BRL: Braille through Remote Learning

Specialized Codes Course

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Session Topics
  • Alphabets and Alphabetic Indicator
  • Greek Indicator
  • English Indicator
  • Abbreviations
  • Boldface and other Types

    Evaluation
  • Reading Exercise
  • Writing Exercise

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  • Boldface, Italic, Script, and Sanserif Type

    Type Forms and Type-Form Indicators: Specific provision is made by the use of type-form indicators for the transcription of boldface, italic, script, and sanserif print type forms. A type-form indicator is not required to show regular type.

    Type-Form Indicators for Letters, Numerals, and Compound Expressions
    Boldface Type Indicator dots 4-5-6
    Italic Type Indicator dots 4-6
    Sanserif Type Indicator dot 6dots 4-6
    Script Type Indicator dots 4


    Type-Form Indicators with Letters:
    1. The appropriate type-form indicator must be used when it is necessary to show that a letter from any alphabet is printed in a type form other than regular type. A type-form indicator must always be followed by an alphabetic indicator.

      1. A

        (boldface English capitalized a)

      2. a

        (boldface English uncapitalized a)



      3. (boldface Greek uncapitalized alpha)

      4. A

        (italic English capitalized a)

      5. a

        (italic English uncapitalized a)



      6. (script English capitalized a)



      7. (script English uncapitalized a)



      8. (sanserif English capitalized h)



      9. (sanserif English uncapitalized h)

    2. The effect of a type-form indicator extends only to the letter which immediately follows it. Thus, in a sequence of un-spaced letters, a type-form indicator must be used before each letter that is not in regular type.

      1. AB

        (boldface English capitalized a and b)

      2. ab

        (boldface English uncapitalized a and b)



      3. (boldface Greek capitalized alpha and beta)

      4. ab

        (italic English uncapitalized a and b)



      5. (script English capitalized a and b)



      6. (italic English capitalized a, boldface uncapitalized b, italic capitalized c, script uncapitalized d)

      7. pqrs

        (regular English uncapitalized p, boldface q, boldface r, regular s)

      8. xiyj

        (regular English capitalized x, boldface i, regular y, boldface j)



      9. (regular Greek uncapitalized alpha, boldface English uncapitalized a)



      10. (sanserif English capitalized h, regular English capitalized h)

      11. p + 1 = r

        (boldface English uncapitalized p,q,r)

    Type-Form Indicators with Numerals:

    1. The appropriate type-form indicator must be used when it is necessary to show that numerals are printed in a type form other than regular type. The numeric indicator must always be used between a type-form indicator and a numeral or decimal point.

      1. 0

        (boldface zero)

      2. 3

        (italic 3)

      3. .3

        (italic .3)



      4. (script 4)

      5. +0

        (ordinary plus, boldface zero)

      6. -0

        (ordinary minus, boldface zero)

    2. The effect of a type-form indicator with numerals extends until there is a change in type. Thus, when numerals contain digits in mm, the appropriate type-form indicator and the numeric indicator must be used before each change in type. However, when the change is to regular type, only the numeric indicator is used.

      1. 1 2 3

        (boldface 1,2,3)

      2. 456

        (boldface 4, italic 5, regular 6)

      3. 4567

        (boldface 4 and 5, regular 6 and 7)

      4. 1234

        (regular 1 and 2, boldface 3 and 4)

      5. 100 + 200 = 300
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

        (boldface 1,2, and 3; all zeros in regular type)

      6. 28-571

        (italic 28, hyphen, boldface 571)

      7. 47-653

        (italic 47, hyphen, regular 653)

    Type-Form Indicators with Compound Expressions:

    1. When it is necessary to show that a compound expression consisting of a numeral joined by a hyphen to a word or abbreviation is entirely printed in the same nonregular type, the appropriate type-form indicator must be used before the numeral. The effect of the type-form indicator extends throughout the compound expression.

