nde
This is the technical description of a DBT Translation table. If you want more general information about languages and template choices, please see the list of templates.
Initially, the language table for braille translation is determined by the selected template, and may be changed using the Document / Translation Tables menu. Using those menus does not require use of the table designator. However, to switch to a different translation table partway through a file, one must enter a DBT code and the designator for the table to switch to. For switching secondary languages within a base language table, see the [lng~X] command. For switching from one base language to another, see the [lnb~...] command.
The Ndebele tables support print-to-braille translation of Ndebele-language literary text in contracted or uncontracted braille as defined for that language. The American Computer Braille Code (CBC) is also supported.
There are no special requirements and limitations.
No secondary languages are supported.
While no "secondary languages" are supported within the Ndebele table itself, it is possible to switch to any of the available translation tables listed in DBT. (See the [lnb~...] code below.)
Computer Braille Code (CBC), as defined by the Braille Authority of North America, is supported.
In addition, it is possible to switch to any of the available translation tables listed in DBT (see the [lnb~...]code below), many of which do support various technical codes, such as for mathematics or computer notation, or which support “unified” treatment of technical notation as well as literary text in the base language associated with the table.
The following DBT translation codes are available when using the Ndebele table. Any other translation codes used will be ignored, or indeed may cause unexpected results. If using an alternative translation table, i.e when switching to another base language table by means of the[lnb~...] code, please refer to the relevant topic and available codes for that table.
[/] 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]
[fts~b]
[fts~i]
[g1] switches to "grade 1" (uncontracted) braille.
[g2] switches to "grade 2" (contracted) braille.
[in] is equivalent to [g1]
[lnb]
[lnb~...] (for switching to another base [primary] language table)
[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
All forms of letters and punctuation marks typical of the Ndebele language
British pound sign (£)
The above is a general guide only (see "General Notes" section at the beginning of this document).
These tables were developed from October 1999 by the Braille Consultancy of South Africa, working from earlier sample tables provided by Duxbury Systems, Inc. They are presently maintained mainly by Mr. Christo de Klerk with the help of Mr. Jan Bam, and with occasional assistance from Duxbury.
(Documentation reviewed: July 2010.)