Page:Volapük stenogafik e stenogaf volapükik.djvu/5

 be an adaptation of a system of German shorthand by the same author and, like Roller's system uses the connective-vowel plan of writing. Its general appearance is shown in No. 2 of the cut.

A few months ago a third system was presented under the name of "Tidabuk Stenogafa segun sit fa F. X. Gabelsberger, pagebamöl Volapüke fa Raffaele Oreglia D'Isola, plofed Vpa. e Sekretan Vpaklub tälik." It is divided into forty pages of descriptive Volapük text, and sixteen pages of shorthand illustrations and exercises. As its title indicates, it is an adaptation of the Gabelsberger system, and, as will be seen by reference to No. 3 of the illustration, adheres, like the other systems mentioned, to the connective-vowel plan so dear to the Germans.

The writer has also heard of several projected systems of Volapük stenography but does not feel at liberty to state their peculiarities.

It is the main purpose of this article to inquire what an adequate system of Volapük shorthand should be, rather than to give a historical review or analysis of existing systems. It is not necessary to say that a system of language as pretentious for scientific accuracy of construction, and with such possibilities as Volapük, should have its system of shorthand (if it shall not be an inherent part of the language itself) constructed in the best manner, and tully adequate to all requirements. It may not then be out of the way to see what such a system should be; and it is possible much more is required of a suitable Volapük stenography than appears at first sight. Let us then examine into the characteristics of what might be called an ideal stenography for an ideal language.

The first essential of such a system is Legibility, the most important factor in any system of shorthand for any language. For, without Legibility, the representation is incomplete, and if it is incomplete it is not a representation in any proper sense. The proposed system should, therefore, possess this attribute, ab initio. Its materials should be so chosen as to maintain legibility always. Rapidity of work resulting in the formation of strokes only partially resembling what they