Lindy Walton
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Hi Shellee.
Although we no longer follow the rules of the Computer Braille Code, its 1991 (excellent!) supplement titled "Flowchart Design for Applicable Braille Codes" is the correct document to use to create a flowchart in braille. List the symbols on a Special Symbols page or immediately before the flowchart. Of course you will follow UEB contraction rules for any words in the chart.
Lindy
Julia, here is the information I have gathered.
The Cartesian graph is transcribed using Nemeth symbols, but the switch indicators are not transcribed. (They are implied.) Placement of the switch indicators with the surrounding material is decided independent of the graph itself.
The location of the code switch indicators depends upon where you are putting the graph.
As Printed: The formatting guideline from Unit 12 of Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics (GSTG), Section 12.3.1 states, "If the entire item will fit on one page, the braille order of presentation should follow print." This aligns with your post so I am assuming you are able to fit a question, its graph, and its four answer choices all on one page. If that is the case, here is how to handle question 4: An opening Nemeth code indicator should be placed on the line before answer choice A. The Nemeth code terminator will at the end of answer choice D. For question 9, the opening Nemeth code indicator will go before J' in the question and the Nemeth code terminator will at the end of answer choice D.
On a Separate Page: If the question, its graph, and its four answer choices do not fit all on one page, GSTG Section 12.3.1 goes on to say this: "If the entire item will not fit on one page, the question and the answer choices should be together on one page and the graphic on a separate page." In this case, I expect you would insert a transcriber's note between the question and the answer choices pointing the reader to the next page. You would apply code switch indicators as needed before and/or after the TN.
Note that, in either case, if Nemeth is in effect prior to and following the graph, Nemeth will continue onto the next page without the need for explicit code switch indicators.
To answer your hypothetical question, when you have an itemized graph with an identifier and no text, the identifier can be in either code. Usually it will be in the same code as the preceding material. GSTG 6.6.2 says "Item identifiers (such as 1. 2. 3. 4. or A. B. C. D.) are not to be considered part of the graphic."
I hope this sufficiently answers your questions.
- Lindy
Hi Julia. Let me run this by the tactile graphics folks and get back to you. Thank you for your question.
- Lindy
Oh what an interesting question.
The single-word switch indicator is used only for a word. The literary ampersand, as seen in your example, is a symbol--not a word--so you will need to switch out of Nemeth before transcribing the UEB symbol for the ampersand (4, 12346).
-Lindy
Lucas, I would like to update my response with this quote from the beginning of Unit 6 of Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics, 2022, page 6-2.
“When no technical notation is present on the tactile graphic (e.g., only unmodified numbers and/or letters as defined in the Nemeth Code), the tactile graphic should be prepared in UEB.”
Example 6—11 (page 6-73) shows a graph for which there is no need to switch to Nemeth because it contains only unmodified numbers. The transcription of that graph is on page 6-75.
If your transcription contains stem-and-leaf plots, please also note the following from Section 6.14. "When transcribing using UEB with Nemeth, all stem-and-leaf plots must be transcribed within Nemeth switch indicators even though the numbers may not be modified."
- Lindy
Analog clocks are represented with a tactile graphic. Details are given in Section 6.1 of Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics, 2022. Since the numeric indicator is not used on analog clocks (6.1.1.1) the clock face numbers will essentially look the same in either code.
Does this answer your question? I will check with the Tactile Graphics committee to see if I have overlooked anything.
- Lindy
This example from the Tactile graphics guidelines (Example 6-17) differs from the one in your first note because the labels in the 6-17 graphic are in UEB. The key list is rendered in the same code (UEB) which is why the Nemeth switch indicators are applied individually to the three labels. Keeping in mind that the items in a key are read as needed when the reader encounters them in the drawing, the transcription shown in Example 6-17 makes sense.
It has come to my attention that using a single letter in a key causes conflicts with the rules of our codes. I would like to suggest that you use a numeric key for this particular item. Upper-cell numbers are used for keys constructed in Nemeth and will work well in this case.
Lindy
A key can be transcribed in either code -- UEB or Nemeth. In your sample, every item being keyed is Nemeth, so I would suggest that you open Nemeth after "below:" and terminate Nemeth right before the closing TN indicator.
In Nemeth, an alphabetic key consists of two or three lower-case English letters. [NC 26.9.3] Single-letter keys are not mentioned in the Nemeth code. You could use a numeric key (with upper-cell numerals).
[FORMER TEXT REMOVED. SEE FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE.]
Keys read the same in either code (upper-cell numbers for a numeric key; no contractions for an alphabetic key of two or three letters). You do not need to insert an opening Nemeth Code indicator before the graphic.
- Lindy
Hi Dawn.
These certainly are a challenge. Please see the attached file where I hope I explain this special rule to your satisfaction. If not, please keep asking.
Lindy
Here is what I found, Julie.
Rule 4.6.8.b (words); Rule 4.8.10 (row headings in tables); Rule 10.5 (abbreviations in mathematical context); Rule 25.10.1 (text in a comment in a spatial arrangement)
See also page B-4 in Appendix B regarding remarks and tables.
- Lindy
Hi Julie.
Section 8.2 "Use of the Punctuation Indicator" is the main rule. Identifiers can be numbers, Roman numerals, or letters. Here are the subsections to cite.
8.2.2 The punctuation indicator is used after any numeric symbol written inside the switches.
8.2.3 The punctuation indicator is used after a Roman numeral written inside the switches.
8.2.7 The punctuation indicator is used after a "single letter".
Until an index is created for the code book, I recommend using the electronic version which is easy to search for key words. You can also click on the section number in the Table of Contents and it will send you to that section immediately.
--Lindy
I would like to add that a subtlety in the Nemeth code narrative is that the word "sign" is used for the print character and "symbol" is used for the braille character. Keeping this in mind may help you as you read the rules.
- Lindy
Hi John. This is a very interesting puzzle.
See the attached brf file for the basic problems, which you can hopefully put into the method which you have established in this unusual layout. It looks messy at first glance, but if read vertically, as intended, it makes sense and follows all of the established Nemeth rules regarding alignment with cancellation and with regrouping numbers.
I think a transcriber's note would be helpful in this case where you have multiple lines of cancelled items. Something like "Red replacement numbers are located above each cancelled digit."
Let me know if this isn't working and we can try another approach.
- Lindy
