In October 2007, the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) released "Braille Codes Update 2007." This update includes official changes to three BANA publications: Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation; English Braille, American Edition; and Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription. The code changes took effect Jan. 1, 2008.
As the vast array of print characters, styles, and formats continues to evolve, so must the braille code intended to represent this constantly shifting array of print. It is indeed a challenge for BANA to keep the medium of braille precise enough to accurately reflect the myriad of print symbols and complex print formats, while remaining flexible enough to maintain readability for the braille user. Many of the changes in this update are small but have been adopted in an effort to make braille codes more consistent with print and more usable for both braille readers and braille transcribers.
The changes to the Nemeth Code include: a keystroke indicator being added to the list of shape indicators; a subsection added on calculator and computer keystrokes; several examples in the code book added or fixed; and a section added on the brailling of stem-and-leaf plots. Most of these corrections and changes had been approved by the BANA board many years ago and are simply being incorporated into the official code with the publication of this update.
A few of the changes to the literary braille code are likely to be noticed in the near future in popular braille books and magazines. These include:
Apostrophe Rule: an inserted apostrophe is no longer required in plural abbreviations, numbers or letters where none existed in print. For example, if 1930s is written without an apostrophe in print, it will now be written that way in braille as well. This changed apostrophe rule will give braille readers more accurate information about print practices.
New Symbols: A few new symbols have been added to the literary code that were not included previously:
dot 4, a: @ -- at sign
dot 4, c: insert sign -- cents sign
dot 4, e: insert sign -- Euro
dot 4, y: insert -- Yen
dot 4, &: & -- ampersand sign
dots 45, c: insert symbol -- copyright symbol
Dots 45, r: insert symbol -- registered trademark
Dots 45, t: insert symbol -- trademark
Dots 456, 1456: # -- crosshatch
Dots 456, 34: / -- slash
Since the symbols no. and lb. both represent a print crosshatch, and are easily misunderstood as representing the print letters no. and lb., they have been replaced by a new symbol representing the crosshatch, whatever its meaning. This gives braille readers the same information that print readers have. While a common meaning of the crosshatch is "number," it also has a variety of other meanings: number, pound, and even "sharp," as in the programming language C#. A symbol not associated with the word "number" is more easily associated with other meanings.
The new symbol for the slash is meant to be used whenever a slash appears in print that is not a fraction line. In the past, transcribers were required to change slashes that occurred in dates to hyphens. The new rule says to use slashes whenever they occur in print. This revised rule for the transcription of dates provides a step in the direction of giving braille readers more information about print practice.
The symbol (dots 456, 34) was selected to represent the print slash symbol because it is already widely used with letters in textbooks and is used in the Nemeth code, British braille, and Unified English Braille. By preceding dots 34 with dots 456, the slash will no longer be confused with the braille "st" sign.
Following print with respect to the use of the slash or fraction line gives the braille reader the same information the print reader has. When, in print, a fraction is written as a fraction (numerator above denominator), it is also written as a fraction in braille (using dots 34). When, in print, a fraction or similar construction is written using a slash and with all numbers on the same level, the use of the braille slash (dots 456, 34) shows that. There is no longer a need for the transcriber to know whether two numbers are related to each other as parts of a date, a fraction or have some other relationship. The new rule is simple, easy for a computer to follow and unambiguous for the braille reader regardless of the treatment of fractions. Some agencies and transcribing groups may wish to preserve traditional ways of transcribing fractions in certain publications. The rule allows for this.
Changes in the formats section of the update include:
Alphabetic Page Numbers: Sometimes, page numbers are shown as words on a page with the numeric page number. Most often used with math, foreign language, and lower grade materials, they reinforce the spelled-out version of the numeric number. The new rule puts the alphabetic number in the note position (cell-7) with leading dots 36. This will help the younger reader find the number quickly.
Boxed and Screened Material: The current guidelines for boxes within boxes did not give a true indication of the position of these materials on the print page. Changing the top and bottom boxing lines to the full cell indicates to the reader that everything following the full cell is related until he/she reaches the next full cell. The opening and closing boxing lines indicate the internal boxes. The graphic nature of textbooks and the print placement of text are often very indicative of the importance of, or the relationship to, other materials. This new arrangement for boxes within boxes will better indicate the relationships.
Wide Tables: The linear format for displaying tables that was used years ago has been reinstated. It saves space and retains the connection of one piece of information to the next piece. The listed table is a new method of brailling tables and is useful for large tables with multiple row and column headings. The repetition of the headings makes it easy for the student to follow the information and not have to back up to check individual headings. It is clear and easy to understand.
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