MANDARIN
TABLE DESIGNATOR
cmn
(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.)
FUNCTIONAL SUMMARY
The Mandarin tables support print-to-braille translation of Mandarin-language literary text into uncontracted Mandarin braille.
Uncontracted English is also supported. Technical (mathematics and computer) notation is generally transcribed as in Unified English Braille (UEB).
REFERENCES, HISTORY AND CREDITS
Mandarin braille is based on the Pinyin Romanization. When a Mandarin Microsoft Word file is imported into DBT, it is converted into Pinyin Romanization (see note below). The Microsoft Word importer into Pinyin Romanization is based on information from the Unihan project. The Unihan project does not appear to offer any information as to who provided the data for the Pinyin Romanization for each Unicode Chinese character. Duxbury Systems would like to offer their thanks to whoever did this work.
For guidance on how Pinyin is written (especially for the rules about the proper placement of accent marks) we used the Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PinyinThis informaton guided Duxbury Systems into allowing the Microsoft Word into DBT file importer to convert Chinese characters into standard Pinyin with appropriately placed tone marks (shown as accents on some of the vowels).
For information about how to turn Pinyin Romanization into braille, we used 4 different sources:
- World Braille Usage (China page)
- The article How is Chinese written in braille? by Vivian Alridge found at www.braille.ch/pschin-e.htm
- The Wikipedia article on Chinese Braille at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_braille
- A faxed one page guide prepared by Judy Bierma of Canada
Mandarin uses a common codespace in the Unicode for the "Chinese characters". Duxbury DBT 11.1 handles this by having three separate tables that assist in the file importation from Microsoft Word. Go to Global Menu, Word Importer. There is a new selection for "Default language for Han (Chinese) script". The four choices are Mandarin, Cantonese (Yue), Korean, and Japanese. Make sure you select Mandarin before importing any files.
(Documentation reviewed July 2010)
Duxbury DBT: Braille Translation in Many Languages.
