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Hello. Thank you for attaching the file with your questions. Yes, you must follow the rules of the Chemistry Code for this table in Appendix 3. If the book is not using Chemistry Code in the entire transcription, you simply state that you are following that code for this Appendix 3.
Chemical SYMBOLS are not treated like braille abbreviations nor are they treated like braille single letters. For example, N for nitrogen is simply “cap n” and is punctuated mathematically. The SYMBOLS are not treated differently within narrative. In other words, do NOT use an English letter indicator for the SYMBOL N for nitrogen. Read Section 3.5 in the Chem Code. Two-letter chemical SYMBOLS always show the second letter in lowercase. If you see two capital letters in a row, such as CO, that is two elements — carbon and oxygen — “cap c cap o” with a dot 6 math comma–no spaces unless print shows a space.
Physical states (solid, liquid or aqueous, gas, crystalline) are in parentheses — do not retain the italics, do not use English letter indicators. See Chem Code Sec.9.2 for a discussion of physical states.
Superscripts and subscripts follow the usual Nemeth Code rules. Follow print spacing for example S(rhombic) has no space (and no ELI). Same goes for P(white) and P(red).
Your question about g/mol is out of context and so I cannot give a definitive answer.
Scientific abbreviations in a chemistry transcription follow the rules of the Nemeth Code EXCEPT they are spaced as in print and they are punctuated mathematically. So .. g/mol uses an ELI for the g as long as there is a space before the g and as long as this is in the context of an abbreviation. If the g is an abbreviation and is unspaced from what precedes it, no ELI is needed. If g/mol is being used as a variable, no ELI is used. (Variables are usually printed in italics so they are easy to identify — study the book to see how the printer has been identifying variables throughout.) Section 9 of the Chem Code covers abbreviations in a chemistry transcription in more detail.The organic molecular formulae shown at the bottom of page 3 of your file are simple to do in Chem Code. You do not separate the letters. Section 4.1.3 of the Chem Code shows a simple molecular formula for benzene as an example. Your first formula: CH3COOH is straightforward cap c cap h Nemeth 3 cap c cap o cap o cap h, all unspaced, no subscript indicator for the numeral. Fun. It will be another matter formatting the wide table!
Take some time to learn what you are looking at, finding out what it is called, and then researching it in the Chemistry Code. Keep asking questions if you are uncertain.
Appendix 4 in the attached pdf document is back to math, not chemistry. The two functions you have pointed out follow rules of the Nemeth Code for functions (Rule XVII). Your specific question about dots 56 in “log B” is answered in Sec. 27.a of the Nemeth Code which is discussing nonuse of the English letter indicator: the letter B does not use an ELI. The letters A and B have individual identities in “Log AB” and so are individually capitalized.
I’m not familiar with the term “stuck symbol.”
I need to see a couple of print pages. Remember that the handling of all marginal material is one of the most changed in the new Formats. I need to see exactly what kind of note this is and at least one instance of how it is repeated.
Thanks.
–Joanna
Is there a question here? I’m having difficulty finding it.
See the BANA press release on 2011 Formats, which can be found at the BANA website http://www.brailleauthority.org. It states that 2011 Formats supercedes ALL PREVIOUS Formats and all formatting rules in EBAE. ALL PREVIOUS includes the 2007 update. So everything you’re referred to does not apply. If you are using 2011 Formats and you do not have any outstanding work being done with 1997 Formats, it’s time to recycle.
That leaves the general question you are asking about math symbols in Braille Formats. The symbols list in Appendix G is simply a list of symbols to use as a reference. It is not, and not intended to be, guidelines about when and how to use them.
In each section of 2011 Formats, guidelines are given that include the use of special symbols when appropriate to that section. If any special symbols are needed for the specific book or page you are working on, go to the appropriate section in 2011 Formats. Special symbols usage for that situation will be given there, in that relevant section, along with instructions for usage. See the post on this forum regarding the old Rule 5, which discusses this same issue.
If you have a specific question about specific symbols, please send the print page(s) and we will address the issue.
Part of the process of becoming acclimated to these new guidelines is learning the new locations of familiar material and getting used to the way these new guidelines are presented.
