|
Doubling the length of a stroke adds the syllable
sound of -ter
-der and the voiced -THer, but not the unvoiced -ther. Which sound is added is ascertained by
context (both the rest of the outline and its meaning within the
text), and vocalisation is used to differentiate where necessary:
-
Straight strokes
are doubled in length.
-
Curved strokes are
doubled in length and retain the same depth of curve.
-
There are
restrictions on when straight strokes can be doubled, to prevent
clashing with two of the same stroke in succession.
-
The vowel places
are spaced out along the stroke to match the new length.
-
The vowel of the
added syllable is never shown.
-
Order of reading is:
stroke + final hook + doubling sound + circle S or dot -ing.
-
Occasionally used
for -ture.
-
Not used if the
syllable is accented or a final vowel follows.
-
Past tenses
generally use halving instead.
-
Ing doubled adds -ker -ger; stroke Ar is used to just add -er.
-
Used in
phrases to represent: there their other dear.
-
The description of
the syllables added refers to the sound, not the longhand spelling.
Quick reference table
Position and vocalisation
Straight strokes
Curved strokes
Ell
Ing
Doubling plus suffix
Two straight strokes
In phrases
When not to use
For doubling of Imp/Imb,
see Theory 16 Imp/Imb page
QUICK REFERENCE
TABLE
DOUBLED
STROKE |
-ter |
-der |
-THer
(voiced) |
-er |
-ker -ger |
| Straight |
ü
With attachments |
ü
With attachments |
ü
With attachments |
- |
- |
| Curved |
ü |
ü |
ü |
- |
- |
| Ing |
- |
- |
- |
Use stroke Ar |
ü |
Imp/Imb
SEE THEORY 16 IMP/IMB
PAGE FOR FULL DETAILS |
Use stroke TR, or
omit light P & use M doubled |
ü
Only if has N hook |
- |
ü |
- |
| Ell |
ü
Alone |
ü
With attachments |
ü
With attachments |
- |
- |
Position and vocalisation
The vowel added by the doubling syllable is never
shown in the outline, and indeed cannot be shown as there is nowhere
to write it. As its vowel is slurred, this is not a problem.
Doubling is not used when
the vowel is an accented one, full strokes are used, to enable the
outline to be vocalised.
Doubled strokes are not quite so straightforward as normal length strokes to place in position:
Downstrokes all go through the line, as their
angle is steep and crossing the line cannot be avoided. It is
possible to start first position outlines higher up, but this
does not really make a lot of difference and should not be relied
upon. Occasional extra vocalisation would be a wise precaution.
Upstrokes are written at a shallower angle, taking up less vertical space, and they can therefore have the normal three
positions. This is easier to achieve because the lowest part of the
stroke is at the beginning – there is slightly more control over the
beginning part of any stroke or outline than at the end.
Horizontal strokes are positioned as normal, i.e.
above the line for first position, and on the line for second and
third positions.
Where the doubled stroke is not the one that is
being put in position (i.e. it is not the first up or down stroke, or the only
stroke),
it is immaterial where it ends up being written.
Top of page
Straight Strokes
A doubled plain straight stroke looks identical to
two of the same stroke in succession (see
below), and so doubling is only used
when there are other attachments to help with the legibility of the
outline. A final circle S can also be added to any of the outlines
and is spoken last of all:
(a) Initial Circle S:
spotter spotters sceptre spider
speeder spreader splitter splutter
sector
scatter squatter straighter strutter Note:
seater sitter
(b) Final hook:
ponder pander punter pointer printer sprinter
splinter planter supplanter plunder
spender splendour banter binder bender brander
blender blunter/blunder
taunter
tinter/tinder drifter dander chanter chunter gender
canter/candour counter kinder crofter
gander grounder grunter grinder grafter
squander
renter/render surrender rounder
rafter winder wonder
winter wafter
yonder hunter hounder
Top of page
(c) Final joined diphthong:
powder/pouter prouder pewter computer
touter tutor/Tudor doubter chowder
The plurals use a
hooked stroke, as the diphthong is no longer joined:
powders pouters computers
tutors Tudors doubters chowders
Note:
commuter stout stouter
(d) Preceding stroke(s):
adapter adopter captor helicopter repeater
inhibitor inhabiter cohabiter incubator participator liberator exhibitor
chapter Jupiter participator exploder
institutor*
astuter
Note:
astute
*the first T is omitted in this
outline = ins(t)itutor
contributor* distributor*
imitator dictator agitator creditor
bystander refrigerator
*Because these have more than one stroke,
they can remain doubled in the plural even though they
no
longer have an attached diphthong.
Top of pag
rector director recruiter tractor stricter instructor
propagator instigator allocator
alligator electoral
ejector projector objector banqueter
nectar indicator protector protractor
extractor adjudicator absconder speculator
incinerator moderator twitter
outwitter
embroider illustrator bequeather
persuader dissuader
curator operator respirator macerator
accelerator
Top of page
Curved Strokes
Curved strokes are doubled for all the sounds.
