were excited to find out from the Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan, U.S. that there was an additional 70-page diary, but our hearts soon sank hearing it was in shorthand. Finding you was a blessing! Thank you for all your hard work, for your patience with us constantly sending lists of names and places and for so kindly answering endless questions in working with us to allow the present and future generations of our family to have this account of their lives in the 1800s in America. So, for anyone reading this with diaries or writings written in shorthand, take heart because this wonderful woman in the United Kingdom can open up a whole new world for you too! Thank you, Pat “
This is the reference I received after transcribing an 1860 letter written during the American Civil War. Other testimonials can be found it the here Be sure to check them out!
This was a good job - I have been working with Beehive Books in Philadelphia writing in shorthand the Jonathan Harker journals from Bram Stoker's Dracula. It was a most fascinating project and one that I thoroughly enjoyed, I really got hooked on the story. Anyway here is a lovely reference from the company ...
*** So a lovely lady contacted me recently. She had read the Alan B Shepard transcription and had pointed out one change so I have added a revised version below.*** I only transcribe Pitmans Shorthand (all versions) but occasionally I get sent other stuff too. Unfortunately, unless it is Pitmans, I have to decline which I hate to do. This enquiry was absolutely fascinating but it was written in Gregg shorthand but I was able to pass it onto a friend of mine who did such a good job that customer, Bill, sent all the stuff back to me for interest and also to put on my site. Thank you Bill. I really wished I could have done this one, it is a love letter from the mid 1940’s that was written to America’s first man in space, Alan B Shepard. It was written by a young woman named Fran (aka Dashing Dizzy), who it turns out from subsequent letters was madly in love with Shepard. This particular letter was penned in shorthand and intended to be deciphered as a playful challenge. This is the letter and revised solution ...
This dedication was in the front of an old book. It is a quotation by P C Owen. The writer did miss a few words out but you can get the sentiment.
An Art Installation I have been working with a most delightful artists, David Brognon and Stéphanie Rollin. David wanted me to write a phrase in shorthand, but it had to be in French! The beauty of shorthand is that it is phonetic - you write what you hear. He very kindly sent me a photograph - isn't it absolutely fantastic! David Brognon & Stéphanie Rollin Nous allons observer une minute de silence, 2016 Blue Neon 500 x 30 cm Trad: Tracey Jennings Unique Edition It's hanging on "place d'armes" in Luxembourg-city centre. I am credited on the exhibition for the traduction. The neon may move to Lyon on France after the show. I have done the same sentence in other languages and David and Stéphanie plan to produce them in a smaller size. One will be show in ArtBrussels in April, and the Arabic version in a French museum in September.
One of my lovely friends just sent me this link to an interesting article on the BBC about shorthand. It is really interesting, give it a read! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34603886