Stenotype
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A stenotype machine is a specialized keyboard used by stenographers for shorthand use. A trained court reporter or closed captioner can type speeds of approximately 225 words per minute at very high accuracy. Many users of this keyboard can even reach 300 words per minute.
The keyboard looks more like a compact piano than a regular keyboard. Multiple keys are pressed simultaneously (known as "chording") to spell out whole syllables, words, and phrases with a single hand motion. This system makes realtime transcription practical for court reporting and live closed captioning.
The first stenotype machine was built in 1868. An American stenotype machine was patented in 1879 by Miles M. Bartholomew. A French version was created by Marc Grandjean in 1909.
This is the keyboard layout of the American stenotype machine:
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Stenotype Machine Keyboard Layout
In "home position," the fingers of the left hand rest along the gap between the two main rows of keys to the left of the asterisk (pinkie finger on the "S" to forefinger on the "H" and "R"). These fingers are used to generate initial consonants. The fingers of the right hand lie in the corresponding position to the right of the asterisk (forefinger on "FR" to pinkie finger on "TS"), and are used for final consonants. The thumbs produce the vowels.
The system is roughly phonetic, e.g. the word "cat" would be written by a single stroke comprising the initial K, the vowel A, and the final T.
This is a basic chart of the letters of this machine:
| English Letter | Stenotype Letter |
|---|---|
| Final B | B |
| Final CH | F P |
| Final D | D |
| Final DZ | DZ |
| Final F | F |
| Final G | G |
| Final J | PBLG |
| Final K | B G |
| Final L | L |
| Final M | P L |
| Final MP | FRP |
| Final N | PB |
| Final NG | PB G |
| Final NJ | PB G |
| Final NK | * PB G |
| Final P | P |
| Final R | R |
| Final RCH | FRPB |
| Final RF | FR B |
| Final RVE | FR B |
| Final S | S |
| Final SH | R B |
| Final T | T |
| Final V | F |
| Final X | B G S |
| Final Z | Z |
| Initial B | PW |
| Initial CH | K H |
| Initial D | TK |
| Initial F | T P |
| Initial G | TKPW |
| Initial H | H |
| Initial J | S K W R |
| Initial K | K |
| Initial L | HR |
| Initial M | P H |
| Initial N | T P H |
| Initial P | P |
| Initial QU | K W |
| Initial R | R |
| Initial S | S |
| Initial T | T |
| Initial V | S R |
| Initial W | W |
| Initial Y | K W R |
| Initial Z | STKPWHR |
| P: Comma | R B G S |
| P: Correction (Asterisk) | * </font> |
| P: Paragraph | * P |
| P: Period (.) | F P L T |
| P: Question Mark | ST P H |
| Vowel A | A |
| Vowel A (Long) | A EU |
| Vowel Aw | A U |
| Vowel E | E |
| Vowel E (Long) | AO E |
| Vowel I | EU |
| Vowel I (Long) | AO EU |
| Vowel O | O |
| Vowel O (Long) | O E |
| Vowel OI | O EU |
| Vowel OO | AO |
| Vowel OU | O U |
| Vowel U | U |
| Vowel U (Long) | AO U |
See also
- Stenomask
- Closed captioning
- Court reporting
- Remote CART
- Telecommunications Relay Service
- Captioned Telephone
External Links
- Slate: What's That Thingy Court Reporters Type On? (http://slate.com/id/2119534/)fr:Sténotype