Section 3
Transcriber's Notes

3.1   Fundamentals
3.2   Format
3.3   Placement of Transcriber's Notes
3.4   Technical Codes
3.5   Sample

3.1         Fundamentals

3.1.1       Any wording not shown in the print text and inserted by the transcriber is treated as a transcriber's note. The notes should be as brief as possible, with appropriate grade-level vocabulary, and grammatically correct when full sentences are used. Sentence structure and word choice are dictated by the grade level of the material. Use of full sentences is not necessary in all transcriber's notes.

Changes from print to braille also are explained in a transcriber's note.

3.1.2       Sample transcriber's notes used throughout these guidelines are suggestions which should be modified appropriately for the circumstances and reading level of the book.

3.1.3       Guidelines from other more technical codes, such as Tactile Graphics, may have specialized requirements.

3.1.4       Most transcriber's notes are in 7-5 or embedded within the text. Some may include other formatting, e.g., headings and lists for keys, or column heading layout for various table formats. Refer to specific sections in these guidelines for the proper way to format transcriber's notes for other situations, e.g., headings, lists, tables, poetry, etc.

See Section 2, Transcriber Pages and Front Matter, §2.6, Transcriber's Notes Page.

3.1.5       A Braille Reader's Perspective

Transcriber's notes provide information to the reader that is not readily apparent by reading the text alone. Use common sense when deciding what is needed in the transcriber's note, and use the same vocabulary level as the text to maintain the reading level of the text.

3.2         Format

3.2.1       As a general rule, description of the print format is not required and explanation of the braille format is as brief and concise as possible. The transcriber's note should be positive and state what the format is, rather than what it is not.

a.  The unspaced transcriber's note indicator ,' (6, 3) begins and ends a transcriber's note, regardless of the number of paragraphs it may contain.

b.  A transcriber's note encompasses all information inserted by the transcriber. This note may contain multiple notes and paragraphs before it is closed.

c.  Do not insert blank lines before or after a transcriber's note unless required by other formats, e.g., headings, lists, poetry, etc.

d.  Page references in transcriber's notes reference print page numbers, e.g., page a37. Items on transcriber-generated and front matter braille pages are identified by the braille page number, e.g., page t3.

3.2.2       Transcriber's Notes. A standard transcriber's note is in 7-5 and provides information to the reader before the affected text.

Example 3-1: Standard Transcriber's Note

Sentence with a multiplication symbol

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀,',! symbol = multiplic,n is @*4,'
,i h tr\# ) multiplic,n ta#s1 especi,y !
#i @*'s4

3.2.3       Embedded Transcriber's Notes. An embedded transcriber's note is seven words or fewer and may be shown within the text or standing alone, e.g., used as a heading.

Example 3-2: Embedded Transcriber's Note

Right arrow symbol used between two phrases

,electrical 5]gy $33o ,'"r >r[,' li<t &
⠀⠀h1t

See Sample 3-1: Headings Added to Matching Exercise on page 3-5.

3.3         Placement of Transcriber's Notes

3.3.1       Symbols widely scattered throughout the text are explained at the point of use. Symbols used more often, or in closer context, are listed on the Special Symbols page or in a transcriber's note at the point of use.

3.3.2       Identifications of two or more abbreviations or symbols are listed in 1-3, preceded and followed by a blank line. The closing transcriber's note indicator follows the last item.

Example 3-3: Transcriber's Note with List of Special Symbols

List of words showing analogy

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀,',analogy symbo
ls us$3

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
"1 7#e1 #b7 8is to0
;2 7#ef1 #bc7 8z0,'
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀,? li/ %[s "s ways ^ws c 2 relat$4
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
hide "1 3c1l ;2 close "1 %ut
r\< "1 smoo? ;2 p]si/ "1 quit
page "1 book ;2 tree "1 =e/

3.3.3       Continuity. Whenever narrative text is interrupted by a full print page or more of material, e.g., charts, graphs, boxed, or columned information, insert a transcriber's note at the end of the narrative text, before the print page change indicator. Insert the continuation transcriber's note before the narrative text continues (frequently on a new print page after the page change indicator). Samples:

Text continues on page 834.

Text continued from page b832.

Example 3-4: Continuation Transcriber's Note

Text interrupted by a page of text

,?ird ,plebeian4 ,let hm 2 ,caes>4
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀,',text 3t9ues on page #hcd4,'
------------------------------------#hcc
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀,,lit]ature ,,& ,,gov]n;t
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀,rule 0! ,ri*
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀,roman politics (t5 resem#d a '''
⠀⠀'''
------------------------------------#hcd
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀,',text 3t9u$ f page b#hcb4,'

3.4         Technical Codes

3.4.1       Include a comment on the Transcriber's Notes page when Nemeth Code, Computer Code, or other technical notation is used in the transcription. Sample:

Mathematical formulas are transcribed according to The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation, 1972 Revision, 2007-2011 Updates.

3.4.2       List the technical symbols on the Special Symbols page.

3.5         Sample

Sample 3-1: Headings Added to Matching Exercise, page 3-5