Hebrew, American Flag of the United States of AmericaFlag of Israel

Table Designator

heb-usa

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.

Functional Summary

The Hebrew/American (Uncontracted) tables support print-to-braille translation of Hebrew-language and English-language literary text, following the conventions used by the Jewish Braille Institute of America (JBI) in New York City, New York. The print-to-braille translation supports the production of uncontracted Hebrew braille and contracted or uncontracted English braille following American standards.

These tables support some secondary languages as well.

The American Computer Braille Code (CBC) is also supported.

When you view material with Hebrew

DBT shows the Hebrew characters in print. Do not attempt to edit print Hebrew text inside DBT.

Hebrew Variations Supported

The Hebrew/American translation tables support a number of variations to determine which signs are shown in braille.

To issue a command for one of these variations, go to the Codes list (hot key F5). Select vrn~ from the list, and type the appropriate parameters in the Code Parameters field. In coded view, the command appears as [vrn~xxx], where xxx shows what you entered in the Code Parameters field. You may switch from one of these variations to another within the same document. These variations determine whether vowels, dagesh marks, and sheva marks in the print are to be shown in Braille. These three settings are independent of each other for the most part, with the exception that if you are suppressing vowels, then the print-to-braille translator will also suppress the sheva, regardless of the variation that you set for the sheva.

[vrn~uhv] - use Hebrew vowels. This is the default setting with use of the Hebrew/American translation tables.

[vrn~shv]- suppress Hebrew vowels - even if the print original includes vowel signs, the braille does not show them.

[vrn~shd]- suppress Hebrew dagesh; this is the default setting with use of the Hebrew/American translation tables.

[vrn~uhd] - use Hebrew dagesh.

[vrn~shs]- suppress Hebrew sheva. This is the default setting with use of the Hebrew/American translation tables.

[vrn~uhs] - use Hebrew sheva.

Secondary Languages Supported

A document being translated with the Hebrew/American translation tables translates both Hebrew and English as primary languages. It may also include a number of secondary languages.

To issue a language-switching command, go to the Codes list (hot key F5), select lng~ from the list, and enter the appropriate parameters in the Code Parameters field. In coded view, the command appears as [lng~xxx], where xxx shows what you entered in the Code Parameters field.

[lng~he] or [lng~] - Hebrew; this is the default setting with the Hebrew/American) translation tables.

[lng~en] or [lng~eng] - English. This follows American conventions.

[lng~de] or [lng~deu] - German.

[lng~es] or [lng~esp] - Spanish.

[lng~fr] or [lng~fra] - French.

[lng~it] or [lng~ita] - Italian.

[lng~la] or [lng~lat] - Latin.

[lng~mao] or [lng~mi] - Maori.

Note that in addition to the above provisions of the Hebrew (American) table itself, it is also possible to switch to any of the available translation tables listed in DBT. (See the [lnb~...] code below.)

Technical Braille Codes Supported

The Computer Braille Code, as in the English/American tables, 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.

Supported DBT Translation Codes

The following DBT translation codes are available when using the Hebrew (American) 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]

[atxN]

[cz]

[g1] switches to "grade 1" (uncontracted) braille. This does not affect the Hebrew text, which is uncontracted anyway, but does affect any embedded English text.

[g2] switches to "grade 2" (contracted) braille. This is the normal mode,

but actually applies only to any embedded English text as the Hebrew text is always uncontracted.

[in] is equivalent to [g1]

[lnb]

[lnb~...] (for switching to another base [primary] language table)

[lng~...] see "Secondary Languages" above.

[tx] resumes normal translation, ending "direct braille."

[vrn~...] see "Hebrew Variations Supported" above.

Codes for computer notation are generally the same as for the English/American tables.

References, History and Credits

These tables were developed in April 2001 by Duxbury Systems, Inc., based on information provided by the Jewish Braille Institute of America (JBI), in New York, New York.

These tables replace the older Hebrew translation tables developed for DBT as used with the Hebrew version of WordPerfect 5.1.

(Documentation reviewed: July 2010.)