[claurent]

We are sorry for the delay in responding.  What needs to be determined is whether or not the text is being emphasized by using the small caps or not.  If, in your example above, Earthquake Kills Thousands is in small caps and is also a heading, the small caps if the emphasis that can be omitted...leaving the initial caps required as capitalization.  It feels to me (though I may be wrong) that you are seeing small caps as capitalization rather than emphasis.  The transcriber determines which emphasis to retain and which is not necessary.  If something is NOT emphasis, then caps comes into play (in your example of SANSKIT PROVERB double caps should be used but no transcriber-defined indicator).  If something IS emphasis, use the transcriber-defined typeform and then consider what needs caps - maybe nothing!  If I had a sentence

My dog is black and brown and full of fun.

with the words "black and brown" in small caps, a transcriber-defined typeform would be used and no caps at all.  On the Special Symbols page, the symbol would be listed followed by the description "small cap passage".  A terminator would also be required.

Does that help?

Cindi

[claurent]

If the heading applies to what follows (which I assume it does), then no, a blank line is not required between these two items.

Cindi

[claurent]

Boxing is at the transcriber's discretion.  I can understand why you might want to box these, but given that they appear on every page, a cell 5 heading is probably enough of a distinction for the reader.  Putting a box (or sometimes two) on every page might be distracting and will certainly add a lot of space.  However, if you feel strongly about boxing them given the material (since you see the whole document and I see only two pages), boxes ARE allowed for this type of material.

Cindi

[claurent]

I got some more information from Jennifer Dunnam:

Question 1:  This phrase in the manual will be clarified; “compound words” can be divided on a manuscript [formats 1.1.10]

 Question 2:  Formats indicates that the letters ISBN: should be kept on the line with the actual number. There is an example in NLS 19.2a(1)[g] showing the letters “ISBN” kept on the same line with “transcription of”. This is in error and will be fixed.

 Question 3:   Follow print (NLS 17.1d, Formats 1.10.1)

 For recent and future revisions to the NLS manual, be sure to check the “revision log” at http://www.nfb.org/transcribers under “literary braille transcribing” to be sure that you are working with the latest versions of the lessons.

Thanks for Jennifer for helping answer this question!

Cindi

[claurent]

It's no problem and I wish I had better answers!  Wading through the lesson manual can be a daunting task and I know that working on manuscripts is very stressful.  Best of luck to all who are working towards certification.

Cindi

[claurent]

The (continued) phrase is not kept in braille.  The formatting does speak for itself.  It's sort of like print guide words and we don't keep those either.

Cindi

[claurent]

First let me say that I am not in any way involved in grading the NLS manuscripts for certification.  I asked the person who teaches the classes at our organization to weigh in on this as he is more familiar with the lessons than I am.  I cannot tell you exactly what to do here as that is, in essence, the point of doing a manuscript 🙂  However, here are some general thoughts.

1. Dividing symbols-sequences between lines. Lesson 20, page 20-3. The instructions use the term “symbols-sequences.” Some people say we must adhere to the instructions and others say to apply the rule to hyphenated compound words only.

— Lesson 20 §20.5 reads: "Start the first chapter on a new braille page, and do not divide symbols-sequences between lines unless they are too long to fit on one line."  This simple instruction about not dividing symbols-sequences only applies to the trial manuscript and not necessarily to future transcribing.

— In §20.12 Grading lists errors and points: "Incorrect division of symbols-sequence: 2" Symbols-sequences go space to space.

— The directions for the division of hyphenated compound words precedes the Lesson 12 exercise: "When room permits, hyphenated-compound words may be divided between lines, but only following the hyphen." —the hyphen indicates the print hyphen. 

— §20.5 is not overriding that option. Using the term "symbols-sequences" includes anything preceded and followed by spaces, but especially computer material studied in Lesson 14, §14.7. But the division of hyphenated compound words —per BF §1.10.1—is an agency decision. The agency making decisions for the trial manuscript is the NFB on behalf of the Library of Congress/NLS.

2. The ISBN phrase on the title page. Can the phrase “Transcription of ISBN” be divided between lines?

— Lesson 19, §19.2a(1)[g] paraphrases in simple language what is more accurately defined in BF §2.3.6f(3-6). "

§19.2a(1)[g]:

"ISBN is placed on the line immediately following the copyright and reproduction notices preceded by the words Transcription of. Follow print punctuation. 

Example: Transcription of ISBN: 0-4583-6578-8

     Include both the 10- and 13-digit ISBNs on the braille title page if they occur in print. Braille the numbers on consecutive lines. Example:

Transcription of

     ISBN-10: 0-4583-6578-8

     ISBN-13: 654-0-4583-6578-8"

3. Dividing words between pages as in print. When the last word on the last line is divided, do we follow print or keep the whole word on one page or the next?

—In NLS Lesson 17, §17.1d it quotes from Braille Formats: "If in print a word is divided between pages, divide the word in braille as in print [BF 1.10.1].

Cindi

[claurent]

I would NOT combine the print page numbers.  If there are no paragraph breaks on a page, insert the illustration after the completion of a sentence.  Choose a logical place if possible (if there is something in the story that would relate to the illustration, place the illustration there).  If there is no truly logical place, just place it before the last complete sentence on the page.  Don't interrupt a sentence...but if you have no choice you CAN interrupt a paragraph.

Cindi

[claurent]

I apologize for the delay in answering.  I want to be sure I am giving correct information as relates to the literary course materials.

Cindi

[claurent]

I don't believe there are any rules covering your overlay process.  You would follow Formats rules for the text.  Here are a couple of suggestions for creating overlays.  Stagger the location on the pages so that all of the plastic is not at the same level on every page.  Round off the corners of each plastic application. Rounded corners make it more difficult to peel the plastic off the page.  Very important -- proofread carefully before actually sticking it on the page.

[claurent]

In double spaced material, for every blank line required by Braille Formats insert an additional blank line.   A cell 5 heading requires a blank line preceding it, so in double-spacing you would leave two blank lines before the heading.

[claurent]

By "book overlay" do you mean the book jacket?

If that is the case, there is no rule for transcribing a book jacket.  In my experience, the book jacket is not included in the transcription.  If you are required to include it, it belongs in the p-pages with material from the back cover, inside front cover, etc. with no print page number.  A tn would explain its location in print.

[claurent]

Using or not using a running head does not affect this issue.

BF does not clearly state this principle (which we are in the process of fixing).  The answer is Yes.  If something ends on line 24 or 25 of a braille page that requires a blank line following it, that blank line would appear at the top of the next braille page.

In Example 1 above, the body paragraph would begin on line 2 if no running head is used and on line 3 if a running head is used.

Same for Example 2.

Cindi

[claurent]

This information would not be placed on the title page.  The introduction is probably on one of the print pages, right?  The source information could go there.

Cindi

[claurent]

This information would not be placed on the title page.  The introduction is probably on one of the print pages, right?  The source information could go there.

Cindi

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