Tironian notes
Encyclopedia
Tironian notes is a system of shorthand
said to have been invented by Cicero
's scribe Marcus Tullius Tiro
. Tiro's system consisted of about 4,000 signs, somewhat extended in classical times to 5,000 signs. In the European Medieval period, Tironian notes were taught in monasteries and the system was extended to about 13,000 signs (see scribal abbreviations). The use of Tironian notes declined after 1100 but some use can still be seen through the 17th century.
Notae can be themselves composites (ligatures) of simpler notae, the resulting compound still being far shorter than the word it replaces. This accounts in part for the large number of attested notae, and for the wide variation in estimates of the total number of notae. Further, the "same" sign can have multiple variant forms, leading to the same issue. (See external link for examples.)
in the memoir of Socrates
, called notae socratae.
The first report of the usage of tironian notes is by Plutarch
who notes that in 63 BC
it was used to record Cato's denunciation against Catiline
:
Dio Cassius
attributes to Maecenas
the invention of shorthand, and states that he employed his freedman Aquila in teaching the system to numerous others.
Isidore of Seville
, however, details another version of the early history of the system, ascribing the invention of the art to Quintus Ennius
, who he says invented 1100 marks . Isidore states that Tiro brought the practice to Rome, but only used notae for prepositions. Isidore tells of the development of additional notae by various hands, viz., Vipsanius
, "Philargius", and Aquila (as above), until Seneca
systematized the various marks to approximately 5000 notae.
In the Middle Ages, notae to represent words were widely used in conjunction with other scribal abbreviations and the initial symbols were expanded to 14,000 by the Carolingians; but the stenographic alphabet notation had a "murky existence" (C. Burnett) as it was often associated with witchcraft and magic, and was forgotten until interest was rekindled by the Thomas Beckett, archbishop of Canterbury
, in the 12th century. In the 15th century Johannes Trithemius, abbot of the Benedictine abbey of Sponheim, discovered the notae Benenses: a psalm and a Ciceronian lexicon written in Tironian shorthand.
Tironian notes are still used today, particularly, the Tironian "", used in Ireland to mean 'and' – also used elsewhere in blackletter
texts as late as 1821 – and in the "z" of "viz." (for 'et' in ).
The Tironian "" can look very similar to an "r rotunda
" (ꝛ), depending on the typeface
.
In Old English Manuscripts, the Tironian "et" served as both a sonic and morphological place holder. For instance a Tironian "et" between two words would be phonetically pronounced "ond" and would mean "and". However if the Tironian "et" followed the letter "s", then it would be phonetically pronounced "sond" and mean water (cognate with English sound
). This additional function of a phonetic as well as a conjunction place holder has escaped formal Modern English
; for example, one may not spell the word "sand" as "s&" (although this occurs in an informal style practised on certain internet forums). However, "&c." for "etc." is still seen in handwriting and books.
(MUFI) who also provide links to free typeface
s that support their specifications.
Some applications (for example the Scottish Gaelic localisation of Firefox and Opera
) use the box-drawing character U+2015 instead as it displays widely.
Shorthand
Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed or brevity of writing as compared to a normal method of writing a language. The process of writing in shorthand is called stenography, from the Greek stenos and graphē or graphie...
said to have been invented by Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
's scribe Marcus Tullius Tiro
Marcus Tullius Tiro
Marcus Tullius Tiro was first a slave, then a freedman of Cicero.The date of Tiro's birth is uncertain. From Jerome it can be dated to 103 BC, which would make him only a little younger than Cicero...
. Tiro's system consisted of about 4,000 signs, somewhat extended in classical times to 5,000 signs. In the European Medieval period, Tironian notes were taught in monasteries and the system was extended to about 13,000 signs (see scribal abbreviations). The use of Tironian notes declined after 1100 but some use can still be seen through the 17th century.
Note on sign counts
History
The earliest western shorthand system known to us is that employed by the Greek historian, XenophonXenophon
Xenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
in the memoir of Socrates
Memorabilia (Xenophon)
Memorabilia is a collection of Socratic dialogues by Xenophon, a student of Socrates...
, called notae socratae.
The first report of the usage of tironian notes is by Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch then named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. 46 – 120 AD, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia...
who notes that in 63 BC
63 BC
Year 63 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cicero and Hibrida...
it was used to record Cato's denunciation against Catiline
Catiline
Lucius Sergius Catilina , known in English as Catiline, was a Roman politician of the 1st century BC who is best known for the Catiline conspiracy, an attempt to overthrow the Roman Republic, and in particular the power of the aristocratic Senate.-Family background:Catiline was born in 108 BC to...
:
- This only of all Cato's speeches, it is said, was preserved; for Cicero, the consul, had disposed in various parts of the senate-house, several of the most expert and rapid writers, whom he had taught to make figures comprising numerous words in a few short strokes; as up to that time they had not used those we call shorthand writers, who then, as it is said, established the first example of the art.
