TAGALOG Flag of The Philippines

Table Designator

tgl

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 Tagalog tables support print-to-braille translation of Tagalog-language literary text into contracted and uncontracted Tagalog braille.

Braille to Print (Back-translation)

Braille-to-print translation is supported for this language. However, braille-to-print translation may not be perfect, therefore beware that errors can occur. If you find errors or have suggestions, please send both the *.dxb and *.dxp files along with an explanation to: languages@duxsys.com. Please be sure to include sample files!

Special Requirements and Limitations

There are no special requirements or limitations.

Secondary Languages Supported

English, in grade 1 (uncontracted) only, is supported as a secondary language.

Technical Braille Codes Supported

Computer Braille Code (CBC), as defined by the Braille Authority of North America, is supported.

Supported DBT Translation Codes

[/] may be embedded within letter-groups that would normally be contracted, to prevent the contraction.

[ab] is equivalent to [g2]

[cap-invert]

[cap-normal]

[cb-&]

[cb-de]

[cb-ds]

[cb-ee]

[cb-es]

[cb-ne]

[cb-ns]

[cb-se]

[cb-ss]

[cb-t1]

[cb-t2]

[cb-ue]

[cb-us]

[cb]

[cbi]

[cbn]

[cs-off]

[cs]

[cz] switches to "direct braille," wherein braille is directly represented using the North American ASCII-braille code. (This is sometimes called "no-translate" or "computer grade 0")

[fte~b]

[fte~i]

[fte~u]

[fts~b]

[fts~i]

[fts~u]

[g1] switches to "grade 1" (uncontracted) braille. This affects the Tagalog text, and also any embedded English text.

[g2] switches to "grade 2" (contracted) braille. This is the normal mode, and to any embedded English text as well as the Tagalog text.

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

[lng~en] switches to English language.

[lng~fr] switches to French language.

[lng] switches back to Tagalog language.

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

[txi]

[txn]

Characters Supported

The table is designed to work with the following groups of characters:

All ASCII printable characters

Accented letters and punctuation marks typical of French, German, Italian, and Spanish

British pound sign (£)

The above is a general guide only (see "General Notes" section at the beginning of this document).

References, History and Credits

Tagalog has a complex braille contraction system roughly parallel to the contracted English. Our main source of information is "Instruction Manual for Filipino Braille Transcribing", 1st Edition, 2007 which we have as a Microsoft Word file. This book is Prepared By the Department of Education, Philippines, Philippine Printing House for the Blind, and Resources for the Blind, Inc.

To start our work on the Filipino Braille Translator in Duxbury DBT, we are grateful for the help we have obtained from Compass Braille of the United Kingdom, and from Resources for the Blind, Inc.

(Documentation reviewed June 2010)