Unlike straight strokes, no restriction is necessary because a double
curved stroke does not resemble two of the same stroke in
succession. No thickening is needed for the D sound, as that is
represented as part of the doubling:
fatter father fetter/feather fitter feeder fighter after afternoon
flatter flitter fritter frankfurter
softer sifter swifter
fender offender finder founder
flounder Flanders
laughter lifter lavender shifter
voter aviator avoider invader inventor provider
Note:
provide
renovator excavator rotavator* elevator
abbreviator
*Exaggerate the joining angle
slightly – the change of thickness helps to show the join.
theatre thunder thither aster Esther
Easter oyster sister
Note: eastern
asunder shutter shatter shooter peashooter sharpshooter*
*After the two downstrokes, Ish
written upwards for lineality
negotiator initiator
matter mitre/mither
meter/metre/meeter
motor mutter/mother smother smoother
but
Smithers*
smithereens
*Names need to be clearer, as context
cannot help, so separate strokes are more helpful.
reminder remainder permitter transmitter*
barometer
*N omitted from "trans"
(see Theory 18 Prefixes/Trans
page)
Top of page
centimetre diameter pedometer, kilometre* thermometer
*accent on first syllable (KIL-a-meeter);
if accent on 2nd syllable (ki-LOM-mitter), there would be a first
place dash after Ell and a light dot at end.
natter another netter/nether enter/ender neater/needer/neither
neither/nitre knitter neuter stentor
sander sender/centre/center/scenter senator cinder saunter Alexander
detonator
alienator
presenter dissenter
janitor originator progenitor preventer covenanter
northerly generator
order ardour border boarder
barter
charter harder hoarder sorter deserter disorder
porter supporter transporter reporter importer exporter
smarter
starter warder Note: smart
start ward reward rewarder
"inter-" always uses doubled En and takes the
short i vowel:
interrupter interceptor international
interval interview
interfere intermittent intermission
interjection interest
(contraction)
"intro-" only uses doubled En when convenient to
join, and the doubled stroke takes no initial vowel:
introduce introduction
(contraction),
introjection
intromission
Top of page
Ell
A plain Ell when alone is doubled only for -ter,
and the form retained in derivatives:
latter latterly loiter loitering lighter lighterman
letter letterpress letterbox later
litre
looter alter/altar litter litterbug
But
ladder
leader alder alderman elder elderly
But
lather leather loather Lowther
Top of page
If the Ell has attachments or preceding strokes, it can
be doubled for all the sounds:
slotter slighter/slider slaughter slater slitter/slither slather
salter/psalter/solder swelter
halter holder
welter/welder
Walter wilder wilderness
lender slender slander cylinder calendar
isolator
Icelander
islander Highlander*
Hollander
*Full-length Hay, not tick H, because it is
a derivative of "high"
polluter boulder builder bewilder
falter defaulter
folder filter
kilter
quilter collator colluder legislator
accumulator simulator smoulder
smelter annihilator
beholder householder shareholder stakeholder
The doubled Ell is normally written upwards; it is only
written downwards for ease of joining i.e. after N NS NG to maintain
the direction of the curves, and after SK. As there is never a vowel
after it, it never changes direction to indicate a following vowel, as the
normal length Ell can sometimes do:
penholder ventilator newsletter insulator insulter moneylender
ringleader scolder helter-skelter, in this letter
Note:
alternative alteration alternator
literal littoral
lateral collateral poulterer
Top of page
Ing
Doubling Ing adds -ker -ger
The doubled stroke is exactly the same sound as the normal length
hooked form, but is only used where the hooked form does
not join easily or if it is the only stroke in the outline. There
are thus two versions for the same sound:
anger/anchor anchorage inker sinker stinker shrinker
rancour/ranker winker longer linger hanker
Use hooked form for better join; use hooked form
where both would be convenient i.e. after Kay Gay:
pinker banker/Bangor bunker blinker
tinker tanker
stronger drunker conker/conquer/conger finger
thinker
Top of page
ING-ER: to add just -er to Ing, use stroke Ar (there are
far fewer of these, which is why doubling Ing adds -ker/-ger and not
-er):
singer ringer/wringer banger
hanger longer (one who longs)
Doubling + suffix
Any suffixes are spoken after the doubling sound:
ponders pondering meanders meanderings mutterings wanderings
Compare: punters punster
Top of page
Two straight
strokes
A doubled straight stroke is the same shape as two
of the same stroke in succession. As the latter are less common,
always vocalise them.
