CART Steno Theory and Writing Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'chord' in the context of stenographic writing?
- A musical term used in CART provider training programs
- A simultaneous depression of one or more keys on the steno machine to represent a sound, syllable, or word (Correct answer)
- A wired connection between a steno machine and a display computer
- A group of clients sharing the same CART session
Correct answer: A simultaneous depression of one or more keys on the steno machine to represent a sound, syllable, or word
A chord is the fundamental unit of stenographic input: pressing one or multiple keys at the same time to produce a single phonetic or lexical unit.
Question 2: In steno theory, what is a 'stroke' most precisely defined as?
- A single key depression using only one finger
- A complete word written out letter by letter
- A single simultaneous pressing of one or more keys that produces one unit of steno output (Correct answer)
- A sentence-ending punctuation mark entered into the transcript
Correct answer: A single simultaneous pressing of one or more keys that produces one unit of steno output
A stroke is one complete action on the steno machine—pressing any combination of keys at the same time—that produces a single steno outline in the software.
Question 3: What foundational approach do most modern machine shorthand theories use when building steno outlines?
- Purely alphabetic spelling that mirrors standard English orthography
- Phonetic-based writing that mirrors the sound patterns of spoken language (Correct answer)
- Numeric coding that assigns a number to each word by frequency
- Visual diagramming of sentence grammatical structure
Correct answer: Phonetic-based writing that mirrors the sound patterns of spoken language
Modern machine shorthand theories are phonetically based, meaning outlines are built around how words sound rather than how they are spelled, enabling faster and more intuitive writing.
Question 4: In standard steno theory, how are numbers typically written on a stenotype machine?
- Using a separate 10-key numeric keypad attached to the machine
- By pressing the number bar across the top of the machine in combination with letter keys (Correct answer)
- By switching the machine into a dedicated number-entry mode
- By verbally spelling out each number for the software to interpret
Correct answer: By pressing the number bar across the top of the machine in combination with letter keys
Numbers are produced on a stenotype machine by depressing the number bar simultaneously with the letter keys that correspond to the desired digits, based on the theory's number system.
Question 5: What is the significance of 'theory consistency' for a practicing CART provider?
- Using identical fonts and formatting across all client transcripts
- Applying steno outlines predictably so the writer can rely on muscle memory and minimize cognitive load during realtime writing (Correct answer)
- Maintaining the same client billing rates regardless of assignment type
- Following a single CE provider for all continuing education credits
Correct answer: Applying steno outlines predictably so the writer can rely on muscle memory and minimize cognitive load during realtime writing
Theory consistency means the writer applies the same outlines reliably every time, building muscle memory that allows fast, accurate writing without consciously thinking about each stroke.
Question 6: What does 'stacking' refer to in stenographic writing?
- Organizing completed job transcripts in chronological order
- A writing error where keys are struck sequentially instead of simultaneously
- Writing a word in multiple strokes when a shorter brief form does not yet exist in the dictionary (Correct answer)
- Layering audio and text output simultaneously during a CART session
Correct answer: Writing a word in multiple strokes when a shorter brief form does not yet exist in the dictionary
Stacking means writing a word across two or more strokes (e.g., breaking it into syllables) rather than in a single brief form, often used when no conflict-free brief exists.
Question 7: Why is building a job-specific dictionary before a CART assignment considered a best practice in steno writing?
- It satisfies the CE documentation requirement for each assignment
- It reduces untranslates and conflicts for specialized terminology expected during the event, improving realtime accuracy (Correct answer)
- It allows the CART provider to write at a slower speed without penalty
- It is required by ADA Title III for all public-facing CART sessions
Correct answer: It reduces untranslates and conflicts for specialized terminology expected during the event, improving realtime accuracy
Pre-building entries for known technical terms, speaker names, and jargon prevents those words from appearing as untranslates or wrong words during the live session, directly improving output quality.
CART Steno Theory and Writing Systems 2
What is a 'chord' in the context of stenographic writing?