Questions Re: Vertical Line Segments and Number Line Symbols

[MenWithAMessage]

One of our transcribers has a few questions - the first is regarding alignment of vertical line segments with word labels; the next two are related to number line symbols.

Please see the attached. Let us know if you need any clarification on the questions.

Thanks so much!

Men with a Message Braille Program

Attachments:

You must be logged in to view attached files.

[kdejute]

Thank you for your question! I am spending some time with these questions and passing them along to the committee. We should be able to get back with you by the end of the week at the latest. –Kyle

[kdejute]

Thank you for your questions!

First, line mode is a UEB concept, and Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics, 2022 (GSTG) is built upon the rules of UEB (and the rules of The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation 2022). In other words, Rules of UEB is foundational, and GSTG is guidelines upon that foundation.

 

You asked: Should a vertical line segment transcribed using line mode (i.e., braille symbols) lead down to a letter in the midst of its word label (as is shown in GTM §4.4.1), or should it lead down to the first letter of its word label (as is implied by the placement of labels below scale marks in number line examples in GSTG [e.g., Example 6-4 UEB])?

We do not know of a definite answer to that question. The most important thing is that the tactile arrangement or diagram accurately conveys the information that is in print.

One way to think about this for something like what is shown in GTM §4.4.1 could be: Will the whole arrangement or diagram fit without runovers with vertical line segments aligned with the first letter of each word label? If yes, then do so, and you'll be following the formatting exemplified in the [North-America-focused] GSTG. If you put vertical line segments aligned with the first letter of each word label and the whole arrangement or diagram will NOT fit without ruovers, then center each word label on its related vertical line segment and see if that lets the whole arrangement fit without runovers. [If you want to keep going down this decision tree: Next, if you allow one runover and put vertical line segments aligned with the first letter of each word label, will the whole arrangement or diagram fit? What if you allow one runover and center each word label on its related vertical line segment? Then try two runovers, first with vertical line segments aligned with the first letter of each word label and then with each word label centered on its related vertical line segment. At that point, you should really stop and reassess.]

 

You also asked: Should UEB line mode symbols be listed on the Special Symbols page? We say yes, because line mode symbols may be unfamiliar to the reader.

Then—you asked—should UEB line mode symbols be made a separate category within the Special Symbols page (as we are told to do with number line symbols in The Nemeth Code 2022 §4.4.7)? We say yes, because this groups the line mode meanings of these symbols, which have other meanings outside of line mode.

 

Last, but not least, you asked: Should we or should we not use a numeric indicator before a number that occurs below a number line? No, according to GSTG §6.5.1.1, you should not use a numeric indicator before a number that occurs below a number line. GSTG §6.5.1.1 says,

"A numeric indicator is not used before a number if it occurs below the number line, whether the number is whole, fractional, decimal, or negative. A numeric indicator is used before a number above the number line. Follow these guidelines for the numeric indicator regardless of whether the number line is transcribed in UEB or Nemeth Code. ..."

You also asked if there is a distinction between "tactile graphics" and "diagrams using braille symbols representation" where inclusion of the numeric indicator is concerned. There is not.

You may ask, "But isn't following GSTG §6.5.1.1 breaking the rule implied in the examples of GTM §4?" No. In part, the answer is "no" because we could use a numeric passage to transcribe a number line just like those examples in GTM §4 but without numeric indicators on the numbers that occur below the number line. Another reason the answer is "no" is covered in the text at the beginning of GSTG Unit 6:

"Do not include the numeric passage indicator or numeric passage terminator when transcribing tactile graphics. A note must be included on the Transcriber’s Note page alerting the reader of the omission. The "Use and Omission of Numeric Indicator" chart on page 3 explains when numeric indicators should be used."

 

Thank you again for your questions! We welcome any more that you have.

–Kyle and NBA's UEB Technical Material Committee

[Author]

Posts