One Slope I

One Position II
One Thickness II!
. . ~Itnb,tb ~ onsonanfs.- ~o.nnerlibe;~omtls.
urbe ltotiott.

THE PHONETtC HANDWRITING.

.

\~ \

HIS is a reproduction of the First

Edition of 11 Light-Line Phonography 11
made from photo-etchings of the original
book, reprinted and autographed by the author
for presentation to his friends as a souvenir of
the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Gregg
Shorthand, at Chicago, August eleventh to
fifteenth, nineteen hundred thirteen.
Of the original book only seven copies are
known to be extant, of which number one_
is in the British Museum, another in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford, and a third in the
possession of the author.

Five hundred copies were printed

of which this is No.

24 8

LIGHT-LINE PHONOGRAPHY.

THE

PHONETIC HAN DWRITI NG,

BY

JOHN ROBERT GREGG, F.S.S.S.

I

Member of the Institut Stenographi'quf des Deux

Mo~tdes

of Paris.

LIVERPOOL:

LIGHT-LINE J:>HONOGRAPHY INSTITUTE,

62, DAI.E STREET.
1888.

cV\\'3:J
--~==,--------- - - - - - - -

ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL.

PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.

,
1
r

A great and increasmg demand for a simple, rapid

and perfectly legible phonetic hand-writing for general
use has led to the invention of Ltght-Line Phonography, which is the outcome of years devoted to
stenographic study and research. The system is based
on natural physiological laws, and the characters have
been assigned to .the various sounds after long and
careful experiment
Its main features may be briefly
summarized as -

I
~
I

I
,.

(1) The total absence of shading or thick

ening. By this is meant coMPULSORY shading,
for the student may write either light or heavy.
according to the natural character of his bandwriting.
In the old methods cognate sounds being
distmguished by shading it was necessary to
represent the most frequently recurnng sounds
by DOWNWARD signs-as in rapid writing only
downward lines could be shaded with any
degree of certainty-hence the constant tendency of the writing m these systems is downwards.
The result Is obvious-lineahty, and
consequently phrasecgraphy, ts destroyed and
the writer is greatly harassed by the straggling
We
and uncertain character of the wntmg
confidently challenge comparison m this respect.
In lineality and continuity of execuuon, the
system is quite unapproached.

,-----------

4
---------

( 2) The characters being based on the

elements of the ordinary longhand, the
strokes are familiar and the mot10n uniform.
Briefly expressed, Light- Line Phonography is
WRITING, .nOt DRAWING.
(J)

The insertion of the vowels in their

natural order without lifting the pen,
anrlin such a manner tlut they usuallv INCRFt.:AsE
the speed ofexecution, whilst their insertion not
only imparts to the writing the legibility ot
print, but is the source ot a most powerful, yet
extremely simple and legible mode of abbrevia...tion.

( 4) The absence of positions or the placing of

words on, above or through the line of writing
to imply the omission of certain vowels or
consonants.
This, one of the chief stumbling l-locks to the
shorthand student, is nowhere to be {ound in
Light-Line Phonography.
Like shading, this
principle is destructive to lineality and phrase<,_
graphy, and is a constant sour~e of embarassment if applied, and ~f illegibility if ne,gletted.
Light~ Line Phonography, like the ordinary long
hand, may be written on unruled paper, and in
one s~raight line.

(s) The predominance of curve motion.

"'
I

I
I
I

Curves, the prevailing element of the ordinary

penmanship, being much more facile than
straig~t lines, the author has, so far as is compatible with a well-balan~ed alphabet, assigned to
them the r~presentatton of the most frequently

ill

5
~- ..... t.~\-.:.;,lllt(.------------

I
I

l
\
I

--------

recurring consonant~. In addition to this the

straight characters-have been so arranged thatthe
most frequently recurring- combinations of letters
form an obtuse angle at their point of junction, and
such angle not being observed the letters are
allowed to coalesce naturally in the form of a
large quadrant, thus curve motion has its rightful preponderance. the maximum ot facility
obtainable from this source is seemed, and the
system is freed from the unnatural zig-zag motion
of the ordinary shorthand.
(6) Consonantal blendings, systematically applied, based on physiological laws, and
relieving the system of the objectionable obtuse
angle.

