Chapter 6: Left hand consonants continued

Useful links

• Single syllable fqm words drill
• Single syllable gny words drill
• Single syllable zvj words drill
• Chapter 6 test

Left hand f, q, and m

• TP is “f” as in “fad”
• KW is “q” as in “quit”
• PH is “m” as in “mod”

Examples

• far TPAR
• flat TPHRAT
• quill KWEUL
• quip KWEUP
• met PHET
• more PHOR

Wouldn’t PH as “f” make more sense?

Why not use PH for “f”? After all, this would be easier to remember since “ph” has the same sound as “f”. However, it would be impossible to chord “fl” sounds as the PH and HR chords overlap. PHR already represents the initial “pl” consonants. We would run into ambiguity if we also defined PHR to be the “fl” consonants (e.g., “plat” and “flat”).

Mnemonics

Feel free to come up with your own or even suggest some!

1. Each of these chords are simply two keys in a row
   • TP is the top row pressed by the ring and middle fingers
   • KW is the bottom row pressed by the ring and middle fingers
   • PH is the top row pressed by the middle and index fingers
2. Think “FQM” in steno order (top to bottom, left to right!)
   • fully qualified mountain
   • first quill made

Section practice

Single syllable fqm words

Left hand g, n, and y

• TKPW is “g” as in “get”

NOTE: TKPW is only used for the “hard g” sound. For example, the word “gel” would not use TKPW as the initial consonant is a “soft g” (a “j” sound).

• TPH is “n” as in “not”
• KWH is “y” as in “yet”

KWH is only used when the word starts with the letter “y”; if a word has a “y” sound but doesn’t start with a “y”, simply don’t use a left hand consonant chord.

Examples

• gloss TKPWHROS
• gull TKPWUL
• nap TPHAP
• net TPHET
• yet KWHET
• yes KWHES
• use AOUS

Mnemonics

Feel free to come up with your own or even suggest some!

1. Grapes nourish you
2. TKPW is a group of 4 keys pressed by the ring and middle fingers
3. TPH is a row of 3 keys pressed by the ring, middle, and index fingers
4. KWH is three keys in a rising shape, like the intonation when asking “why?”

Section practice

Single syllable gny words

The initial “y” consonant was recently changed. Check chapter 5 for instructions to update your dictionary if you have a different outline for “y” words.

Left hand z, v, and j

• STKPW is “z” as in “zit”
• SR is “v” as in “vat”
• SKWR is “j” as in “job”

Mnemonics

Feel free to come up with your own or even suggest some!

1. Zits are ’sgusting!
2. The chemical element strontium (symbol Sr) is not vanadium
3. SKWR is just the bottom row of the left hand

Examples

• zap STKPWAP
• zip STKPWEUP
• var SRAR
• ver SRER
• jib SKWREUB
• jot SKWROT

Section practice

Single syllable zvj words

The initial “z” consonant was recently changed. Check chapter 5 for instructions to update your dictionary if you have a different outline for “z” words.

Chapter 6 test

This chapter’s test consists of all the practice drills in this chapter. Make sure your settings are configured as such:

• Limit word count: 45
• Start from word: 1
• Repetitions: 3
• Sort: random
• Show hint for every word: unchecked
• Hide hint on last repetition: unchecked
• Show hint on misstroke: checked

Click here to access the chapter 6 test

Recommended completion goal

This is only a suggestion if you are unsure of when to move on to the next chapter; it is not a strict requirement!

Aim for 10–20 WPM with 90% accuracy.

You may use the test material as practice!

Chapter briefs

This section is completely optional, but recommended. If you prefer to learn these all at once, they will be covered in chapter 16.

NOTE: remember that these are briefs; the explanations are not applicable to any arbitrary word.

Practice sentences

1. I ask the mod again and again.
2. before you said you quit.
3. is it fit?
4. yes I got it.
5. no it is very well.

Answers

1. EU/SK/-T/PHOD/TKPWEPB/SKP/TKPWEPB/TP-PL
2. PW-FR/U/SED/U/KWEUT/TP-PL
3. S/T/TPEUT/KW-PL
4. KWHES/EU/TKPWOT/T/TP-PL
5. TPHO/T/S/SRE/WEL/TP-PL

Extra briefs