Press Release
June 22, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jennifer Dunnam, Chair
Braille Authority of North America
612-767-5658
chair@brailleauthority.org
The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) has approved seven updates to the Nemeth Code. All are effective immediately. Details of the approved updates are posted on the Mathematics and Science page of the BANA website at http://www.brailleauthority.org/nemeth-code-0#updates/. The seven rulings are summarized below.
Nemeth Code Update to Orientation §4c: Technical and Non-Technical Texts
BANA recommends that a transcriber's note be inserted on the Transcriber's Notes page of any braille volume containing tactile graphics. This transcriber's note should indicate that the graphics were produced in accordance with the Guidelines for Tactile Graphics, 2010. Details of this update are available at the above link on the BANA website.
Nemeth Code Update to Rule IV §26: Use of the English Letter Indicator
BANA has ruled that in uncontracted braille, the English Letter Indicator is used or not used according to the rules of the Nemeth Code. Insert the phrase "in contracted and/or uncontracted braille" to the existing language on page 29 in the Nemeth Code book. The complete updated Rule IV §26 is provided at the above link on the BANA website.
Nemeth Code Update to Rule XVII §119: Function Names and Their Abbreviations
BANA has approved a correction to the 2007 Nemeth Update because a fraction indicator does not require an empty cell following it. This correction removes the space following the fraction in Example (7) on page 122 in the Nemeth Code book. Details of this update are available at the above link on the BANA website.
Nemeth Code Update to Rule XIX §134: Signs and Symbols of Operation
This update adds the Minus Followed by Minus Symbol. When two minus signs follow one another in an expression, a multipurpose indicator is inserted to indicate that they are not compounded vertically. BANA has approved the "minus followed by minus" symbol, -"- (3-6, 5, 3-6). Details of this update are available at the above link on the BANA website.
Nemeth Code Update to Rule XXII: Miscellaneous Signs and Symbols
This update adds the Per Mille Symbol, ‰, meaning "per thousand" to the Nemeth Code. This symbol is based on the percent sign (per hundred). Details of this update are available at the above link on the BANA website.
Nemeth Code Update to Rule XXIV §184: Spatial Arrangements
This update rules that in a system of equations preceded by an enlarged grouping sign, the numeric indicator is not required before the first numeric character in the equations. The following statement is added to the end of the paragraph on page 183 in the Nemeth Code book: "The numeric indicator is not required before the first numeric character in the expressions." Details of this update are available at the above link on the BANA website.
Nemeth Code Update to Rule VIII §54: Spacing with Abbreviations
BANA has ruled that for consistency in the presentation of abbreviations in technical material, when a system of equations is preceded by an enlarged grouping sign, the numeric indicator is not required before the first numeric character in the equations. The following statement is to be added to the end of the paragraph on page 183 of the Nemeth Code book: "If the abbreviation is preceded by a cancellation indicator and followed by a terminator, the required spaces come before the cancellation indicator and after the terminator." The complete update is available at the above link on the BANA website.
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The Board of BANA consists of appointed representatives from eighteen member organizations of braille producers, transcribers, teachers, and consumers.
The mission of the Braille Authority of North America is to assure literacy for tactile readers through the standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics.
The purpose of BANA is to promote and to facilitate the uses, teaching, and production of braille. Pursuant to this purpose, BANA will promulgate rules, make interpretations, and render opinions pertaining to braille codes and guidelines for the provisions of literary and technical materials and related forms and formats of embossed materials now in existence or to be developed in the future for the use of blind persons in North America. When appropriate, BANA shall accomplish these activities in international collaboration with countries using English braille. In exercising its function and authority, BANA shall consider the effects of its decisions on other existing braille codes and guidelines, forms and formats; ease of production by various methods; and acceptability to readers.