The purpose of this page is to make it easier for persons interested in UEB to locate many of the UEB rules that affect literary braille and that differ from those of EBAE and/or that are likely to require transcriber intervention.
Your attention is called to two UEB rules which seem unusually problematic:
These examples of UEB rules have been extracted directly from Sections 1-10 of the PDF version of "The Rules of Unified English Braille, June 2010" (UEB Rulebook) obtained from the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) Project Page. Considerably more information about the rules along with numerous print and braille examples may be found in the original document.
Examples from the following Sections of the UEB Rulebook are intentionally not included:
Additional documentation available from Project Page includes:
[Note on the format used for the extracts. The UEB Rulebook page numbers for each extract are formatted as headers placed above the extract. Although the extracts were copied verbatim, quote marks have not been placed around the extracts since it was felt that would make the extracts less readable. Braille examples are shown in SimBraille here as in the Rulebook. In a few cases added information has been supplied within square brackets. ]
The print version has been prepared using SimBraille font for all braille examples, so it does not show the dot locator preceding the symbols under discussion. However, in the braille version the dot locator may be required and has been added accordingly.
In some instances a Transcriber Note has been added to the braille text [in the examples in the Manual] to ensure that the point being illustrated is clear to the braille reader.
Note: Braille authorities and production agencies may establish policies for the guidance of transcribers in the use of uncontracted (grade 1) braille.
3.2.1 Follow print for the use of arrows. In non-technical material, list the complete arrow symbol (without any grade 1 indicator) and its meaning on the symbols page or in a transcriber's note. Note: The grade 1 indicator may be required before the arrow symbol to avoid it being misread.
3.4.1 Use braille grouping indicators when necessary to ensure that the preceding braille symbol or indicator applies to all the symbols enclosed by the braille grouping indicators rather than just to the symbol immediately following.
3.5.1 Follow print for the use of the bullet. [_4] Note: At times, other symbols may be used for a similar purpose. Refer to: 3.21 for shapes and 3.25 for transcriber-defined symbols.
3.10.1 Follow print for the use of currency signs. Note: Some currencies are indicated by a letter or letters (e.g. "DM" for Deutsche Mark, "p" for pence, "R" for Rand). Refer to: 3.25, for Transcriber Defined Symbols to represent currency signs with no UEB symbols.
""= dot locator for use: Section 3, General Symbols .= dot locator for mention: Section 3, General Symbols
3.13.1 Use a dot locator for "mention" to set apart a braille symbol, which is under discussion as in a symbols list, a transcriber's note or in a publication about braille such as this one. Place the dot locator for "mention" before the braille symbol and unspaced from it.
When a dot locator for "mention" is used, do not list the dot numbers of the braille symbol.
Note: A braille symbol, e.g. a typeform indicator or a grade 1 indicator, preceded by the dot locator for "mention" does not have its normal effect on the following text.
3.14.1 Use a dot locator for "use" unspaced before a braille symbol to assure that it will be physically recognizable. A braille symbol which has only lower dots and which is isolated from other text may otherwise be misread. A braille symbol preceded by a dot locator for "use" retains its normal effect on text.
3.15.1 Follow print for the use of the prime sign. Note: The foot may be shown in print by an apostrophe and the inch by a nondirectional double quote. This can be followed in braille.
3.21.1 In non-technical material, list the complete shape symbol (without any grade 1 indicator) and its meaning on the symbols page or in a transcriber's note. Note: A grade 1 indicator may need to be added before the symbol in the text of the document being transcribed. Refer to: Section 11.7, Technical Material, and Guidelines for Technical Material, Part 14, for further information on shapes; and 3.25 for transcriber-defined symbols.
? first transcriber-defined print symbol #? second transcriber-defined print symbol @#? third transcriber-defined print symbol ^#? fourth transcriber-defined print symbol _#? fifth transcriber-defined print symbol "#? sixth transcriber-defined print symbol .#? seventh transcriber-defined print symbol
@* solidus (forward slash) overlay on following letter @3 horizontal stroke overlay on following letter @+ breve above following letter @- macron above following letter ^& cedilla below following letter ^* grave accent above following letter ^% circumflex above following letter ^$ ring (circle) above following letter ^] tilde above following letter ^3 diaeresis (umlaut) above following letter ^/ acute accent above following letter ^+ caron (hacek, wedge) above following letter
[Note that capitalization indicator will need to be in effect before the modifier is used if the modified letter is a capital.]
^_1 first transcriber-defined modifier on following letter ^_2 second transcriber-defined modifier on following letter ^_- third transcriber-defined modifier on following letter ,^_1 first transcriber-defined modifier on following capital letter ,^_2 second transcriber-defined modifier on following capital letter ,^_- third transcriber-defined modifier on following capital letter
Whenever a transcriber-defined modifier is used, give the print symbol it represents in a transcriber's note or on a symbols page.
