Korean

There is only one DBT template for Korean: Korean - Basic.

For the details about the DBT translator used by Korean: click here.

Contracted Braille

Korean is usually produced in contracted braille. This means that words are not produced in braille on a one-for-one basis. There are abbreviations or contractions in the text. If you have questions about how braille is produced, please contact a member of the relevant braille authority.

Producing this language in uncontracted braille is also quite easy in DBT. Before translation into braille, place the cursor at the top of the document and use the Grade 1 command (Alt+1). When the document is translated, the braille will be uncontracted.

Non-Roman Script

Korean is written in a script other than the Roman alphabet. This can occasionally cause problems when importing files to DBT. The best result is usually achieved by importing files from Microsoft Word or Open Office that are written in Unicode fonts. You can contact Duxbury Systems if you have file that does not import properly into DBT. Please send the original inkprint file with your request, not a screen shot of the DBT screen.

Korean is written in Hangul characters. Each character is made up of three (sometimes two) elements. When a Korean file is imported into DBT, the screen display shows each of these elements as if it were a separate character. This display is not at all suited for reading the Korean text. The braille translation, however, is correct.

Duxbury Systems regrets the difficulty of reading and editing the inkprint screen in DBT.

Han Script Issues

Korean uses Han (Chinese) characters. DBT accepts Han characters through the file import process. The first step is to create an MS-Word file or an Open Office file with Han characters. Next, import the file into DBT. Note that you cannot clipboard Han characters directly into DBT.

Normally, the type of Han character conversion to do is automatically determined by your template.

However, if you wish to override your template, DBT provides a menu that lets you override the automatic choice. Go to the Global Menu, and select Import Options. There is a set of radio button controls that looks like this.

Default language for Han (Chinese) script:

• Pinyin (Mandarin)
  
• Cantonese (Yue)
  
• Japanese
• Korean
• Zhuyin (Mandarin)

Directly above this choice is a checkbox which says, "Choose Han script based on template selected for import." You must uncheck that box for the choice selected in this dialog to take precedence. Otherwise your template's automatic choice will remain in effect regardless of the choice made here.

Note, also, that using this menu may cause errors if you switch languages without returning to it to update your selection.