(7} Individuality of form.

Having few alternative signs, and these regulated by rule, LightLine Phonography has a distinctiveness of form
greater than that of any system hitherto published.

In conclusion, the endeavonr of the author has been

to compile a system so simple as to be readily ac' quired by the humblest capacity, and those possessed
of liqle leisure, and yet rapid enough to reproduce
verbatim the fastest oratory.
In presentiryg his work
to tKe public he asks for nothing beyond an impartial
investigation, a.nd with perfect confidence awaits the
,, result.
1

l\

LIVERPOOL,

JJfay, I888.
----------~

-- --------------------'

6
i

A FEW WORDS TO THE STUDENT.

At tne outset we would earnestly request the student to take a note of every hour he devotes to the
~tudy.
By so doing he ~ill be enabled to com pate
his progress with that of students of the old methods,and will also be in a position to confirm our statements as to the time outlay required to obtain a
practical knowledge of the system.
Results, of
course vary according to the ability and aptitude of
the student, and the best results are attained under
instruction, ~nd where the attention is regular.
When the student has mastered the principles of
the " Phonetic Handwriting'' he. is in possession of a"
practical system of shorthand by which <.~. speed of
from 90 to 1 2o words per mi:nute can be attained.
Should he, however, desire greater proficien~y he is
recommended to obtain the "Light-[ ;ine Reporter's
Handbook" which contains an adaptation of the
system to zerbattm uporting, and also a more extended expositton of the two rules of abbreiation given
in this hook.
The student would do well to forward to the headquarters of the movement a postcard giving his name
and address. This will ensure his receiving intimation .of the organi~ation of local associations and other
matters of interest.

---- ---

-------

----------------...--

LIGHT -LINE PHONOGRAPHIC ALPHABET

CONSONANTS.

P.' B. F. V.
( (
.) }
S. Z.

R. L. CH. J.
......... ,........
_, / /

K. G.

SH. ZH.

TH. 'I-H.

H.

T. D.

N. M.

--

,-/"'"

NG.

W.

Y.

I down

VowELS.

I Short
I

Medium

!a

'

... [1

I.

as in lit

e P.

, let

II.

(ah) o as tn lad.

a (ah) o

a (Eh) o

,, late,

lu ,

as in lull.

lard

Long
Short

,o

lead.

o(aw) v as in lot'

Il
I

~,laud

Medium III. 6 (aw)

Long

... o (oh) v,
/

IV. 66. _,

look.

66 ,"'

loom.

ioad.

-DIPHTHONGS.

(
I

oi

t!>

t/'
tJI

ow d'

as t'n ue
,

"
,

oil

use
owl

The distinguishing marks are omitted in practice.

i
I

_ _ _ _ _ _ !I

--------

NOTES ON THE ALPHABET.

Consonants.-S is represented by a small quadrant
traced in any direction downwards as d -

same

sap

TH is a small quadrapt

traced in either direction upwards as

Csv

I
j

breath,

month,

H is always followed by

!hall.

a vowel, and may generally be denoted by the elonga-

i tion of the vowel

I
I

I
II

__.,._r

sign as

c;:::r

lzat.

him,

hood.

Vowels.-The circle may assume -the form of a

/f teaclz,

loop where more convenient, a$

lip.

The upward hook may be traced

and the downward hook

more facile, as,
~

.:::....-

on,

c:--

much.

may be traced in any direction as

b).

"

where these forms are

moon, --'/.., mood, --;

'fl-.. tire, -!.o

chat,

or, ---;=--- more/

~he

diphthong

---r:!:J

mi'ght.

