Lindy Walton
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In Nemeth, the italic type-form indicator (46) affects only the next letter. The type-form "ends" after the letter -- no explicit terminator is needed, not even a space.
In your example, however, the type-form of the imaginary number i should be disregarded. The only time you would retain the italics in the transcription would be if there is another mathematical "i" (in regular type) in the vicinity that means something different from "imaginary number." In that case, the type-form would be retained in order to distinguish the two different i's.
Italics are applied only if the type-form has mathematical significance, according to the provisions of Section 34.b which says the following. "When any material, mathematical or literary, is printed in non-regular type that has no mathematical significance, the variant type form must not be represented in the transcription. Frequently, it is the practice to print the letters of all formulas throughout a book in italicized type. This practice must not be carried over to the transcription unless the author has specifically distinguished between two meanings of the same letter, assigning one meaning to the letter in regular type and another to the letter in italic type. In addition, a variant type form is often used, particularly at the lower grade levels, for the sole purpose of attracting the reader's attention. Such variant type forms must also <u>not</u> be represented in the transcription."
Thank you for your question.
Lindy
Thank you for your patience while I searched for an answer to your question. I would like to thank Bonnie Read for her help and suggestions for the transcription of the graphic calculator images in your example (Example 3). She has given us two ideas. One method uses one transcriber-created symbol and two of the half-bracket symbols of the Nemeth Code. The other method uses transcriber-created symbols for all of the bracket shapes.
The five shaded screen examples will be illustrated below. Note that the blue shaded area before each "2" is a shaded (highlighted) answer box. Use the 456 highlight indicator as listed in Graphing Calculator Guidelines 5.3 on page 3.
I'm not sure I can mix the braille font in the text on this page. If it doesn't work, you can paste the ASCII characters into your braille document. I have also attached a braille file illustrating the examples.
METHOD ONE
--First answer box: There is no braille equivalent for the square "u" shape between the digits 2 and 7 in the first screen. Create a shape for this according to Nemeth Rule XVI Section 107. Bonnie chose to use the shape indicator followed by the letters su for "square u". (This symbol must be listed on the Special Symbols page. For example, $su Square u-shaped symbol (Nemeth Code symbol). You could use another transcriber created symbol if you choose as long as you list it on the Special Symbols page with the appropriate definition.
--Second answer box: There is no underscore symbol. I chose to use a general omission symbol (full cell) modified with a horizontal bar directly under, according to Nemeth Code Section 86.c. Instead, you could opt to make another transcriber created symbol.
--In answer boxes 2, 3, and 4 she uses the Half Brackets as listed in Nemeth Rule XVIII. It is not required to list these symbols on the Special Symbols page, but I might be tempted to since they are not often encountered.
--The last highlighted answer box is straightforward Nemeth, after the highlight indicator.
Here are the five answer boxes, using METHOD ONE.
_#2$su]7_/8
_#2=%:7@;)8
_#2@;)7@;)8
_#2@^(7@^(8
_#2_?7/8_#METHOD TWO
A transcriber shape has been created for all four shapes, interpreting them as sides of a box. The following transcriber shape symbols could be used indicating sides of the box:
l – left; b – bottom; r – right; t - top.The first shape is $lbr
The second shape is $b
The third shape is $br
The fourth shape is $ltHere are the five answer boxes, using METHOD TWO.
_#2$lbr]7_/8
_#2$b]7$br]8
_#2$br]7$br]8
_#2$lt]7$lt]8
_#2_?7/8_#
I'd be curious to know what you end up doing!Lindy
Hi.
If the table contains no symbols that require a switch to Nemeth Code, then it can be transcribed in UEB. However, if you decide to omit the numeric indicators to save space, you should not use the UEB numeric passage indicator in a Nemeth transcription, so that table would be done in Nemeth.
Lindy
Hi Laurie. I think the tactile graphics folks will be able to answer your questions better than I can. I look forward to seeing what they say.
Lindy
Hi Connie. You are right, these linked expressions do not need to follow the special margins rule. If there is text after the numbers 1. and 2., then yes these should be formatted as displayed expressions, starting the anchor in cell 5 and placing all runovers in cell 7. If there is no text after the numbers 1. and 2., as shown in the example you attached, then I would begin each anchor on the same line as the identifier, placing all runovers in cell 3.
When a link needs to be divided within a series of complicated linked expressions like these, the first rule of thumb for clarity is to start a new line with each link. In these examples, that means at each baseline equals sign. I like to do that even with the final link, which tends to be short. Starting each link on a new line gives clarity to the progression.
To divide a long link, the first priority is keeping the enclosed portions together on the same line. Beyond that, go as far as you can and then divide at one of the indicators from the priority list. In number 1 and number 2, this turns out to be a superscript indicator.
I would not divide again before the dy. An implied operation sign is not on the list. I see no reason to break before a factor when it will fit on the line.
In number 3, I would go ahead and transcribe the subscript (x = 1/2 y) since it fits on the line with that closing bracket. Then start the new line with the superscript indicator.
Hope this helps!
Lindy
Yes, if you are going to show the arrow, a shape indicator (1246) is required before constructing the arrow.
