The Louis Braille Bulletin Volume 2

The Louis Braille Bulletin

No 2
January 2008

Compiled and distributed by
The South African Library for the Blind
in collaboration with
Braille SA

Letter from The Editor

Dear Readers

After receiving positive feedback about the first edition of the Louis Braille Bulletin it is a pleasure to compile the secod.

In this issue we will read about the Unified Braille Code (UBC) workshop, the implementation strategy of the Unified Braille Code, and inform readers of further advantages of the Unified Braille Code.

We trust that you will find this issue as informative as the first.

Direct comments and letters to:

Pasha Alden (NationalBraille Consultant)
The South African Library for the Blind
PO Box 115
Grahamstown
6140
Tel.: 046 622 7226
E-mail: pasha.alden@blindlib.org.za

Questions and Answers

Q.: Are there further advantages of the Unified Braille Code?

A.: In the Unified Braille Code each print symbol is represented by a unique braille symbol. In the current code some braille symbols represent more than one print symbol. Correspondence between print and braille symbols allows for accuracy in transcription and translation from print to braille and back from braille to print. Back translation becomes significant in cases where a blind person is required to provide documentation in print, e.g. assignments in a mainstream school or at university, allowing greater accessibility and flexibility.

Q.: How do I write italicised text in the Unified Braille Code?

A.: The treatment of italics and other typeforms is different in UBC.
The italics indicator for a single character is dots 46-23. The italics indicator for a single word is dots 46-2. In the Unified Braille Code a word is defined as a string of characters ended by a space. The italics indicator for a passage, (more than 2 words) is dots 46-23-56. After the final word of an italicised passage dots 46-3 is used to terminate an italicised passage.

Q.: Do I always follow the print when representing different typefaces such as bold and italics?

A.: These are not necessarily to be used whenever the corresponding typeform is used in print but only when a distinction is significant. 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. A print change in typeform is considered significant if 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, etc. If it cannot be determined if a typeform is significant, retain the change.

Q.: Should “braille” be written with a capital letter?

A.: Despite the fact that our reading and writing system braille is named after its inventor, it has become a word used so frequently, much like diesel engine and macadamised road. Keeping this in mind, we would write “braille” uncapitalised if it is not part of a heading, or does not occur at the beginning of a sentence.

Some dictionaries still spell “braille” with a capital letter, others do not. Braille SA follows an international trend by spelling “braille” uncapitalised, and we encourage this practice.

Meetings of Braille SA

To all educators, braille instructors and producers

Please be advised that the next meeting of Braille SA will take place on 8 and 9 May 2008 at the Institute for the Blind in Worcester.

We wish to encourage schools to send braille experts. 4

For further information contact:

Mr Christo de Klerk (Chairman of Braille SA)
Tel.: 011 350 8132
E-mail: cjdk@mweb.co.za

Duxbury Braille Translation Tables Available now
Readers and producers are advised that the Duxbury braille translation tables are available for the Unified Braille Code for English, Afrikaans and the Nguni languages, (Xhosa and Zulu).

Braille translation tables may be obtained at the Braille Consultancy, free of charge.

Note: These tables will only work if you have installed the latest version of the Duxbury translation software, version 10.6.

For further information about translation tables contact:

Pasha Alden
The South African Library for the Blind
PO Box 115
Grahamstown
6140
Tel.: 046 622 7226
E-mail: pasha.alden@blindlib.org.za

Feedback UBC Training Workshop

The Unified Braille Code will be implemented for the first three grades in 2008. In preparation for implementation, the South African National Council for the Blind hosted two training workshops for braille teachers.

We are pleased to report positive feedback from those who attended the training workshop.

Our thanks to facilitators Ms Botha, Mrs Van Niekerk and Ms Ismael and the South African National Council for the Blind for hosting the training workshop, and Braille Services for making training material available.

