Just for fun, I was wondering if anyone could think of any words written in Gregg that look like or remind you of the concepts they represent. For example, “defended” in Anniversary Gregg kind of looks like a person holding up a sword in defense (the symbol for “def” is the head, “end” is the arm, and “ded” is the sword). Please state which edition of Gregg the words are from if you can.
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Interesting concept. I've never thought of this before. I cannot think of any word right now; my hunch is that there would not be that many.
I got the idea from this website on Pitman. They give a couple of examples for Pitman on that page, and it made me wonder about the same idea for Gregg words.
I found "defended" by skimming through a dictionary. Maybe that would jog your memory?
The brief form "it" is a little like an index finger pointing at something. You'd have to use a lot of imagination to come up with these kinds of connections.
Of course! The whole idea of this post is similar to pointing out how clouds look. Any connection you make is by nature a stretch because it is dependent on imagination. It's just meant to be fun. 🙂
"Ice" is the ice cube melting? LOL.
When I began learning brief forms, I found "should" an easy one because the outline looks like a check-mark. ("should" and a check-mark both being affirmative).
What about Arabic-style Gregg calligraphy? Has it ever been done? 😀
i.e. http://www.ted.com/talks/el_seed_street_art_with_a_message_of_hope_and_peace
A while back, there was a website showing the DJS manual with reversed Gregg shorthand (right to left!). I don't think it exists anymore.
Have you tried using the Wayback Machine site to find it?
Great idea! I had forgotten the name of the site, but I found it here in the blog — it was werelight.com. So I went to the Wayback Machine, and there it was. You can see the page dedicated to "left shorthand" here, with the illustrations as well!
Louis Leslie wrote a brief story about a left-handed reporter who wrote mirror-image shorthand (right-to-left, in other words) at 200 wpm. Pages 128-129 of the book Methods of Teaching Gregg Shorthand.
The idea of Gregg shorthand being written in calligraphic styles — fancy, stretched out, 3D, inflated, furnished with serifs, or whatever — is an idea that often crosses my mind.
Arabic calligraphy is traditionally done with a broad nibbed pen or a reed cut with a broad nib. Essentially the same tools used in western calligraphy up until the Spencerian and Copperplate developments with a flexible nib. Pitman depends on that flexibility from the Copperplate tradition. My old paleography professor called those relatively modern styles an abomination.
I write my Gregg with a broad nibbed pen, held at a 45 degree angle as it is usually taught for the italic style of calligraphy. It does lend a decidedly Arabic character to the Gregg. I've had several people ask what language I was writing, and many guess something from the Middle East.
Sometimes I do artistic work with calligraphy, and I've considered doing something with Gregg. The only drawback is that most people can't read it. Perhaps it is waiting for that special peice that needs to contain an exotic secret message that needs an effort to decode.
I always thought the pre-anni form (which might be the same in anni) for 'courage' ( k-r-j) reminded me of a banner flying in the breeze on the end of a high pole, as if being carried into battle by a horse rider.
Same outline even in DJS. k-r-j. Nice visual image!
For some reason, the outline for 'walk' sort of reminds me a little of a hiking boot in profile.
lion
spirit
Time ago, I read the word "breast" in Gregg was used for an event against breast cancer.
In Spanish, "parapente (paragliding)" is a P over a P and a dot, so you can see a paragliding.
The breast cancer pin is shown here: http://www.fawi.net/BC/bestbreasthealth.html.
The outline is obviously modified to suit the image, but it's still pretty clever. And for a very worthy cause.