Reply To: Transcriptions for native speakers of a foreign language

Hello again,

I did a brief search online for the French braille code and while I am not fluent, I know enough French to discover that while World Braille Usage provides a brief overview of the alphabets and punctuation marks used in French braille, it does not tell you how to use them. For instance, under the French alphabet, the "Antoine Numerical Notation: Figures" are listed on page 181 of WBU, but scanning through the full French braille code, I notice that the 2-cell Antoine numbers in the list are not simply substituted for print numbers. The dot 6 is used as a sort of numeric indicator, and there appear to be specific rules about when and how to use a numeric indicator. This is just one example.

Also, it is difficult to know what the readership of these brochures will be familiar with. Will they be in the US or another country, will they have seen materials in the full French or Spanish braille codes, or will they be more familiar with UEB braille conventions?

Unless your agency or the person requesting the material specifically asks that you use the full Spanish or French braille code, I think the best course of action would be to use Method 3 in BANA's Provisional Guidance for Transcribing Foreign Language Material in UEB: uncontracted braille, World Braille Usage for the accented characters, but UEB for punctuation marks, typeforms, formatting, etc.

I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Best,
Rebecca