Lindy Walton
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Thank you for following up on this topic. Here is my long answer.
It is not a requirement for the reference symbol to be in the same code as its reference point. Depending on how you format this table, Nemeth may not be continuing after the referenced material. (That is how I was imagining it when I looked at the print.) I do agree with you, though, that it would be rather bulky to switch out of Nemeth, enter a UEB symbol, and switch back into Nemeth simply to avoid devising a symbol for the reference marker. However, in this case, you will not need to devise a symbol. Nemeth symbols already exist for the two in question (the section sign and the double bar).
The point being made in Rule 9 about UEB reference symbols not being used means UEB symbols cannot be used inside the switches. This applies to any braille construction, not just reference symbols. (A noted exception is icons.) There are other scenarios when one must terminate Nemeth in order to braille a UEB symbol, then switch back into Nemeth to continue; so this practice is allowed if that is your preference.
You will notice that the four reference symbols listed in Rule 9 of the Nemeth code (asterisk, single dagger, double dagger, and star) are the same exact constructions as their operation sign counterparts in Rule 20. These are not new symbols, they are just listed as possible reference signs. There is no reason you cannot go ahead and use the Nemeth section symbol and the Nemeth double bar symbol as reference symbols even though they are not listed as such in Rule 9.* Use (1256, 1256) for the double bar. (Dots 4, 6 do not hold special meaning.) Follow the spacing rules for symbols of reference which are stated in NC 9.3.
Since the section symbol and double bar symbol are existing Nemeth symbols, there is no need to explain their usage in a transcriber's note unless you feel it would be helpful for the reader to be prepared that they do not hold mathematical meaning in this case.
As you noted in the last paragraph of NC 9.1, if you are using the Nemeth symbol in the text, you must also use the Nemeth symbol in the note itself. This may require the addition of code switch indicators depending on what precedes and follows the reference symbol in the note.
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* I thought it would be funny to include a footnote to my commentary. The paragraph sign and the section signs as reference markers were removed from the updated code book because it was thought that this usage was obsolete. It looks like you have found an exception! I'm wondering what the copyright date is on this material?
Shellee,
What a find! This is indeed an unusual collection of reference marks. I think it would be best to transcribe as many of them in UEB as possible. Some of them will be transcribed in UEB already; for the others you can terminate Nemeth and then insert the UEB symbol. UEB has specific symbols for the dagger, double dagger, section sign, and paragraph sign. (See UEB page 20.) You would need to devise shape symbols for the star and the double vertical bar according to UEB 3.22.
Good luck. Let me know if you come upon further issues.
-Lindy
Interesting. Sig codes are not mathematical; do not apply the mathematical spacing rules mentioned in NC 10.6.1. Following the rules outlined in NC 10.2 regarding a non-mathematical series of numbers/letters, your examples will be transcribed in UEB, spaced as printed (unspaced).
-Lindy
Thank you. Your example shows the syllabicated word being divided between print pages, I assume as printed (following print) which is how I understand the rule. I think I misunderstood your advice "to keep the word as a whole on the page (and line) it began". The original question itself is confusing to me. Regardless, I will continue to follow print when a word is divided between print pages.
Hi Lucas.
The enlarged brackets can either be drawn (see CC Sample 10-15) or braille symbols can be used (see CC Examples 2-29 and 5-17). Your sample shows braille symbols for answer choice B. Since the bracketed structures are spatial arrangements, there is no need for a baseline indicator before Mg since it is on a different line. However, a baseline indicator *is needed before the opening enlarged bracket following the superscript 2+ because it is on the same line. There should be no space between the elements. See the attached BRF file.
- Lindy
In order to determine whether a variable needs an English-letter indicator you need to understand the Nemeth definition of "single letter" given in Rule 6.3.1 of the Nemeth code. If your text actually says "the formula is r m/s" then yes the letter r will need an ELI.
m/s will be transcribed in Nemeth, according to Rule 4.4.10 since the slash means "per". Rule 10.3 of the Nemeth Code states that the English-letter indicator is used before an abbreviation which consists of one letter. So m and s will each require an ELI.
Whether the variable r needs an ELI depends on the preceding material. Can you provide more context?
- Lindy
Chiming in...
Regarding where to place the code switch indicators, without more context it is not possible to understand which words are math (part of the chemical equation) and which are not.
If these two bulleted items are one after the other as shown in your image, and if all six words are to be transcribed inside the switches, then you can open Nemeth before the first bullet and terminate Nemeth after the last word. Bullets can appear in either UEB context or in Nemeth context without switching.
- Lindy
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
