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

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

O.O

Whereas I learned about shorthand as a little kid, most probably from my mom showing me examples that she had done (in school? at some previous job?), so I've (foolishly) always assumed everyone knew it was a real writing system.

I shouldn't keep being surprised by these realizations.

[mmcirvin.livejournal.com]

I think shorthand used to be much more common knowledge in the days before there was a computer on every desk, when it was common for offices to have secretaries who took dictation.