Its distinguishing curl may

1_geq~rg_Lly be_p_f!:lLt~g_i~..2~actj~~

,,

9
~---

-- ------------------

LIGHT-LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

-----

- - - - - - - - - . ---

----------- ------

FIRST LESSON.
CONSONANTS.

R.L. ...., '----'

K.G.~~

T.D . .--/.

VowELS.

1,

e, e

ah, eh

--vll'RITIWG

Cake,

kak

..

I
I

k aw 1

Clay,

kla

Creed,, k r

ed

aw, oh

g aw t

Get,

get

--J!

Gate,

gat

Gale,

____

gal

kler

Grade, grad

Care,

kar

....-.Q,

Rarely~ .,;~rlJ.

-([
I

Clear,

EXERCISE.

Got,

.,.--0">

.,.--

Call,

------------

~
I

~
JV.._y

- --------.

'1--- - - ---

JQ
_______

_....

_______ ------.

''

LIGHT -LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

Read,

red

Dear,

der

_/,---

Rate,

rat

..Jf"

Dot,

daw t

/'

Rail 1

DOCK; daw k

--------- -----~

----------------

a1

I
~/

Date,

dat

.-A(

Rogue, rog

....._--,
,

Daily,

d a 11

Laid,

1 ad

-,V'

Allot,

ah i aw 't

Q._.v

Lark,

1 ah r k

All,

aw 1

<:...._.....-

Lake,

1a k

'--"C1l
,

Agree, ah g r

Lock,

law k

Tale,

ta1

Ee-g

v
eg

Take,

ak

A:)\

Eke,

ek

Taught,

aw t

.A/

Era,

e r ah

Dig,

dig

,A"

Idiot,

1 d law t

da

/1

It,

rod

Road,

'

Day,
-

-~-----

Early,

------ -

er 1I

j.

~
j

I
.I

f--P'

,--..
-n
I
,q_J)

1
r

II

--,
LIGHT-LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.
------------------------- - - ----- -~--- -l
.. - -

-~

- - - lo4-;-

~--

I
1

SECOND

LESSON.

I
I

GoNSON ANTS.

P.B.

F.V.,

1 (

..J)

N.M. - -

I!

S.Z.

VowELS.

uh, oo

"'1MRITING

EXERCISE.

Pair,

par

Beef,

be f

P~ce,

pas

Bevy,

be vi

Post,

p0st

Body,

bawd 'i

Po1,1r,

Boom,

boom

Pure,

piir

Famous, f

Bail.

bal

Feeds,

or

1
!

fed s

I
i
I

Balance, b ah 1 ah n,s

----

6r

;-I
J
v

a m u s o4
,.

,1

fii
Few,
------------ ------- ----- -- -.--

r
I

J3

------ ----------- ---- ------- ---------------

-----------------~i

LIGHT-LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

-------

~j

------------------~--

Map,
Above,

m ahp

u VI

ah b

.- . .r>
c

Room,

Look

en u

room

I
!

I oo k

~I

e..i
, i

~I

Appeal,

ah p

Impose,

1m p 6 z

Appal,

ah p aw I

'-,IZ

Notice,

not1s ...,(

Renew,

Appear,1

ah per

Else,

e1s

Lazy,

Hi z 1

Quick,

Papa,

pah p ah ~

~1

'

Lip,

001

. 11 p

Quit;

Took,

t 00

Cas{,

Cup,

k il p

Days,

,...-~

as

c::._,

embers~

Duly,

dull

Roof,

roof

Done,

dun

-'9

Use,

uz

dl.

Due,

--y

Troop,

~--------------------

~I

iin1ti

as

'

Unity,
1t

00

:rl

/'

troop ""f
-------------

II

14

LIGHT -LINE PHON.ETIC HANDWRITING.

------L- ------------------

THIRD

LESSON.

CONSONANTS.

Sh. Zh / Ch.