4.2.7 Use the modifiers listed above only in foreign language words and phrases in English context intended primarily for leisure reading, in English words or in anglicised words and phrases.
Where a signficant knowledge of a foreign language is presupposed or is being taught, use signs from the indigenous foreign language braille code.
4.2.8 Use the modifiers in this section for linguistic accents and diacritics only and not for modifiers in mathematics or for symbols in computer programming even if ther appearance is visually similar in print.
4.3.1 Place the ligature indicator between two letters which are joined to each other in print. Various methods are used in print to join letters, including but not limited to cross bars between the letters, tie bars or slurs over or under the letters, and letters joined together and printed as one symbol. Describe the method used in a transcriber's note or on the symbols page.
7.6.1 Use one-cell (nonspecific) quotation marks 8 and 0 for the predominant quotation marks in the text in all instances where the specific form of the quotation marks ("double", "single", "Italian" or "nondirectional") has no significance, that is, in the great majority of cases. Indicate the print form of the nonspecific quotation marks on the symbols page or in a transcriber's note.
8.1.1 Follow print for the use of capital letters.
Note: The transcriber may reasonably reduce the use of capital letters in braille when they are used in print as a visual embellishment – such as for words written in capital letters at the beginning of paragraphs or chapters.
Refer to: Section 9.6, of Typeforms, for how to transcribe small capital letters when used in print as a distinctive typeform.
8.8 Choice of capitalised indicators
Note: While the default treatment for a sequence of capital letters is
capitals word mode, there are situations where the transcriber has a
choice between using either individual capital letters or capitals word
mode. If both choices will render an unambiguous transcription,
interpret the following rules as guidelines.
8.8.1 Choose the method which retains the usual braille form.
8.9.1 When in print an accented letter in a fully capitalised word is shown in lowercase, the lowercase representation may be ignored in braille, except when facsimile transcription is required. Such practice should be explained in a transcriber's note.
.2 italic symbol indicator .1 italic word indicator .7 italic passage indicator .' italic terminator
^2 boldface symbol indicator ^1 boldface word indicator ^7 boldface passage indicator ^' boldface terminator
_2 underlined symbol indicator _1 underlined word indicator _7 underlined passage indicator _' underlined terminator
@2 script symbol indicator @1 script word indicator @7 script passage indicator @' script terminator
@#3 first transcriber-defined typeform symbol indicator @#1 first transcriber-defined typeform word indicator @#7 first transcriber-defined typeform passage indicator @#' first transcriber-defined typeform terminator Note: Typeform indicators consist of two parts: a prefix and a root. The prefix designates the typeform and the root determines its extent. Additional transcriber-defined typeforms may be formed using the following prefixes: ^# prefix for second transcriber-defined typeform _# prefix for third transcriber-defined typeform "# prefix for fourth transcriber-defined typeform .# prefix for fifth transcriber-defined typeform
9.1.1 Despite wide use of different typeforms in print, it is not always necessary to indicate them when transcribing into braille. For example, print will commonly use a distinctive typeface for headings. This usage is generally ignored in braille where formatting will distinguish the headings from the rest of text. Also the print practice of italicising all variables in technical material is ignored.
9.1.2 Typeform indicators are considered necessary in braille when the print change in typeform is significant because it indicates emphasis or shows distinction, e.g. foreign words in English text, titles within text, subject headings on paragraphs, silent thought, computer input distinguished from computer output, or the class of a variable in mathematics.
9.1.3 When it cannot be determined whether or not a change of typeform is significant, indicate the change. Example: Go to http://www.iceb.org to learn about UEB rules and examples.
,g to http3_/www4iceb4org to le>n ab _7,,ueb rules & examples_'4
[The above example shows two underlined hyperlinks both of which can be activated in the electronic print file. The first is considered a print enhancement which need not be shown in braille. The second marks embedded text and unless shown as such in braille the reader remains unaware of the presence of the link.] [Note in square brackets is part of Rulebook.]
[Example]
CHAPTER 6
On Tuesday, a meeting of portfolio managers was held
,on ,tues"d, a meet+ ( portfolio manag]s 0 held 4444
[The change in typeform for the heading is ignored. The typeform change at the beginning of the paragraph is an embellishment used at the beginning of each chapter in the book and is ignored for this transcription.] [Note in square brackets is part of Rulebook.]@#3 first transcriber-defined typeform symbol indicator @#1 first transcriber-defined typeform word indicator @#7 first transcriber-defined typeform passage indicator @#' first transcriber-defined typeform terminator Note: Typeform indicators consist of two parts: a prefix and a root. The prefix designates the typeform and the root determines its extent. Additional transcriber-defined typeforms may be formed using the following prefixes: ^# prefix for second transcriber-defined typeform _# prefix for third transcriber-defined typeform "# prefix for fourth transcriber-defined typeform .# prefix for fifth transcriber-defined typeform
9.5.1 Use transcriber-defined typeform indicators for significant print typeform changes other than italics, boldface, underlining or script. This includes but is not limited to: different-sized type; coloured type; crossed-out type; sans serif font; and double, dotted, coloured or wavy underlining. List the transcriber-defined typeform indicator on the special symbols page or in a transcriber's note giving the print typeform it represents.
