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SHORTHAND I (ENGLISH)

3. DIPHTHONGS AND ABBREVIATED “W”

You have already learnt about the various consonants, vowels, their joining and representation of vowel in between consonants. A number of words in English language use more than one vowel sound consecutively. Therefore, in this lesson we shall study how to write, in shorthand, more than two vowel sounds in union.

3.0 Objectives

After going through this lesson, you will know to –

1) make the stroke of two consonant vowel sounds, called Diphthong;

2) make the stroke of three consecutive vowel sounds, called Triphones;

3) make the stroke of consonant ‘W’ in short form, called abbreviated ‘W’; and

4) make the strokes of grammalogues using the Diphthong/Triphong or abbreviated “W”.

3.1 Introduction

In this lesson a student is trained to make strokes of vowel signs, which occur consecutively more than once. In addition, he/she is also made to understand the concept of shortening the stroke of consonant ‘W’. Grammalogues pertaining to the concepts or Abbreviated “W” are also explained in this lesson. A student is expected to observe the strokes and do rigorous practice for making each type of strokes.

3.2 Diphthongs

Diphthong is the union of two vowels in one sound. Syllable Diphthong can also be defined as Union of Two Vowel Sounds occurring consecutively and pronounced simultaneously.

There are four common diphthongs, namely:

These diphthongs can be remembered by the sentence “I enjoy now music”.

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The signs I and OI are written in the first position.

For example:

The Diphthong sign OW and U are written in the third position. For example:

3.2.1 Joining of Diphthongs

The Diphthongs can be joined to a stroke, as per the convenience, at the beginning or ending of a stroke.

Some examples of Diphthongs joined to a stroke in the beginning are given below:

Semi-circle for diphthong ‘U’ (shown above) can be joined with strokes at the end and can be written in convenient directions. Some examples of Diphthongs joined to a stroke in the end are given below:

Strokes ‘L’ and ‘M’, when suffixed to diphthong I, are abbreviated as shown here:

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3.3 Triphones

Triphone represents three vowel sounds which are represented by one sign. Triphone is formed when any other vowel is joined with a Diphthong (Triphone = Diphthong + any other vowel). Third vowel sound which is represented by a small tick attached at the end of the diphthong is called triphone.

For example:

Diphthong I + Vowel A

Diphthong OI + Vowel A

Diphthong OW + Vowel E

Diphthong U+ Vowel A

3.4 Abbreviated ‘W’

Abbreviated ‘W’ is the short form of consonant ‘W’ which is represented by a right semi circle.

The initial sound of ‘W’ before K (Kay), G (Gay), M and R is represented by a right semicircle. For example:

Abbreviated ‘W’ will not be used if a word is preceded by a vowel. When ‘W’ is preceded by a vowel the stroke must be written without using right semi-circle as shown in the following example:

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Self-check Questions

1. Fill in the blanks -

(i) The Diphthong I and OI are written in ____________ position?

(ii) The Diphthong Ow and U are written in _____________ position?

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2. What is a Diphthongs? Explain with suitable examples.

3. What is a Triphones? Explain with suitable examples.

4. Write the places of Diphthongs.

5. What is abbreviated `W’?

6. In which situation `W’ is represented by a right semi circle.

3.5 Assignments

3.5.1 Class Assignment

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3.5.2 Home Assignment

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3.6 Summary

• Diphthong represents two sounds

• Total No. of Diphthongs is Four

• First Place diphthong are = I, OI

• Third Place diphthong are = OW, U

• No Second Place in diphthong

• Triphone represents three sounds = Diphthong + any Vowel

• Initial sound of 'W' before K, G, M, R is represented by a right semi circle

3.7 Answers to Self-check Questions

1. (i) First position.

(ii) Third position.

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2. A diphthong is a union of two vowel sounds in one syllable.

3. A small tick attached to a diphthong-sign indicates the addition of a vowel to the diphthong. These signs are called triphones.

4. The diphthongs ‘i’ and ‘oi’ are put in the first vowel place and ‘ow’ and ‘u’ in the third vowel place.

5. The initial sound of w, before k, g, m, r is represented by a right semicircle called abbreviated w.

6. Before k, g, m, r.

3.8 Terminal Questions

1. Define the terms diphthongs and triphones, giving suitable examples.

2. Define the abbreviated 'W' with suitable examples.

3. Write the following words in shorthand indicating the signs of diphthongs.

Eyes, value, item, toil, loyal, deny, woman, mouth, country, argue

weekly, aware, review, warm, renewal, boiling, enjoy, genuine, voyage

3.9 Reference

• Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key, Wheeler Publishing, Allahabad, 2003.

3.10 Suggested Reading

• Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key, Wheeler Publishing, Allahabad, 2003.

3.11 Glossary

• Abbreviated - Short form.

• Joining of Diphthong – Joining of two vowel sounds to the consonant stroke.