Duployan Letter K

A consonant sign for K in Duployan shorthand. It belongs inside connected shorthand text; the surrounding writing system matters because Duployan was adapted for several languages.

Émile Duployé published his method in 1860 for French stenography: a way to write quickly using shortened signs. His method grew from earlier French shorthand work associated with Conen de Prépéan and Aimé Paris, rather than appearing as an isolated invention.

In 1890, Jean-Marie Lejeune began adapting Duployan in British Columbia for Chinook Jargon and Indigenous languages. In Chinook writing, 𛰅 can also represent the number four.

Why can 𛰅 change shape?

Its connected cursive outline depends on neighboring signs. Duployan signs normally join in running text, so a shaping engine may draw 𛰅 differently beside another sign. A box or disconnected outline points to missing font or shaping support, not a different character.

After K, the Duployan W sign may take a hook or wave form in some orthographies. The invisible zero-width joiner can request the joined form; the zero-width non-joiner can keep the signs apart.