      1. 35-ohm

        (the entire expression is in boldface type)

      2. 35-ft

        (the entire expression is in italic type)

    2. If, in the compound expression, there is a chnage from nonregular to regular type after the hyphen, the hyphen must be preceded by the literary termination sign dots 6dots 3

      1. 35-ohm

        (35 in boldface type, ohm in regular type)

    3. If, in the compound expression, there is a change from regular to nonregular type after the hyphen, only the appropriate type-form indicator must be used after the hyphen.

      1. 35-ohm

        (35 in regular type, ohm in boldface type)

    4. If, in the compound expression, there is a change from one nonregular type to a different nonregular type after the hyphen, the appropriate type-form indicator must be used before each part of the expression.

      1. 35-ohm

        (35 in boldface type, ohm in italic type)

    Use and Nonuse of Type-Form Indicators in Technical Texts:

    1. When a uniform type form is used throughout a print text for letters, numerals, or other mathematical symbols, the type form must be considered regular type, and type-form indicators must not be used. For example, type-form indicators must not be used when the letters of all formulas thorughout a text are uniformly printed in italic type. However, the specific type form must be shown when a different type form is introducted to convey a special mathematical distinction, as when the author uses different type forms to distinguish between two meanings of the same letter. A type form which has no mathematical significance, or which is used only to attract a reader's attention, must not be shown in braille.

      1. R denotes the set of rational numbers, and R denotes the set of real numbers.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

    2. When boldface type is used in print to identify letters as vectors or to denote a zero as the null vector, the boldface type has mathematical significance and must be shown in braille.

      1. Is there a vector s such that r + s = t?
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

      2. In pv = 0, v is a vector and 0 is the null vector.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

      3. a + 0 = a
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

      4. B = 2i + 3j + 2k
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

    Type-Form Indicators with Labeled Mathematical Statements, Words, and Phrases:
    Opening Boldface Type Indicator dot 6dot 3dots 4-5-6
    Closing Boldface Type Indicator dots 4-5-6dot 6dot 3
    Opening Italic Type Indicator dot 6dot 3dots 4-6
    Closing Italic Type Indicator dots 4-6dots 6dot 3

    Type-Form Indicators with Labeled Mathematical Statements:

    1. When a labeled Mathematical statement such as a theorem, axiom, lemma, etc. is printed in nonregular type, the label must be transcribed as though it were entirely capitalized, and the statement must be preceded and followed by its appropriate opening and closing type-form indicators. The type-form indicators must be preceded and followed by a space.

      1. Theorem 4. The diagonals of a rectangle are equal.

        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

      2. Definition. x + yi = a + bi, if and only if x = a and y = b.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

    2. In the body of a labeled mathematical statement, if a word or phrase is printed in a different nonregular type for emphasis or special distinction, the word or phrase must be preceded and followed by its appropriate type-form indicators. When two type-form midicators must be used consecutively, they must be unspaced from each other.

      1. Definition. A hexagon is a polygon which has 6 sides.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

      2. Definition. Equal arcs are arcs that can be made to coincide.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

      3. Definition. A polygon that has 5 sides is a pentagon.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

    Type-Form Indicators With Unlabeled Statements:

    1. In an unlabeled statement, a word or a phrase printed in boldface type for emphasis or special distinction must be preceded and followed by the boldface type-form indicators in accordance with the rules of 45 above.

      1. Name the set of letters in apple.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

      2. LCM stands from least common multiple.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

    2. In an unlabeled statement, an italicized phrase showing emphasis or special distinction and beginning or ending with a numeral, letter or other mathematical symbol or expression must be preceded and followed by the italic type -form indicators in accordance with rule 45 above.

      However, an italicized word or an italicized phrase both beginning and ending with a word must be transcribed according to the rules of English braille.

      1. O is the vertex.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

      2. The common internal tangent is PC.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

      3. LCD means least common denominator.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.

      4. If a + b = b + a, then addition is commutative.
        Look at the braille equivalent in a separate window.




    Developed by
    Shodor logoThe Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.
    in cooperation with the
    North Carolina Central University
    and the Governor Morehead School for the Blind

    Copyright © 1998