Dio Cassius
Dio Cassius
Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus , known in English as Cassius Dio, Dio Cassius, or Dio was a Roman consul and a noted historian writing in Greek...
attributes to Maecenas
Gaius Maecenas
Gaius Cilnius Maecenas was a confidant and political advisor to Octavian as well as an important patron for the new generation of Augustan poets...
the invention of shorthand, and states that he employed his freedman Aquila in teaching the system to numerous others.
Isidore of Seville
Isidore of Seville
Saint Isidore of Seville served as Archbishop of Seville for more than three decades and is considered, as the historian Montalembert put it in an oft-quoted phrase, "le dernier savant du monde ancien"...
, however, details another version of the early history of the system, ascribing the invention of the art to Quintus Ennius
Ennius
Quintus Ennius was a writer during the period of the Roman Republic, and is often considered the father of Roman poetry. He was of Calabrian descent...
, who he says invented 1100 marks . Isidore states that Tiro brought the practice to Rome, but only used notae for prepositions. Isidore tells of the development of additional notae by various hands, viz., Vipsanius
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was a Roman statesman and general. He was a close friend, son-in-law, lieutenant and defense minister to Octavian, the future Emperor Caesar Augustus...
, "Philargius", and Aquila (as above), until Seneca
Seneca the Younger
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero...
systematized the various marks to approximately 5000 notae.
In the Middle Ages, notae to represent words were widely used in conjunction with other scribal abbreviations and the initial symbols were expanded to 14,000 by the Carolingians; but the stenographic alphabet notation had a "murky existence" (C. Burnett) as it was often associated with witchcraft and magic, and was forgotten until interest was rekindled by the Thomas Beckett, archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, in the 12th century. In the 15th century Johannes Trithemius, abbot of the Benedictine abbey of Sponheim, discovered the notae Benenses: a psalm and a Ciceronian lexicon written in Tironian shorthand.
Current
Blackletter
Blackletter, also known as Gothic script, Gothic minuscule, or Textura, was a script used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century. It continued to be used for the German language until the 20th century. Fraktur is a notable script of this type, and sometimes...
texts as late as 1821 – and in the "z" of "viz." (for 'et' in ).
The Tironian "" can look very similar to an "r rotunda
R rotunda
The r rotunda , "rounded r," is an old letter variant found in full script-like typefaces, especially blackletters. Between the Middle Ages and today, many ways of writing alphabetical characters were lost. Besides a variety of ligatures, conjoined letters, scribal abbreviations, swash characters,...
" (ꝛ), depending on the typeface
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
.
In Old English Manuscripts, the Tironian "et" served as both a sonic and morphological place holder. For instance a Tironian "et" between two words would be phonetically pronounced "ond" and would mean "and". However if the Tironian "et" followed the letter "s", then it would be phonetically pronounced "sond" and mean water (cognate with English sound
Sound (geography)
In geography a sound or seaway is a large sea or ocean inlet larger than a bay, deeper than a bight and wider than a fjord; or it may be defined as a narrow sea or ocean channel between two bodies of land ....
). This additional function of a phonetic as well as a conjunction place holder has escaped formal Modern English
Modern English
Modern English is the form of the English language spoken since the Great Vowel Shift in England, completed in roughly 1550.Despite some differences in vocabulary, texts from the early 17th century, such as the works of William Shakespeare and the King James Bible, are considered to be in Modern...
; for example, one may not spell the word "sand" as "s&" (although this occurs in an informal style practised on certain internet forums). However, "&c." for "etc." is still seen in handwriting and books.
Support on computers
The possibilities to use Tironian notes on modern computers are very limited. The Tironian et ("and") is available at Unicode point U+204A. A number of other Tironian signs have been assigned to the Private Use Area of Unicode by the Medieval Unicode Font InitiativeMedieval Unicode Font Initiative
In digital typography, the Medieval Unicode Font Initiative is a project which aims to coordinate the encoding and display of special characters in medieval texts written in the Latin alphabet, which are not encoded as part of Unicode....
(MUFI) who also provide links to free typeface
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
s that support their specifications.
Some applications (for example the Scottish Gaelic localisation of Firefox and Opera
Opera (web browser)
Opera is a web browser and Internet suite developed by Opera Software with over 200 million users worldwide. The browser handles common Internet-related tasks such as displaying web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, chatting on IRC, downloading files via BitTorrent,...
) use the box-drawing character U+2015 instead as it displays widely.
External links
- Karl Eberhard Henke: Über Tironische Noten Manuscript B 16 of the "Bibliothek der Monumenta Germaniae HistoricaMonumenta Germaniae HistoricaThe Monumenta Germaniae Historica is a comprehensive series of carefully edited and published sources for the study of German history from the end of the Roman Empire to 1500.The society sponsoring the series was established by the Prussian reformer Heinrich Friedrich Karl Freiherr vom...
", c. 1960 (German) (See 33. within for examples of composite notae.)