élan Cybra User Guide
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The Upper and Lower banks of keys to the left of the asterisk are
the Initial keys. These consonants are generally used to begin a
word. The Upper and Lower bank of keys to the right of the
asterisk are the Final keys. These constants are generally used
following the vowels to end a word or abbreviated phrase.
The Number Bar is used in conjunction with the upper bank of keys
to write numbers. When the Number Bar is depressed along with
the initial "S" on the left side of the keyboard, it produces the
number 1. When the Number Bar is depressed with the initial "T" it
produces the number "2" and so on. The Number Bar depressed
with the asterisk key produces a space in the steno notes.
The asterisk key produces an asterisk. The asterisk symbol is
generally used to denote a mistake, indicate a correction, or to
distinguish homonyms.
Similar to a typewriter, your fingers have a home position on the
keyboard as shown in the previous diagram. Notice that the Vowel
keys are slightly lower than the other three banks of keys. This
allows for the natural position of your thumbs.
Unlike the typewriter where each key is pressed one at a time, any
number or all of the keys on a shorthand machine can be "stroked,”
or pressed down at the same time. This means that a machine
shorthand writer can write an entire word, syllable, or phrase in just
one stroke. Although the keyboard does not contain all the letters of
the alphabet, letters are used in combination to identify the
remaining consonants. You will also notice, that while some letters
do not appear at all, other letters appear twice.
The machine shorthand keyboard was designed to write sounds.
Most word and syllable sounds begin with one or more consonants,
followed by a vowel, and end with one or more consonants. For
example: R E D; SH O P; ST A RT. While the machine shorthand
writer may write words exactly as they are spelled, R E D or
SH O P, they often are writing the words or syllables as they
phonetically hear them. For example, in two strokes they may write
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