Tironian notes 965498 223438172 2008-07-04T02:11:33Z LorenzoB 2054613 Wiki [[Image:Tironisches et.png|right|frame|Tironian ''et'', [[Unicode|U+]]204A "⁊".]] '''Tironian notes''' (''{{lang|la|notae Tironianae}}'') 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, {{fact|date=December 2007}} somewhat extended in classical times to 5,000 signs. In the Medieval period, Tironian notes were taught in monasteries and the system was extended to about 13,000 signs. {{fact|date=December 2007}} The use of Tironian notes declined after A.D.&nbsp;1100 but some use can still be seen through the 17th&nbsp;century. [[Image:Calligraphy.malmesbury.bible.arp.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Two Tironian ''et'' in context (second line from the top and third line from bottom), from a Bible written by a Belgian scribe.]] ==Note on Sign Counts== Notae can be themselves composites of simpler notae, the resulting compound still being far shorter than the word it replaces. This is at least partially an explanation of the size of the estimated notae counts, and a reason for their variability and the difficulty of verifying the counts. Further, the "same" sign can have multiple variant forms, leading to the same issue. (See external link for examples.) ==History== The first report of its use is by [[Plutarch]] who notes that in [[63 BC|63&nbsp;B.C.]] it was used to record Cato's denunciation against [[Catiline]]: :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.<ref>Plutarch. "Cato the Younger." ''Lives''. [[John Dryden]], translator.</ref> [[Dio Cassius]] attributes to [[Gaius Maecenas|Maecenas]] the invention of shorthand, and states that he employed his freedman Aquila in teaching the system to numerous others.<ref>Dio Cassius. ''Roman History''. 55.7.6</ref> [[Isidore of Seville]], however, details another version of the early history of the system<ref>Isidorus. ''[[Etymologiae]]'' or ''Originum'' I.21ff, Gothofred, editor</ref>, ascribing the invention of the art to [[Ennius|Quintus Ennius]], who he says invented 1100 marks ({{lang-la|notae}}). 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., [[Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa|Vipsanius]], "[[Persannius Philargyrus Samius|Philargius]]," and Aquila (as above), until [[Seneca]] systematized the various marks to approximately 5000 notae. ==Current== Two Tironian notes are still used today: the Tironian "{{lang|la|et}}" in [[Ireland]] – also used elsewhere in [[blackletter]] texts as late as 1821 – and the "z" of "[[viz.]]" (short for ''{{lang|la|videlicet}}''), which denotes a Tironian symbol shaped somewhat like a "z". The Tironian "{{lang|la|et}}" can look very similar to an "[[r rotunda]]" (&#42843;), 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&". However, "&c." for "etc." is still occasionally seen in handwriting and older books. ==Support on computers== The possibilities to use Tironian notes on modern computers are very limited. The Tironian ''et'' ("and") {{Unicode|⁊}} 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 Initiative]] (MUFI) who also provide links to free [[typeface]]s that support their specifications. ==See also== [[Image:Pay and Display sign with Tironian et for Irish agus.jpg|thumb|left|A [[pay and display]] sign in Dublin with the Tironian ''et'' for the Irish ''agus'' (“and”).]] * [[Gaelic script]] ==External links== <references /> * [http://www.mgh-bibliothek.de/cgi-bin/hs_b_16/hs_b_16.html Karl Eberhard Henke: Über Tironische Noten] Manuscript B&nbsp;16 of the "Bibliothek der [[Monumenta Germaniae Historica]]", c.&nbsp;1960 (German) (See 33. within for examples of composite notae.) [[Category:Shorthand systems]] [[Category:Ancient Rome]] [[Category:Typography]] [[de:Tironische Noten]] [[fr:Notes tironiennes]] [[hr:Tironove bilješke]] [[it:Note tironiane]] [[pl:Tachygrafia]]