Lesson 1

The Braille Alphabet and Numbers

1.1 In General
Braille is a system for tactile reading and writing. It uses characters
formed by combinations of six embossed dots that are arranged within
the braille cell in two vertical columns of three dots each. A simple braille
character is formed by one or more of these dots, and it occupies a full
cell or space.
For convenience, the dots of the braille cell are referred to by number
and correspond to the keys on a braillewriter.

Braillewriter
Braille Cell

1   4 UUU [[[[]]]] UUU

2   5 3 2 1 4 5 6
3   6

1.2 Methods of Braille Transcription

There are three basic methods of braille transcription: 1) braille
transcription software on a computer; 2) manual braille typewriter
(braillewriter); and 3) slate and stylus.
For easier duplication and distribution of materials, transcribers
generally use computers for their work, either by typing the material
using six keys corresponding to the braille cell as shown above, or (after
being thoroughly trained in the reading and writing of braille) with
assistance from software that translates from print to braille. Material
transcribed using a computer may be either embossed onto paper or
provided in electronic format so that it can be read using an electronic
refreshable braille display.
The braillewriter uses six keys corresponding to the braille cell as
shown above.
The use of the slate and stylus is equivalent to writing with a pen or
pencil. Although it was once a primary method of transcribing braille, the
slate and stylus cannot allow for the speed and ease of distribution

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 necessary in modern braille production and is therefore not generally a
practical tool for this purpose unless no other means are available.

1.3 The First Ten Letters of the Alphabet

The first ten letters of the alphabet are formed by using the upper and
middle dots of the cell, and they are the foundation of the braille system.
Memorize the following letters by their dot numbers and configurations.

a b c d e f g h i j
1

a b c d e f G h i j
1
2
1 4 1 4
5
1
5
1
2
4 1
2
4
5
1
2 5 2
4
2
4
5

Drill 1

Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the first ten letters of the alphabet
by brailling the following words. Reading across, start each line in the
first cell. Leave one blank cell (space) between words. Your work on this
and all subsequent drills should not be submitted to the instructor for
correction. Instead, check the accuracy of your work by comparing it
with the correct braille form in the accompanying supplement, Drills
Reproduced in Braille.

acid acacia badge beige babe cage cicada

deface dice ebb egg fad fief gag gage

hag hajji hide hie id if idea jag jade

1.4 The Second Ten Letters of the Alphabet

The second ten letters of the alphabet are formed by adding dot 3 to
each of the first ten. Thus, k is formed by adding dot 3 to a, l by adding
dot 3 to b, and so on.

a b c d e f g h i j

a b c d e f g h i j

k l m n o p q r s t

k l m n o p q r s t

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 Drill 2

Practice the letters learned by brailling the words in the following drill.

kick kneel lair llama manor melon mammal

noise notice orange orphan popcorn pope

possessor qoph rapport rascal sassafras

tattletale tragic trio tort ticket tide

1.5 The Last Six Letters of the Alphabet

The letters u, v, x, y, and z are formed by adding dots 3 and 6 to the
first five letters. Thus, u is formed by adding dots 3 and 6 to a, and so
on. The letter w, dots 2456 (w), does not fit into this pattern because
Louis Braille devised the braille system in France in the mid-19th
century, and the French alphabet did not then contain the letter w.

a b c d e f g h i j

a b c d e f g h i j

k l m n o p q r s t

k l m n o p q r s t

u v w x y z

u v w x Y z    

Drill 3

When you have learned the final six letters of the alphabet, braille the
following words for practice.

quiz ukulele ultimatum vacillate vaguely

wigwag wield weird xylem xebec yolk yew

zebra zombie zoological zygoma ooze maze

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1.6 Numbers [UEB §6]
There are no special braille symbols for cardinal numbers. Instead, the
numbers 1 through 0 are expressed by the letters a through j preceded
by the numeric indicator, dots 3456 (#).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

#a #b #c #d #e #f #g #h #i

10 14 59 87 103 965

#aj #ad #ei #hg #ajc #ife

Drill 4
Practice numbers by brailling the following drill. Braille the numbers
across the page as they appear in print. Leave one blank cell between
each set of numbers.

23 104 9 58 77
01 64 956 8 323
11 549 476 400 80

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 READING PRACTICE
Read the following phrases and write them out in longhand. Do not
submit this work to your instructor. Compare your work with the print
version in Appendix A.

movie tickets #ajj bees buzz

safe bet twelve dolls
ants make anthills #f girls jump
blue umbrella rope

no vacancy #h kettledrums
boom
walnut pancakes
all alike
probably nice
cute quadruplets
#b yule logs
flea bite
zigzag road
#fd obsolete
spicy salami
autos
club bylaws
idiotic idea
torn cuff
beetles scurry
free giveaway
add two plus two
#ce crazy coyotes
aerial view
wise old man
#gi lively ladies

EXERCISE
Prepare the following exercise and submit it to the instructor for
correction. Read down the columns. Starting on line 1, begin each phrase
in the first cell of a new braille line. Do not skip lines; you should have 25

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phrases on each page. If you are using a braillewriter, be sure that you
position every page correctly by pushing down on the line-space key
(farthest key to the left) one time before you start to braille. Add your
name in braille at the end of the exercise or as your teacher directs.
(Correspondence students: If you are sending your lessons via email,
include your name in the subject line of your email along with the lesson
number. For the convenience of our braille-reading instructors and non-
braille-reading clerical staff, if you are submitting your lessons on paper,
add your name in braille and print at the end of each exercise.)

jazz tunes olives or onions xiphoid process

he prays daily vivid pictures quizzes puzzle me

feigns surprise icicles drip 3 labor battalions

a frisky poodle dull adjectives unbelievably calm

fidgety filly bridle a pony home sweet home

59 raw recruits wise philosophy fireflies flit

quixotic exploits 126 wet pets brass knuckles

electric elevator six textbooks mimic a madman

queue up lovely velvet angry gangs

64 zany zebras yuletide joy 12 pretty rosebuds

build a wigwam pretty anemone prompt appraisal

9 gigantic piranhas true blue bacon smells salty

attractive tie blood circulates 10 nocturnal birds

company vehicles mutual respect extra axe

wry wit 80 hot dogs big felt yurt

jubilant hallelujahs a brook murmurs 78 brass bassoons

gooseneck lamp weird spectacle

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