–Joanna
I am so glad you are asking this important question. We are all awaiting a statement from BANA regarding this topic. Stay tuned …
I need to see the actual print page in order to give you a complete answer. Please scan and send it. What you have sent is your interpretation of the print and since formatting is about what a print page LOOKS LIKE, I need to be able to see exactly what your page looks like.
–Joanna
I answered the questions you posed on the attachment posted here. I’m very glad to hear you’ve started using the new guidelines.
–Joanna
If you are using the new 2011 Formats Guidelines, Rule 5 is no longer in effect because 1997 Formats is no longer in effect. Don’t even go there! I looked in the 2011 Guidelines index and found a list of all the math (and other) symbols in Appendix G and the guidelines for using them in Section 1. As before, we follow print. We braille the symbol and not the word when the symbol only is used in print. The symbol is listed on the Special Symbols page or at the location where it occurs. It will take a little time to get used to the new guidelines. Do not fear the Index.
–Joanna
[quote=tjensen]Can you tell me if Rule 5 is still in effect? I can’t seem to find anything for Mathematical signs. I am specifically looking for dimensions in the new Braille formats.[/quote]
Sorry I forgot to say this is partially technical work and this section (2 pages) will be in Nemeth code.
Congratulations on using the new guidelines. Just plunge right in! It will be slower because you’ll have look up things rather frequently, but soon it will become second nature. On your title page I think you can follow the print and say Developed at … whatever it says. Note that in the discussion of the author segment on title pages it clearly states that other entities, like translators, are now shown. The think the implication there is that the originating entity serves as the author.
As for the word “copyright,” I’m not sure I understand your question. Is there a copyright symbol, ©, but not the print word “copyright”? Or is there no mention of copyright at all? If you can let me know exactly what your book says, we can figure out the answer.
–Joanna
[quote=tjensen]I have been running into this quite a bit. Here in this History book and also a lot in a 3rd grade math book.
It looks to me that I have boxed material on facing pages. I would like to know how this should be treated, how I would continue the regular text, and how the page numbering is supposed to look.
I thought that I was supposed to combine the print page numbers like it says in rule 6 pg 72, but when I looked at example 24 given in the examples section it shows a Transcriber’s note stating that … and the print page number is not combined?Can you help?
Thank you for the advice.Neither of my files .jpg nor .pdf will attach. The site continues to tell me “Max attachment size is 1500kb” so apparently my file is too big? ;)[/quote]
Obviously got the file attached. 😉
I would like to see at least one typical print page that has all these photogaphs, (or maps, or whatever). I need to see exactly what the page looks like and then I can offer a suggestion about how to present it in braille.
–Joanna
I’ll answer my own question. Didn’t read far enough. Rule 2(8) “Print page information”
tells me what I need to know.
The best encouragement I can offer in response to your plea for the Nemeth Code to provide us with a specific rule for unitemized main entries with subdivisions, such as a bulleted list is this: The Nemeth Code is not an independent code meant to cover every aspect of a textbook publication. We use all of the resources available to us regarding a literary braille transcription in addition to those that specifically apply to technical works using the Nemeth Code. Some Nemeth formats or rules supersede those followed in a literary work; those not mentioned rely on the literary codes to supply us with rules and suggestions. Your consistent application of whatever format you decide applies will produce an excellent transcription.
A math/science book is not entirely written in mathematical symbols. It contains narrative, illustrations, tables, and –yes– bulleted lists. As a transcriber your concern is to present the material in a manner which will be consistent so the reader can discern an order that should help with the comprehension of the material. Formats, in any code, are developed in order to attain this goal. The most recent revision of the Nemeth Code came to us in 1972. Its rules have survived three major revisions in the literary braille codes. If there had been overlap written into the Nemeth Code, it would not have stood this test of time.
The sample you sent in your first post is a chart or table, not itemized material. Charts and tables follow Literary braille rules (Braille Formats). The sample you show in your second post is itemized (numbered 1.) followed by what you call an unitemized list. It is not clear to me whether the original advice was referring to Nemeth Code formats or Braille formats, as both have “main items with subdivisions.” Personally, I do not see “Give some names of small animals, etc.” as a list, but rather as directive text. It would help to see the original document.
If the new Braille Formats suggests treating bulleted lists as itemized material, we will have more to think about. If the BANA math/science committee feels clarification is needed in the Nemeth Code regarding this topic, they will write one. I am sure they would appreciate hearing your concerns.