The Louis Braille Bulletin Volume 1

The Louis Braille Bulletin

Compiled and distributed by
The South African Library for
the Blind
in collaboration with
Braille SA

volume 1
July 2007

Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers

As our braille code is evolving to accommodate the changes required to ensure ease of reading, teaching and production, it has become necessary to find a suitable mechanism by which to disseminate information about braille among braille readers and stakeholder organisations within the blindness sector.
So what is the purpose of the Louis Braille Bulletin? The purpose of the bulletin is to promote literacy for touch readers through the standardisation of braille codes; and to facilitate the use, teaching and production of braille by means of dissemination of information.

In this edition we will inform you about the UBC training workshop for teachers and attempt to answer a number of frequently asked questions about UBC.

I trust that you will find the bulletin helpful and informative.

Direct comments and letters to:
The Editor
Pasha Alden (National Braille Consultant)
The South African Library for the Blind
PO Box 115
Grahamstown
6140
Tel.:046 622 7226
E-mail: pasha.alden@blindlib.org.za

BRAILLE MATHEMATICS COMPENDIUM
AVAILABLE NOW

To all teachers, producers and readers of braille

A South African publication for teaching maths up to grade 12 is now available.

Compendium of Mathematics Braille, compiled by Lourens Botes, is based on Braille Mathematics Notation 2005, of the Braille Authority of the United Kingdom. Where South African usage differs from British braille the current South African rules and conventions apply.

The compendium can be purchased at Pioneer Printers.

For further information contact:

Mr Schalk Hugo
Tel.: 023 342 6313
E-mail: pioneerprinters@mweb.co.za

Frequently asked questions about
the Unified Braille Code

One of the core functions of the National Braille Consultancy is to lend advice and support with all braille related enquiries. The questions below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the Unified Braille Code.

Q.: What are the reasons for a Unified Braille Code?

A.: There are two main braille jurisdictions for English braille codes: codes authorised by the Braille Authority of North America (BANA), followed by Canada and the United States of America, and the Braille Authority of the United Kingdom (BAUK), followed by Britain.
Codes for literary texts used in countries that follow BANA and BAUK are similar enough to be read in all the countries.

Though literary codes are similar, braille authorities of North America and the United Kingdom have developed separate codes for mathematics, science, and computer codes.
Such codes are not only incompatible with technical codes used elsewhere in the world, but each is incompatible with other technical codes within its own jurisdiction. So for example a learner in South Africa needs to master three different braille codes (four with music).

In 1992 the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) initiated the Unified Braille Code (UBC) research project. The main goal of the project was to develop a “base” code that could be used for literary braille, with symbols for mathematics, computer braille, etc. embedded in it, followed throughout the English speaking world.

Q.: What are the advantages of a unified braille code?

A.: Based on literary braille, the Unified Braille Code places emphasis on readability and strives to eliminate ambiguity for the braille reader.

Q.: How will the English braille code change?

A.: Only nine contractions have been abolished: ble, com, dd, ally, ation, to, into, by, and o’clock.

Q.: What are the reasons for abolishing these contractions?

A.: Because braille has so few symbols some function either as punctuation marks or as contractions, depending on the context. For instance dots 3-6 at the beginning of a word can mean the contraction for com or a
hyphen. This is also the case for contractions that use dot 6, e.g. {{italic-wd>}}ally and ation which may, due to the fact that capital letters occur within a word be read as internal capital letters. These context-based symbols can cause confusion.

Q.: What does the future hold for braille translation?

A.: The development of braille translation tables will in future take place with DBTwin 10.6. So it is necessary that all stakeholders upgrade to DBTwin 10.6.

Q.: What translation tables are available for the Unified Braille Code?

A.: Translation tables for the Unified Braille Code are available for English, Afrikaans and the Nguni languages, (Xhosa and Zulu), at the Braille Consultancy.

Q.: What changes are incorporated in our current tables?

a.: The current translation tables incorporate changes to the current codes, such as the abolition of el ver, and deur in the Afrikaans braille code.

For further information contact:

Pasha Alden
Tel.: 046 622 7226
E-mail: pasha.alden@blindlib.org.za

UBC implemented in South Africa 2008

In 2004 the South African braille standard setting body, Braille SA voted in favour of the adoption of the Unified Braille Code.