J. / /Th. ,._,

H . .., Ng.-

w.

Y. "

VIPH'fHONGS.

<Q_

01

"

ow

tJ

NOTE.-The combination "NK '' tnay be denotel by

lcn,~ring

the "N" sign tlw.'l

pra.clir.t it

._j.2.

RANK.

sl~g-htly

After a ,littlt

unnPresary to deprr11s the 8ign.

__lit' .found___
_

tr'lf

..___

"'JJl"RITING

Shot,

shaw t

Shout, sh ow t
Shame, .sh

am

S_bine, sh i n

E:XERCIIJE.

Shoot,

sh oo

Chatter, ch ah t

Chain

er

chan

Church, ch tl r ch

15

LIGHT-LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING .

....

1
I

ef

-------

!f

Yawn,

eawn

.e.

j 0k

?.
,

Yacht,

.:: aw t

Jar, '

j ah r

Year,

eer

~-

Judge,

j uj

Yoke,

eok

Vl

Yore,

eor

e._

Throw, th r o

Twig,

Out,

ow t

d"

Vow,

vow

ol

Oil,

oil

Boil,

bail

Thank,

th -ab n (g) ko

Search,

s er ch

Chief,

cb

Joke,

th 1 s

1 This,

Though~ th

..A.

aw t

Hear,

her

Him,

him

Hum,

hum

Hope,

h6

Hoot,

boot

Walk,

oo aw k

W1it.

Both,
oo a. t
;;;
-----------

,...-

,r

00

1g

Knowledge, n awl

,L

ej

b 0 th

--/-

"

'

J6
--- --

...

-- --- - ..

-----

LIGHT -LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITIN(t

I- - -- --

Bath,

bah th

Dine

din

Touch,

t li ch

College1

kaw l

Much,

m l'1 ch

{"

Il South,

ej

~
/

th

01\'

Vv'bat,

boo aw t

When,

boo

Month,

rn u nth

Reach,

-'2/

en

17~:

i;
I

~j

e ch

Line,

l i n

Crush,

k r

Fight,

fi t

Death,

de th

/I

Died

did

Arrange,

ah ra n j

~'

Large,

l'ah r j

Method, methawd ~ Latch,

I ah ch

~I

us~

---1

Might,

nii t

I
I

Voict,

Dodge,

VOlS

~I

daw-j

as f

win (g) k

taw r ch

Astonish, ah st awn 1sh

9-~

Purchase, p

Fascinate, f ahs 1 nat

Wink
Torch,

Such,

such

ur

<;:h

~-----

17

-- - --

LIGHT-LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

---- - - - - - - - - - - - -

---

- ------- .

FOURTH

LESSON.

~'

BLENDED

CONSONANTS.

I.-The student should practice the following com.

binations until he can execute them freely and
neatly :

Pr

Pl

C..

Kl .-..__../

~ Bl

Br
Gr

; Cl

Td Dt ud

, Ss r

II.-Evtiry practical Shorthand writer has experienced

the great difficulty of joining rapidly and legibly
two straight lines forming an obtuse angle. The
natural tendency of the han9 is to a:llow such
lines to form a curve thus,..,-:,......-, .J,. .../ and
to prevent thi_s an unnatural restraint is exercised
on the hand, causing a very decid~ pause and
consequently a decrease in speed of execution
As our method is based on nature obtuse angles
are dispensed wi:.h, and the hnes are allowed to
coalesce thus ;

Tn On ,;-:: ~

; Tm Om ,-r; .

.r-. ; Nt nd .../~

Md _/; _ / ; .Df Uv /'}:: /} ; Jnt

/.. U

18
.

~--.- -----~

LIGHT -LINE PHONETIC HANDWRiTING.

----------,.,-BITING

EXERCISE.

Pray,

CJ;

Breach,

Process,

Bring,

Produce,

G.A

Broad

Promote,

Rrush

Progress,

~Blade
,

'

Play,

BlaJTie,

~:

Bleed,

VI

Place,
Plain,

(_,e

G.!

