Shorthand

[prog]

This is a curious image of a reporter writing in shorthand, found by dougo.

My whole life I understood the word "shorthand" as a synonym for "abbreviation", not a complete and formal writing system that looks like alien script to the uninitiated. But the commenters on that photograph say it's so, and Wikipedia agrees, with yet more graphic evidence. Very interesting!

Comments

[lyricon.livejournal.com]

This is just awesome. Like you, I was under the impression that it was more a form of abbreviation. Now I want to learn multiple forms of shorthand so that I can exchange notes with the other five people in the world who still know it. Or so that I can take notes in class with it and impress myself.