Examples: In response to the prompt Insert the CD-ROM in drive E:, you put the compact disk in drive E, and press Enter.
,9 response to ! prompt @#7,9s]t ! ;,,cd-,,rom 9 drive ;,e31@#' y put ! compact disk 9 drive ;,e1 & press ,5t]4
[In this case the first transcriber-defined typeform is used to indicate a change to a Courier New font.][Note in square brackets is part of Rulebook.][This Note is provided by the author. See contact information below. The UEB example employs contracted braille for three words—"insert, the, in"—in the transcription of the literal computer prompt shown in Courier New font in print. Also, since this passage employs contractions, grade 1 indicators are required before both the CD and the letter E to avoid confusion with whole-word contractions.
I strongly disagree with this UEB transcription. Literal items as standardly implied by the use of a monospace (typewriter) font should be transcribed in a code like CBC (or even better in computer braille for readers using RBDs) for at least two reasons. First, the braille reader doesn't need to know the name of the specific font but, rather, the semantics implied by that font. Second, the special font is used in the print example to make it clear that the reader is supposed to enter the that text exactly as written, not in contracted braille! (Although the trailing comma is included in the passage enclosed in typeform indicators, it is not in Courier New font in print because it is not part of the prompt.) ]
9.6.1 Although within a document all abbreviations and/or Roman numerals may be in small capitals, in braille these are best transcribed as capitals.
9.6.2 Print sometimes uses small capitals for emphasis or distinction. These can usually be recognized by the use of regular size capitals for the letters of the small capitals text which are capitalised. When the change in typeform is significant, use a transcriber-defined typeform indicator in braille.
9.7.3 For better readability, ignore a change in typeform for closing punctuation when a typeform word indicator is used. Similarly, ignore a change in typeform for incidental punctuation within a passage. However, do not ignore the change when it is important for an understanding of the text, such as when typeforms are being studied.
10.1.3 Preferably do not use the alphabetic wordsign when it is known, or can be determined from the text, or by reference to a standard dictionary, that the letters the wordsign represents are pronounced separately as in an acronym or abbreviation.
10.9.2 Use the shortform within a longer word provided that the longer word is “standing alone” (including any affix with an apostrophe) and that the longer word: (a) appears on the UEB Shortforms List given in Appendix 1; or (b) satisfies the provisions of rule 10.9.3.
Note: Rule 10.9.2 encompasses words which are ordinary words, proper names and artificial or contrived words.
10.9.3 Use any of the ten shortforms listed below within a longer word that is not on the Shortforms List, provided the word is "standing alone" (including any affix with an apostrophe) and that any restrictions for the shortform are met. (a) "braille" or "great": Use the shortform wherever it occurs. (b) "children": Use the shortform provided that it is not followed by a vowel or "y". (c) "blind", "first", "friend", "good", "letter", "little" or "quick": Use the shortform if it begins the word and is not followed by a vowel or "y".
[One of examples showing the use of shortforms in proper names]
Print: Mr Feelgreat from Goodge Street
Braille: ,Mr ,Feelgrt f ,gdge ,/reet
10.12.3 Use contractions in computer material, such as email addresses, web sites, URLs, and filenames when it is embedded in regular text. Use uncontracted braille for computer material, such as computer program code which is displayed on separate lines, as well as any nearby excerpts from the program.
10.12.7 When the word is unfamiliar and when the pronunciation or syllabification is unknown and difficult to ascertain, then it is permissible for contraction use to be based on the best judgment of the transcriber and/or proofreader. When translation software is being used, its contraction usage may be followed.
10.12.13 For a word with omitted letters, follow print and follow the rules of Section 5, Grade 1 Mode, and the basic contraction rules of Sections 10.1 to 10.11.
[Comment. Properly typeset print does not use separate characters for each omitted letter. When it does, following the above rule can lead to backtranslation issues. It is likely preferable that persons sourcing documents in braille follow correct print use only a single character to represent any number of missing letters.
The UEB treatment of items with hyphens including words with omitted letters, speech hesitations, slurred words, vocal sounds, spelled-out words, stammered words, and syllabified words will be discussed in a separate document. For more information consult "Issues for Braille Translation of Hyphenated Items".]
Posted February 3, 2012. Revised version with additional rules posted February 2012.
Contact the author at info at dotlessbraille.org