Bless,

Played,

Blank,

Gl

Plot,

Blood,

v-:

I
I

Plated

Bloom,

0.-- ii

Branch

Blush,

~I
I

Brand

Crash
- - - ------

..

___

-'
#JI

~
_:_.._.

----

--- .

-- --

-~- -~-

.1..9__ ________ -- - - - - - - - - - -

LIGHT -LINE PHONETIC HANOWRITING

------------------------

------ - - -

Crayon,

,.-.._f-

. Temper,

Cream,

__,...-

Wisdom,

-------[
/0

II

I
I

~ 'I

'

'I

'

Crisp,

Demure,

~~

II
I

I
I
I

Crushed,

~:I

Victim,

l'

Claim,

Denominate.

~1'1

Clash,

-----./'

Denounce,

Grand,

Attained,

I
I
I

I'
I

'I

Grade,
Glad,

jV

~'

Sudden,

.JV

.-..__p/ Land,

Tenure,

Respond,

'--V

Deny,

Talent,

.)Z...9!

Intend,

~- Potent,

(ja/

Denote,

II

'

Demolish.
System

.y-__ _ . ___ -
,_;

"'

Depend
... ..

______

.,..,... ......

20

LIGHT -LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

- - - - - - , ; - - - - - -- - - - -- ---- - Beyond,

Intelligent,

Dawned,

Agent,

,J

Owned,

Regent,

Deemed,

Urgent,

Dreamed;

Diligent,

Blamed,

Allotted,

Doomed,

\Vaited,

Tamed,

Rated,

Lamed,

~/

Aimed,

a.-/

Coated,
Loaded,

Devote,

Shaded,

Dividend,

Possess,

Defeat,
Gentle,

/(-

Causes,

__V:~- J. ~~~s~~s,

r---- -- ---------- -----------

21
.~

.......

____

-------.

LIGHT-LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

------------

FIF'I'H

LESSC}N.
\VoRPS.

ABBREVIATED

NoTE.~Some of the following uords

;;ubsequent princ1ples of abbreviation.

Glad

A, an
a/

After
Always

<:_-(

Good

.-----.....

dow11

Should r-./

The

That

,0

Any

-..

In not

Are, our

'--"'

Is

Be, but

It

Been

Little

Lord

Before

Many

Between

?-

More

Can

...--,

Most

Could

,--,/

Mr~

Ever-y

_)

Never

Fo.r

down

Of

II

Some

Have

I Shall

_./

t-;

co-ntracted tmder

Great

And

Because

.tJte

..

down

up Thing

__

'--/
,

--r

-;;
(./

Form 1-

One

..,_

From

2-

Other

rr

Give

Put

Them

( do.ZNl

Time

).._-

up
up

r-

,-~~up

,....

Upon

G:-

Very

\Vas

'(

Well, will

What

<./

Which - / dow11
\Vish

'\Vould

Wonder

up
_.,.._

\Vord, work

----------------------

..-n

22

---

~I

LIGHT -LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

------

----~

-----~--

PHR.ASEOGR.APHY.

II

I
I1I

I
I

I
I

THE student should assiduously cultivate the practice of Phraseography, or the joining of 5mall words
together, for without this practice great proficiency can
never be attained. Light-Line Phonography on
account of the continuity of the writing adapts its"elf to
"i
phrase writing in a remarkable maimer!..
EXAMPLES.

It is

..A-

Mav be

-(

To be

I have

To the

/""'"

I will

Of the

I shall

In the

_/"

On the

c....r

Is the

Of all
In our
Of our
And our

't_-

-----

---

....-"""-"

(L../

).

For the
What is
And the

.......,

And have

-1

On which

Of which

Of other

l
I

--

23

--- - - - - - . 1
LIGHT -LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING. '
---------- ----~--

--

-----------------

I do not

There is not

I can not

For the time

I did not

("-

I should not

It is not

There will be

~ .

