Unit 16 Shapes and Omissions
Shapes
A shape in print can be used to represent its geometric form and sometimes omissions. The shape used in print should be used in braille. The shape indicator (dots (1-2-4-6) is followed by a number or symbol that represents that shape and the spacing used in print is followed.
Shape Indicator | Filled Shape Indicator |
⠫ | ⠸⠫ |
Square | Circle | Triangle |
⠼⠙ | ⠿ | ⠼⠉ |
Shape | Filled Shape | |
Square | ⠫⠼⠙ | ⠸⠫⠼⠙ |
Circle | ⠫⠿ | ⠸⠫⠿ |
Triangle | ⠫⠼⠉ | ⠸⠫⠼⠉ |
Shape Terminator | ⠱ | ⠱ |
Since the shape indicator also has a Grade 2 meaning, a Grade 1 indicator must be used if the symbol can be misinterpreted as a contraction.
Examples:
⠰⠫⠼⠉⠀⠠⠠⠭⠽⠵
⠼⠙⠐⠖⠼⠙⠀⠐⠶⠀⠰⠫⠼⠙
The Grade 1 indicator is used because the shape indicator could be read as (ed).
Terminator
The shape terminator (dots 1-5-6) is required when the shape is not followed by a space.
Examples:
⠰⠫⠼⠉⠱⠠⠠⠭⠽⠵
⠼⠙⠫⠿⠱⠼⠙⠀⠐⠶⠀⠼⠓
The Grade 1 indicator is not used because the problem is already in number mode (also placing it in Grade 1 mode).
Filled Shape Indicator
The filled shape indicator does not require a Grade 1 indicator because it has no Grade 2 meaning.
Example:
⠸⠫⠼⠉⠱⠠⠠⠭⠽⠵
Signs of Omission
These symbols are also used as signs of omission and should follow print spacing.
Underscore blank | ⠨⠤ |
Stand-alone question mark | ⠰⠦ |
Long dash | ⠐⠠⠤ |
Notice that the stand-alone question mark is preceded by a Grade 1 indicator or it could be read as (his) or another punctuation sign.
Examples:
2+2 = ?
⠼⠃⠐⠖⠼⠃⠀⠐⠶⠀⠰⠦
2+_ = 4
⠼⠃⠐⠖⠨⠤⠀⠐⠶⠀⠼⠙
Drop d—d – just kidding.
⠠⠙⠗⠕⠏⠀⠙⠐⠠⠤⠙⠀⠠⠤⠀⠨⠂⠚⠀⠨⠂⠅⠊⠙⠙⠬⠲
Fill in the blank:
The weather is _ outside.
⠠⠮⠀⠺⠂⠮⠗⠀⠊⠎⠀⠨⠤⠀⠳⠞⠎⠊⠙⠑⠲