[kdejute]

Sally,

Yes, the equation "question-mark-in-a-box = 2+3" must all be in Nemeth Code (with the general omission symbol, a full cell, used for the question-mark-in-a-box).

Yes, the equation "question-mark-in-a-box = shaded-diamond +1" as well as the equation "shaded-diamond = 4" must be transcribed in Nemeth Code.

Yes, the right-pointing arrow that indicates continuation of a series is best transcribed in Nemeth Code; including the numbers of the series within the Nemeth Code switch indicators necessitated by the arrow is probably the best transcription.

Yes, the pairs of numbers enclosed in square brackets with right-pointing arrows connecting the members of a pair are best all transcribed in Nemeth Code (with the general omission symbol used for the question marks).

Last, but not least, it would be quite acceptable to include the answer choices, which consist of nothing but simple numerals, within the Nemeth Code switch indicators used for the pairs of numbers connected with arrows.

Does that cover most everything and set you up to feel more comfortable moving forward?

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Sally,

It's tempting to think that 50 mL requires Nemeth Code; however, in the Guidance, #5 under Additional Guidelines says (italics added), “Abbreviated measurement units (e.g., ft., min) adjacent to related numbers transcribed in Nemeth Code are part of the technical expression and are transcribed within the Nemeth switch indicators.”

So, any number that is in Nemeth Code (e.g., because it has a decimal, superscript, symbol of currency, etc.) must pull into the Nemeth Code with it a related abbreviation that is next to it, even though that abbreviation would otherwise be transcribed in UEB. But, 50 does not require Nemeth Code, and its abbreviated measurement unit does not either.

 

As for the degree sign, yes, it does need to be in Nemeth Code.

Happy to help.
–Kyle

[kdejute]

In the illustrations in your attachment, the measurements written on the measuring cup include fractions and mixed numbers, and those must be transcribed in Nemeth Code. So I would suggest putting the whole tactile graphic of the measuring cup within Nemeth Code switch indicators.

The measurements written on the graduated cylinder and on the beaker do not contain anything that needs to be in Nemeth Code, so their tactile graphics should be in UEB. [They could be within Nemeth Code switch indicators that are required for something else (e.g., the measuring cup)]

Does that make sense and help?

Oh, please don't beat yourself up! We are all learning, feeling like we know it, and then learning some more!!!

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Fred,

When an equation contains words between operation signs, there is no call for using any code switch indicator. The words are part of the equation (or expression)

So, your example would be transcribed as follows.

_% #13 years@*@s2,176 per year
.k @s28,288 _:

13 years × $2,176 per year = $28,288

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Hullo, Fred

Thank you for the question and the sample file.

You're right that the expressions should be brailled all in Nemeth, because the words are as much a part of the math as are the numbers.

Please see the attached BRF, noting the few differences from  your sample, namely:

1. abbreviation p. (for page) must be on the same braille line as its associated number (Nemeth Code XXV.195.c)
2. comma following the word years within the first expression must be a literary comma (dot 2) (Nemeth Code VI.38.iv)
3. abbreviation SD (for Standard Deviation) should be capitalized with the double capitalization indicator and not have its letters capitalized individually, because its letters do not have separate values
4. opening Nemeth Code indicator should be placed after a blank cell on a line with the text that precedes the displayed material, because the displayed material spans more than one braille line
5. the indention of the displayed material should be 3-5 (displayed to narrative text), with the Standard Deviation expressions treated as runovers and not separate expressions.

Cheers!
–Kyle

Attachments:

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[kdejute]

That is a correct transcription. I would do it the same way.

So, the answer to the question of "Can I use a single-word switch indicator for a word immediately following an opening grouping sign?" is "Yes." And, if you do use a single-word switch indicator for a word immediately following an opening grouping sign then the closing grouping sign should be preceded by Nemeth Code material and so also be in Nemeth Code (as it is in your attachment).

Neat question. Thank you for sharing!

–Kyle

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by kdejute. Reason: Removed "And, if you do use a single-word switch indicator for a word immediately following an opening grouping sign then the closing grouping sign should be preceded by Nemeth Code material and so also be in Nemeth Code (as it is in your attachment)." because that is not required
• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by kdejute. Reason: Return response to original

[kdejute]

Shelley,

Thank you for passing along this question, and thank you for outlining it before referring to the attachment.

A reader-friendly place to put the Nemeth Code terminator after a tactile graphic is following a blank line in cell one on a line by itself. This is in line with section 9.b under Additional Guidelines in the Guidance for Transcription Using the Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts (Approved April 2018) and also section 5.1.2 of the Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics, 2010.

