Languages and DBT
The Different Ways Languages are Used in DBT
Here are the ways that languages can be customized:
- The braille translation table selection
- The language of the user interface in the DBT program
- The language for the Help file in DBT
- The braille font used for a particular braille device and its rendering on the screen
- The system of braille formatting
Translation Tables in DBT 11.1
Each translation table is used to produce a different form of braille. Duxbury DBT can produce braille needed for many different languages and nations. "Contracted" means there are abbreviations for certain letter combinations. "Uncontracted" means that all letter combinations of inkprint are preserved in the braille.
Please note that there are actually two levels of language support for braille translation, a primary language, and a secondary language in the context of the first. For example, both "Spanish" entries in the European language list are designed for native speakers in countries where Spanish is the national language (primary language). If you are producing a textbook on Spanish to be used in the United States, however, the braille would be produced using the English/American table, with Spanish chosen as a secondary language.
DBT 11.1 divides the world into five regions to list the language tables in each one. The following choices are available in the Document, Translation Tables Menu:
The Five World Regions
| Western Hemisphere |
|---|
| Europe |
| Asia |
| Africa |
| Pacific |
Western Hemisphere
Europe
Asia
Africa
Pacific
 | English/Australian (pre-Unified) |
| English/Unified |
 | Esperanto |
| IPA Phonetic System |
Secondary Languages within English/American
Each primary language table has some secondary languages which can be used with it. The secondary languages listed below are available while the English/American table is in use. Use the secondary language to translate passages of the foreign language within English text. The English text (the primary language) is translated using the regular English/American rules.
| Dutch |
   | English -- Religious |
 | Finnish |
 | French |
 | German |
 | Italian |
 | Latin |
 | Maori |
  | Portuguese |
  | Kiswahili (Swahili) |
 | Spanish |
 | Swedish |
Information about secondary languages available in other tables can be found by pressing the F1 Help key when reviewing the Translation Table menu (found in the DBT Document Menu). That is, if the highlight is on "English/Australian", and then you press F1, you get help and a list of Secondary Languages for "English/Australian."
The Language of the User Interface in the DBT Program
The Language of the User Interface means the language of the menus, prompts, and error messages when one uses Duxbury DBT. At present, DBT has been localized to a total of 6 languages which are displayed when you boot up the DBT CD-ROM. When DBT first boots up, it uses the Regional setting in the Control Panel to decide what User Interface Language to start in. After that, you can change the User Interface Language in DBT's Global, Internationalization menu.
 | Danish |
| English |
| French |
| German |
|
|
Italian |
  | Korean |
 | Norwegian |
 | Polish |
| Portuguese |
| Portuguese (Brazil) |
 | Russian |
 | Spanish |
 | Swedish |
The Language for the Help File in DBT
Using Google Translate and an internet connection, the DBT Help material is translated into many languages. While machine translation is not ideal, it does allow for the translation of fast changing material. Link to the Internet Edition of the DBT Help.
The Braille Font Used
DBT sends ASCII characters to drive different braille devices. Different devices and/or different regions use different systems to associate braille characters with ASCII characters. This is an area that is quite technical, and frustrating if it is not set up properly. However, virtually all braille devices made can work with the North American system, which is the default. Or the user can select another system in the Global, Internationalization menu.
DBT uses a file called display.cpt to link braille symbols with ASCII characters. To solve problems that cannot be handled
using the existing choices, this table can be edited. Users who successfully modify this table for additional braille devices
are request to email it to Duxbury systems so that others can also have access to additional braille device set-ups.
The System of Braille Formatting
Duxbury DBT contains a sophisticated and powerful suite of braille formatting commands derived from the requirements of American, British, French, and other braille formats. Duxbury Systems is working to make sure that its features meet the needs of braille around the world. No matter what braille system you work in, we believe there is a way to use DBT's commands to produce your desired format. If you have concerns that you do not think are being addressed in DBT, please contact Duxbury Systems. If possible, please, also supply an English translation of the relevant braille codebook sections to assist us in understanding your concerns.
The Duxbury Systems Website
Thanks to Google Translate, this website has been "customized" for many different languages. We know that machine translation is not the best approach. But machine translation keeps up with the changes we make to this website.
