July 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jennifer Dunnam, Chair
Braille Authority of North America
612-767-5658
chair@brailleauthority.org
At its face-to-face meeting in May, the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) approved a new publication, Provisional Guidance for Transcribing Foreign Language Materials in UEB. This publication is now available on the BANA website at http://www.brailleauthority.org/foreign-language-1.
The rules of Unified English Braille (UEB) allow a range of approaches for transcribing foreign language text. These methods result in braille that is appropriate for a variety of types of texts as well as for different groups of readers. Full details are given in Rules of Unified English Braille 2013, Sections 13 and 14.
The provisional guidelines for foreign language describe four general methods for foreign language transcription, which should be suitable to cover the majority of cases. The publication describes each of these methods and indicates the circumstances for which each is most appropriate. Method 1 and Method 3 in particular are recommended for particular situations.
The examples and some of the language used in this document are from the document by the United Kingdom Association for Accessible Formats (UKAAF), "Transcribing Foreign Language Material in UEB" and are used with permission.
BANA welcomes feedback from users of the methods described in this publication.
You can follow the work of BANA by signing up for BANA-Announce, a one-way email list that disseminates news and information. To join this list, send a blank email message to bana-announce-subscribe@brailleauthority.org and follow the directions in the confirmation email that will be sent in response. You can also follow BANA on Facebook and Twitter!
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.