(As always, when an updated Tactile Graphic Guidelines that includes guidelines for transcriptions using Nemeth Code within UEB contexts is published by BANA, whatever it says overrides anything in these Ask an Expert forums.)

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Thank you for the question, Tung.

In response:

1. Print clearly has the variables aligned, so you do need to align the variables x and y.
2. You do not need a numeric indicator before the number 8 on the second line. The space inserted before it for purposes of aligning variables is not considered when deciding whether or not to use a numeric indicator.
3. Your code switch indicators are placed quite correctly. (The opening code switch indicator is placed on a line with text preceding spatial material with a blank line following it, and the terminator is placed following the blank line after spatial material in cell 1 on a line by itself.)

Cheers!

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Response coming soon ...

• This reply was modified 5 years, 9 months ago by kdejute. Reason: incomplete response removed

[kdejute]

Yes, this is a difficult exercise for the braille user to get satisfaction from. Even a tactile graphic of the line drawing of Snoopy the cartoon dog holding up a piece of paper with A+ written on it would probably be mostly meaningless.

I agree with Cindi that presenting each quadrant on a separate braille page would allow the student to complete the activity and thus prove their understanding of coordinate points on the plane. [The only alternative to that I can think of is using a poster-board-sized piece of paper for the whole coordinate plane, which would be rather spectacular and really bulky/involved.]

Thank you for sharing the challenge and your thoughts!

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Thank you for the question.

You're right that the placement in print of the sentence-ending period, following an expression that must be transcribed as spatial material, is inconvenient (to say the least).

I cannot point to a section in which either the Nemeth Code or the Guidance addresses sentence-ending punctuation and spatially arranged division. As you obviously know, sentence-ending punctuation that's followed by non-technical material belongs after the Nemeth Code terminator. So, I suspect that the most reader-friendly placement of the period you ask about would be immediately following the Nemeth Code terminator, even if that results in a braille line that contains nothing but a Nemeth Code terminator and a period.

Unrelated to punctuation: What if the word "Remainder" were uncontracted and treated as a label that's part of the synthetic division arrangement?

I hope that is helpful. Thank you again for the question.

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Celia,

Thank you for the question.

The letter p in the situation you describe should not be preceded by an English Letter Indicator.

As Nemeth Code section 27.g says, 'The English-letter indicator must not be used with any letter or combination of letters which are neither "single letters" nor "short-form combinations" in situations not specifically covered (see §§26, 27, 28, and 51).'

–Kyle

P.S. The p you describe is not a "single letter" according to Nemeth Code section 25.a.vi.

[kdejute]

Shawn,

I would strongly recommend using the Nemeth Code script typeform for double-struck Rs, with a TN to explain the representation of print.

Please see page 7-11 (in Lesson 7) of the Provisional Nemeth Instruction Manual for further discussion of this approach to retaining print distinction.

Thank you for the question!

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Your question has helped to improve our primary resources! This response is being updated on 10/29/2020 after much discussion. Please read on.

-----------------------------

First, please note that both sections quoted in your question deal with braille page breaks, while the actual question and illuminating example deal with a print page break within a braille page.

Second, the section references and related quotations in your question are from the Provisional Instruction Manual on Nemeth Code, which is not a rule book. The Instruction Manual is based on: the Nemeth Code, its updates, and the Guidance mentioned above.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

#11 under the heading Additional Guidelines in the Guidance for Transcription Using the Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts says, "The opening Nemeth Code indicator and the Nemeth Code terminator should be placed on the same page with part of the expression to which they apply."

The BANA Nemeth Code Technical Committee has discussed this particular wording, and they interpret the guideline to mean “The opening Nemeth Code indicator and the Nemeth Code terminator should be placed on the same braille page with part of the expression to which they apply.”

So, in fact, the very last thing on a print page could be the opening Nemeth Code indicator. You do not have to move the opening Nemeth Code indicator to print page 816.

However, it would be alright to do so.

Thus, the answer to your question, “Should an opening Nemeth Code indicator be placed so that it is on the same print page as the material to which it applies?” is:

It is not required. I would recommend it.

 

In conclusion, the Guidance says that an opening Nemeth Code indicator cannot be the last thing on a braille page. As for print pages, it is not against the Guidance to say that an opening Nemeth Code indicator should not be the last thing on a print page.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 11 months ago by kdejute. Reason: Inaccurate response, awaiting correction
• This reply was modified 5 years, 11 months ago by kdejute. Reason: Response updated following committee discussion
• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by kdejute.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by kdejute.

[kdejute]

When I wrote that last paragraph, I was thinking of a recent question about Nemeth or UEB squares: https://www.nationalbraille.org/topic/nemeth-or-ueb-squares/

If that doesn’t clarify my final paragraph to you, please do say.

–Kyle

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