Of its o1vn

For some time

u-j

It shall be

Some time ago

Wehave not

I shall not be

I can not be

And which have

-j

Is the most

There should be

It will not

Which would. be

./(

Will now be

There

will not be

--'--'--fl
J-r

-~

For it will not be

That is the

Which rnay be

L-(

That it will not be ,.r(

Mi~ht not be

-6(

For some time in theif

I will not be

Andwhichmaynotbe~

12+
l -- ~~~HT -~;-;E

P~ONE;~~--~-~-~~-~HI~~NG~~
i

II

--------

RULES

OF

.A.BBREV"I.ATION.

I.-Drop the terminations of words, i.e., write so much

of the outline as will, with the aid of the subject
matter and vocalized context, suggest the whole
word, as "unan'' for unanimously,"
" diplomacy."

'~diplom"

for

This simple rule, a result of

the insertion of the vowels, enables us to obtain

great brevity without resorting to arbitrary and
ambiguous devices.
II.- where two vowels-not forming a diphthong-come

reat,

together omit the minor as,

~

_buoyant

theory.

ll?UMCTU.ATION.

The period is indicated by ,

graph by

>

and the dash by

, the end of a para

.... .

All other

punctuation marks are written in the usual way.

1_.__

----------- -

-----~--

25
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------

LIGHT -LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

- - - --- -----REA.DXNG

.AND

. --

...

--

"\IV'BITING

EXERCISES.

T1y to be something in the world and you will be something.

Aim at excellence and excellence will be attained.

r::r- 6

..,/

r,

-c

This is the great secret of success and ernmence.

.~

--

;--._Y

"I will try"

L----

Good temper

--....

wrought

has
..P
15

...

__,---'

,._p

.-/

never accomplished anything.

"1 can't do it"

crv

........c./

wonders.-H !lwes.
--n,.

the essence of
~

,.,

'

41

.10~

good manners.
~

-----------

__.....,

26

-------------- ----

LIGHT-LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

I
I

------------------~- --~---~j
READING EXERCISE.

WRITING EXERCISE.

SELF-RELIANCE.

I
I

Don't rely on your I

friends. Don't rely upon
____.J ---..sr_P ---r--- j__,./- I ~
i
your ancestors. ThouI
sands have spent the
J'--CY ~-=s ' r9 ) ~ ,...
l
prime of life in tl1e vain
hope of help from those
J C9--l-,
whom they call friends,
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and thousands have
;
sta1 ved because they
i/ /
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had a rich fathe~; Rely
, _____ -aupon the good name
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: I
'which is made by your
!
I own exertions, and know
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that better than the best
I~
...ro.--6/
friend you can have is
I
~n unquestionable deterI
mination united with
decision of character.

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It is a fine thing in
friendship to know when
to be silent.
--------------

27

--------LtGHT-LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

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28

-- - - -------------------

LIGHT-LINE PHONETIC HANDWRITING.

"'VIl"RITING

EXERCISE.

ENGLISH LITERATU~E.

IT cannot be doubted that English literature -is

beyond all comparison the amplest, most various, and
most splendid literature which the world. has ever
seen ; and it is enough to say of the English language
that it is the language of that literature.

Greek litera-

ture compares with Enghsh as Homer compares with

Shakespere-that is as infantile with adult civilization.
It may further be said of the English language that it
is a native tongue of nations which are pre-eminent in
the world by iorce of character,

enterprise,

and

wealth, and whose political and social institutions have

a higher moral interest and greater promise than
any which mankind has hitherto invented.

To the

original creations of English genius are to be added

translations into English of all the masterpieces of
other literatures, sacred and profane.

It is a very rare

scholar who has not learned much more about the

Jews, the Greek!::! and the Romans through English
than through Hebrew, Greek or Latin.-Pro(essor

Elltot.
_______

_____.

____

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