1. A method for encoding handwritten symbols, comprising the steps of: a) reading, from a memory device, at least one handwritten symbol in the form of data derived, at least in part, by sampling a stylus position at discrete intervals during formation of said at least one symbol: b) segmenting each symbol read from the memory device into an ordered sequence of discrete strokes, each said stroke having an initial and a final endpoint, an arc length s between said endpoints, initial and final tangent angles at the initial and final endpoints, respectively, and a difference angle .PHI. between the initial and final tangent angles, wherein the tangent angles of the endpoints are defined relative to a directed tangent associated with each of the endpoints; c) evaluating, for each said stroke, the arc length thereof and the initial and final tangent angles at the initial and final endpoints, respectively, to create for each said stroke a set of standard parameters which, when evaluated, will produce a condensed record of each said stroke; d) in a memory device, storing for each said stroke the standard parameter set; e) smoothing, before the segmenting step, the handwritten symbol data; and; f) representing the handwritten symbol data in a plane having as coordinates the arc length s, and the difference angle .phi. between the initial and final tangent angles, such that the handwritten symbol data define a curve .phi.(s) in said s-.phi. plane, wherein the segmenting step comprises detecting major inflection points and assigning breakpoints where such inflection points are detected, and wherein the steps of detecting inflection points and assigning breakpoints at inflection points comprise searching for maxima and minima over segments resulting from a partial segmentation of the curve .phi.(s), and assigning a breakpoint to each maximum and minimum that is separated from any endpoint of said segment, and also separated from the other maximum or minimum over said segment, by more than a threshold value, and wherein the steps of detecting inflection points and assigning breakpoints further comprise searching for pairs that consist of a local maximum and a local minimum over each segment resulting from a partial segmentation of the curve .phi.(s), and assigning a breakpoint to each said pair that is more closely spaced in the s-dimension that a second threshold, and more distant from any segment than a third threshold.