The Gregg Group was founded 22 May 2004, prompted by the lack of online shorthand resources. As the primary use for shorthand — business and legal recording — has waned in recent decades, we generally acclaim the skill as a hobby or personal tool. The purpose of the group is to promote the use of Gregg systems of shorthand by providing advice to beginners, support for students, and an association of users of this efficient, attractive, and enjoyable method of writing.
Since we’re talking about Speedwriting and other alpha systems, does any one know anything about AlphaHand? I have the books but never pursued it. It’s an alpha system based on Pitman and looks pretty good (but not as good as Gregg).
🙂
Marc
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Marc:
That sounds interesting, if a bit confusing; it's an alphabetic system that looks like Pitman? (huh?)
I'm going to get the book via ILL right away…
I didn't make it very clear, did I?!! It's an alpha system which relies upon the principles of Pitman. So, for example, instead of initial hooks for things like R and L, it uses straight lines and upward diagonal lines (if I remember correctly). Halving and doubling might also be in there but it's been quite some time since I looked at the text. I was once told by an ex-Pitman teacher that it was the best alpha system he had seen. Then again, I think he might have had quite a bias! Marc
MARC:
Off the subject just a tad–forgive me–but I heard it said once that the halving principle is utterly unique to Pitman.
In your experience, is this true?
BTW, ordered AlphaHand via ILL, but haven't received it yet.
( lol )
Nah, you don't have to.
You're beginning to fascinate me, Marc. Just how many shorthand books do you have?
As for me, I'm getting pretty addicted to getting shorthand books via eBay. 🙂
Apropos the halving question, I realized last night where I'd read that tidbid about halving. It was in a book at the UNR library that compared shorthand systems, and its methods of teching. It was geared toward teachers' efforts for improving teaching methods.
But the book was printed circa 1957. It is indeed possible that AlphaHand could have used halving, and have made the original statement obsolete…
I was just wondering if you had heard of any other system besides these two which used halving…
Ugh! You're going to make me go down into the basement and find the book, aren't you?
😀
I sit corrected! AlphaHand (which was developed in the 1980s, I believe) does not have halving. For doubling, it adds a stroke which looks like a "(" for -ture, etc. It does use a line attached to a consonant to express a following R and is based on Pitman theory. There's the equivalent of the "str" loop, etc. I've never known anyone who taught or used it and I have no idea what the speed potential is. It is, after all, an alpha system. Marc