ponder pippin banter baboon bobbin
dander deaden condor cocoon
yonder yarn hunter
heron render re-run
marauder mirror rare
Note: rarer
error
Top of page
In Phrases
Doubling can be used in phrases for "there their
other dear". Generally all short forms consisting of a full stroke can
be doubled
to add these words. In normal outlines, this use of the doubling
principle should be more cautiously applied
and is safest when restricted to the most common phrases:
we have been there, I
think there is, I am sure there is, making their way
some other way, my dear sirs, in other words but
any other, no*
other
*In phrases, always insert the vowel
in "no" and leave "any" unvocalised
in order, in order that
Note also the contracted phrase: in order
to
Pairs: further farther, if their/there,
for their/there
typewriter (the
outline breaks the syllable unnaturally, but convenience is greater)
therefore (this is a unique
use of doubling) interrogator
Top of page
When not to use
No attachments: If a straight stroke has
none of the required attachments, then a hooked stroke must be used for the sounds:
potter potters pottering padder batter
bather bother tatter tether dither
chatter Cheddar jotter jitter
judder cater cotter
gutter gather quitter rotter reader water wetter
hotter
The presence of an initial hook on a straight
stroke is insufficient on
its own to allow doubling:
plotter pleader broader breather blather trotter trader
whetter quitter Crowther
crater greeter
grater (Note:
great greater
short forms)
Some outlines/syllables that are not doubled
can do so if they form the
end of a longer word, i.e. they are preceded by other strokes,
which helps with legibility:
Peter repeater
butter rebutter bitter arbiter
biter backbiter
cutter hedgecutter stonecutter
daughter granddaughter brother stepbrother
leather washleather cheater windcheater gather ingather
sunbather is clearer with separate strokes; no doubling for
chatterbox because the doubled stroke would
not be preceded by other strokes.
The initial circle at the beginning of
Hay does not count as an attachment as it is an integral part
of the stroke:
hatter heater hooter header heather
Top of page
Unvoiced -ther: never uses doubling:
anther panther Luther Arthur
Merthyr*
*One of the few outlines that does not
have any writable vowel marks, as they are incorporated into the -ER
syllable of the hooks
Unequal length with no clear join:
Strokes of unequal length must have a clear
angle of join, otherwise use hooked strokes or disjoin:
factor lector navigator monitor intermittent
interim larder shelter shoulder shielder
Top of page
Accented syllable: Do not use when the syllable
has an accented vowel
– the full strokes are needed in order to have somewhere to write
the vowel sign:
enter/ender entire inter endure aster
austere matter mature
neither/nitre
nitric commander
commandeer colander volunteer
latterly laterally
litter liturgy fritter fraternal
promoter premature natural internal inventor vendor
Top of page
Exceptions
natural central eccentric interpret
tartaric
cylindrical
(to match
cylinder)
cylindriform
Top of page
Triphones: do not use when preceded by a
triphone that has long last vowel – seeing the full
separate strokes
let you know that there are three vowels involved (this principle is
also used in halving and with Shun Hook, for the same reason):
extenuator continuator insinuator punctuator
If the third vowel is short as in "proprietor" doubling can be used
– as the last vowel of such a triphone is slurred or hardly sounded, there are in
effect only two main vowels.
proprietor* appropriator*
*vocalise both, due to similarity
Top of page
Final vowel: Do not use when a final vowel follows
– full strokes are needed to provide somewhere to write the vowel,
and in some cases lets you know the vowel is there, even if it is
not being written in:
boundary pantry carpentry country secondary quandary
wintry inventory infantry watery entry sentry
pleasantry sundry pageantry gentry paltry poultry Protheroe
psaltery flattery
directory feathery angry hungry
Top of page
Past tenses: for -erd endings, mostly found in past tenses, use
halving:
pondered plundered splintered tendered cantered
slandered
spattered spluttered powdered
tutored lettered
littered faltered filtered
flattered frittered sweltered soldered smouldered bewildered
scattered shattered shuttered mattered motored metered
nattered neutered entered centred/centered sauntered engendered thundered
chartered ordered bordered disordered
rendered raftered wandered wondered wintered hindered foundered
floundered*
*"floundered" is difficult to write
neatly when vocalised with the diphthong, due to congestion of the
marks, therefore keep the
diphthong sign very small.
mothered smothered fathered feathered
slithered
anchored/angered tankard tinkered drunkard conquered fingered
hankered hungered
Top of page
Suffix -ture: Generally not used for -ture:
culture lecture literature capture denture
tincture
puncture miniature
furniture (to match
furnish)
Top of page
Exceptions:
picture structure infrastructure conjecture rupture debenture
nature signature nurture adventure venture
future feature material immaterial*
armature
*Stroke Em repeated for a negative,
this will be covered in a
future Prefixes/Suffixes page
Some pairs of -tor/-ture words need
distinguishing:
captor capture
raptor rapture creator creature
sculptor
sculpture stricter stricture horticultor horticulture
No R sound: If there is no R sound
in the syllable, doubling is not appropriate. An R sound is always represented
in Pitman's Shorthand, despite the fact that many variations of English do not
pronounce it clearly or at all.
Hilda Kilda Florida Inga
Top of page
|