Lindy
The way you treat a letter printed with an arrow above it (representing a vector) depends on the context and on the style used in the rest of the text. If the letter is printed in bold type, the typeform has mathematical meaning and so is retained. In such a case, the arrow is omitted. NC §35.b says this: "When both boldface type and arrows of uniform construction are used in conjunction to represent vectors, the arrows themselves must be omitted from the transcription unless the author calls special attention to them as a notation device, but a transcriber's note must be included indicating their presence in the ink print copy."
If the vector letter is not printed in bold, then the arrow is transcribed as a modifier above the letter, as you have done. However, read the surrounding text to determine if this arrowhead style has specific meaning. The half-barb is often a printer's style and may have no mathematical meaning. If ALL of the vector notation in your book shows the half-barbed arrowhead, you may change the arrow to the 2-cell contracted form. This will relieve both reader and transcriber. The reader should be told in a transcriber's note that the arrows in print use the upper-barb style.
Thank you for your question.
LindyUsing a general omission symbol to represent the omitted radicand will solve your issue.
<n>=]
Lindy
The determining factor when deciding whether to use Nemeth fraction indicators is how the fraction is printed. If the numerator is not raised and if the denominator is not lowered, then fraction indicators are not used. The presence of superscripts or subscripts does not affect this decision. In your example, if the "v"s are not raised or lowered from the base line of the surrounding text, you do not need to use fraction indicators.
Lindy
Hi Laurie. You are correct -- Nemeth stays in effect until you close it with a Nemeth Code terminator. A page change (print or braille) does not terminate Nemeth Code.
The "Guidance" does state that neither indicator should be separated from what it applies to (point 11 on page 11). In other words, don't end a page (print or braille) with an opening Nemeth Code indicator, and don't start a page (print or braille) with a Nemeth Code terminator.
Thanks for the question.
Lindy
The "not" sign is not in the original Nemeth Code. This negation sign is common and has been under discussion in the BANA Nemeth committee. Perhaps a new symbol will be proposed. In the meantime, the advice I have received is that the transcriber should devise a symbol that is in keeping with usage, and to explain in a transcriber's note. In this case, I suggest a 2-cell "dot 4" symbol since the more common symbol of ~p (tilde p) is a dot-4 symbol. Note that, listed in Appendix B of the Nemeth Code, there are 71 symbols beginning with a dot 4 so choose your symbol carefully since you cannot use one which already has a meaning. As luck would have it, (4, 1456) is available! I suggest using that.
Lindy
Hi Susan.
The only expression that will not fit across one braille line is the numbered item at the top of the page. It must be divided twice. The first priority is to break before a sign of comparison, so you will start a new line before the equals sign. The runover will start in cell 5. The "link" (matrix 1 minus matrix 2 minus matrix 3) also needs to be divided, so you divide before a sign of operation -- in this case, before the second minus sign. Also beginning in cell 5. Yes, a blank line must set off the spatial matrices -- a blank line above and a blank line below.
Each lettered item will fit without need for runovers, as shown in the attached BRF file. I can't quite read what this problem is numbered, but in the attached BRF file I have given it the number 35.
If you are using a page that is narrower than 40 cells, let me know and we can discuss how to treat runovers of wide matrices -- there are a couple of ways to do this, according to the Nemeth Code.
I am not a Duxbury user, so I cannot imagine how you would key this in that software.
Lindy
Veeah, you raise an interesting point. The symbol is °C which stands for the temperature unit "degree Celsius". When printed correctly, it will be spaced away from its value as in your example, 100 °C. A period is not associated with this unit. The Nemeth Code calls "C" an abbreviation, but I think by understanding that °C is the full symbol, this topic will make more sense when you are confronted with a transcribing dilemma. Regardless, we have guidelines regarding how to transcribe it.
Printed with a hyphen? That is curious. I have noticed that voice recognition software will often insert a hyphen between a number and what follows. I don't know how this started, or if it is related to your observation. Publishers are free to follow their own typographical rules, but I wonder why it is printed this way in a book that has otherwise been using a space? If you are in possession of a pre-publication copy, that hyphen could be indicating a non-breaking space that wasn't caught yet by their proofreaders. Regardless, we must transcribe what is printed.
My first braille mentor, Connie Risjord, taught us well that a Hyphen Connects (and a dash separates). That distinction helps me figure out what to do in unfamiliar situations. I would transcribe 1-°C just as it is printed (unspaced): #1-^.*",C
In 30.4 J/mol °C, follow print spacing: #30.4 ;,J_/MOL ^.*",C
By the way, °C is known as a "derived" SI unit. The SI base unit of (thermodynamic) temperature is the symbol K (for kelvin). It's complicated. Luckily, all we need to do is TRANSCRIBE WHAT WE SEE IN PRINT regarding spacing with the °C symbol.
If I haven't answered your question, please keep asking. This is a confusing topic.
Thanks.
LindyHi Brandon. Flash cards are a great idea. I have always made my own. You can use index cards and a braillewriter, or you can create them with your software for single-sided embossing and then cut them with a paper trimmer. Attached are a couple of templates I have used for making 3"x5" flashcards. The narrow one is for 8-1/2" wide braille paper; the wide one is for 11-1/2" wide braille paper. The shaded areas show the maximum amount of usable space on the card. If you use "replace" or "overwriting" mode on your keyboard, you can replace the dots on the template with what you want on each flashcard without disturbing the layout of the template.
It is important to snip the corner of each card so it is obvious what is right-side-up. Typically, the upper right corner is trimmed. You can get really creative with your use of homemade flash cards.
Good luck!
Lindy
