The work of a stenographer or court reporter is an art. Today’s video introduces some basic elements of their work and the keyboard they use.
Did you know that the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and federal courts require a minimum speed of 225 wpm with high accuracy (usually 95% to 98%) to get certified or hired? I can’t remember a time in my life when I typed anything with 98% accuracy without reflexively hitting the backspace key a bazillion times.
Before 1879, court reporting was done using shorthand. (Side trivia note: Charles Dickens (1812-1870), before becoming a famous author, was one of the fastest and most accurate parliamentary reporters in London while using his own variation of shorthand.) In 1879, the first stenograph machine was invented (see link for a picture).
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It’s all so confusing,
something from a fever dream
to see somebody using
a stenograph machine.
Fingers fly across the keys
without taking a care
about the very least of these,
the letters that aren’t there!
Where is J, I’d like to know,
and what about sweet Q?
Where on earth did I go,
and what is Y to do?
And now, if you could tell me, please,
just why must there be 2 Ts?
I have a friend who was a court reporter. I’m beyond impressed with the skills needed especially when you consider the physical movements of some people in the courtroom.