fil
(The initial translation table for a translation is determined by the selected template, and may be changed using the Document / Translation Tables menu. Using those menus does not involve explicit use of the table designator. However, in cases where it is necessary to switch to a different translation table partway through a file, the designator for the table being switched to is required; see the general description of the [lnb~...]command for further details.)
The Filipino tables support print-to-braille translation of Filipino-language literary text into uncontracted Filipino braille.
There are no special requirements or limitations.
English, in grade 1 (uncontracted) only, is supported as a secondary language.
Computer Braille Code (CBC), as defined by the Braille Authority of North America, is supported.
[/] may be embedded within letter-groups that would normally be contracted, to prevent the contraction.
[ab] is equivalent to [g2]
[cap-invert]
[cap-normal]
[cb-&]
[cb-de]
[cb-ds]
[cb-ee]
[cb-es]
[cb-ne]
[cb-ns]
[cb-se]
[cb-ss]
[cb-t1]
[cb-t2]
[cb-ue]
[cb-us]
[cb]
[cbi]
[cbn]
[cs-off]
[cs]
[cz] switches to "direct braille," wherein braille is directly represented using the North American ASCII-braille code. (This is sometimes called "no-translate" or "computer grade 0")
[fte~b]
[fte~i]
[fte~u]
[fts~b]
[fts~i]
[fts~u]
[g1] switches to "grade 1" (uncontracted) braille. This affects the Filipino text, and also any embedded English text.
[g2] switches to "grade 2" (contracted) braille. This is the normal mode, and to any embedded English text as well as the Filipino text.
[lnb~...] (for switching to another base [primary] language table)
[lng~en] switches to English language.
[lng~fr] switches to French language.
[lng] switches back to Filipino language.
[tx] resumes normal translation, ending "direct braille."
[txi]
[txn]
The table is designed to work with the following groups of characters:
All ASCII printable characters
Accented letters and punctuation marks typical of French, German, Italian, and Spanish
British pound sign (£)
The above is a general guide only (see "General Notes" section at the beginning of this document).
Filipino has a complex braille contraction system roughly parallel to the contracted English. Our main source of information is "Instruction Manual for Filipino Braille Transcribing", 1st Edition, 2007 which we have as a Microsoft Word file. This book is Prepared By the Department of Education, Philippines, Philippine Printing House for the Blind, and Resources for the Blind, Inc.
To start our work on the Filipino Braille Translator in Duxbury DBT, we are grateful for the help we have obtained from Compass Braille of the United Kingdom, and from Resources for the Blind, Inc.
(Documentation reviewed June 2010)