The Unified Braille Code will be implemented in South Africa in 2008 for learners of the first three grades. In order to equip our teachers and braille instructors with the knowledge of UBC the SANCB will host two training workshops, of which the first will take place on 17-19 and the second on 19-21 September 2007, to be attended as teachers are able.

We wish to encourage principals at schools for the blind to send braille experts to attend this essential training course.
For further information about the training course contact:

Dr Obert Maguvhe
tel.: 012 452 3811
E-mail: obert@sancb.org.za

Meetings of Braille SA

To all principals, teachers, braille instructors and producers

Please be advised that the next meeting of Braille SA is to take place on 25 and 26 October 2007 at the South African National Council for the Blind.

We wish to encourage schools to send braille teachers and braille experts.

For further information contact:

Mr Christo de Klerk (Chairman of Braille SA)
Tel.: 011 350 8132
E-mail: cjdk@mweb.co.za

The Library Newsletter

Do you wish to have library facilities and news of new titles at your finger tips?

If so, the Library’s newsletter makwenzeke (Make it happen) is your gateway to all you wish to know about your library.
To receive the newsletter in audio, braille or print contact:

Mrs Busi Mbiyo
The South African Library for the Blind
PO Box 115
Grahamstown
6140
Tel.: 046 622 7226
E-mail: busi.lungile@blindlib.org.za

Afrikaans

Aan alle braille-onderwysers -produsentes, -transkribeerders en -gebruikers

Die volgende veranderinge aan ons braillestelsel is onmiddellik van krag.

Die verkorting vir ver

Die verkorting vir ver word geskrap. Ons skryf dus woorde soos versit, vereniging en ver met die letters er verkort. Waar ‘n koppelteken aan die begin van ‘n woord ‘n weglating aandui, word die koppelteken nie meer verdubbel nie aangesien punte 3-6 slegs as ‘n koppelteken gelees kan word. Ons skryf dus stilstaan of -sit.

Die verkorting vir el

Die verkorting vir el word geskrap. Ons skryf dus woorde soos bel, geld en tel met el onverkort en verkort be in kabbel, te in wortel, ge in giggel.

Die verkorting vir deur
Die verkorting vir deur mag slegs alleenstaande of aan die begin van ‘n woord gebruik word. Ons skryf dus deurklokkie, met deur verkort, maar laat deur onverkort in voordeurklokkie.

Let daarop dat implementering van bostaande reëls onmiddellik van krag is. Vir brailletranskribeerders sodra ‘n nuwe titel geproduseer word.

Vir navrae oor veranderinge in braillegebruike kontak:

Pasha Alden (Nasionale BrailleKonsultant)
Tel.: 046 622 7226
E-pos: pasha.alden@blindlib.org.za

TRIBUTE TO ANTONNETTE BOTHA

I wish to pay tribute to Antonnette Botha who is resigning as a member of the Code Maintenance Committee. I would like to thank her for her dedication and the contribution she made to writing the rules for UEB. Her wording and examples are still evident throughout the rulebook.

Antonnette Botha was the first chair of the Rules Committee (Committee VI of the UEB Project) which was established in 1993. She had a clear plan for the Rulebook right from the start. She assigned tasks, drafted rules, led discussions, chaired face to face meetings and generally ensured that the work continued step by step over the many years required.

Under her leadership, consultation was the key. She was, and is, respected for her depth of knowledge and her ability to manage all the minute details while keeping the core principles at the forefront.

Antonnette stepped down as chair in 2006, remaining as a member representing South Africa on Committee VI. When the Code Maintenance Committee was formed in 2010, she was one of four people appointed for their expertise. We could always count on Antonnette to thoroughly review any proposed changes to wording or examples and, often, to point out missed errors and unforeseen implications. Thankfully, even in “retirement”, she will continue to participate as an observer.

We are grateful that we will still benefit from her experience, wisdom, perspective and especially, her passion for UEB.

Respectfully submitted,

Phyllis Landon

Chair, Code Maintenance Committee

SABA 2014 May Documentation

The South African Braille Authority held it’s fifth general assembly meeting at the South African Library for the Blind in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. During this meeting, the following documents were distributed: