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World Braille Usage

Third Edition

Perkins
International Council on English Braille
National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress
UNESCO

Washington, D.C.
2013

Published by
Perkins
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
International Council on English Braille
c/o CNIB
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M4G 3E8
and
National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped,
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., USA

Copyright 1954, 1990 by UNESCO. Used by permission 2013.

Printed in the United States by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped, Library of Congress, 2013

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data


World braille usage. Third edition.
page cm
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-8444-9564-4
1. Braille. 2. BlindPrinting and writing systems. I. Perkins School for the Blind.
II. International Council on English Braille. III. Library of Congress. National Library
Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
HV1669.W67 2013
411--dc23

2013013833

Contents
Foreword to the Third Edition .................................................................................................. viii
Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... x
The International Phonetic Alphabet .......................................................................................... xi
References............................................................................................................................. xi
IPA Braille Charts (IPA Revised to 2005) .............................................................................. xii
Introduction to Country Listings ............................................................................................... xvi
Braille Usage by Country ........................................................................................................... 1
Albania ................................................................................................................................... 1
Algeria .................................................................................................................................... 1
Andorra .................................................................................................................................. 1
Antigua and Barbuda ............................................................................................................. 2
Argentina................................................................................................................................ 2
Armenia.................................................................................................................................. 3
Australia ................................................................................................................................. 5
Austria .................................................................................................................................... 6
Azerbaijan .............................................................................................................................. 7
Bahamas ................................................................................................................................ 8
Bahrain, Kingdom of............................................................................................................... 8
Bangladesh ............................................................................................................................ 9
Barbados.............................................................................................................................. 11
Belarus ................................................................................................................................. 12
Belgium ................................................................................................................................ 13
Bhutan.................................................................................................................................. 14
Bolivia .................................................................................................................................. 16
Bosnia and Herzegovina ...................................................................................................... 16
Brazil .................................................................................................................................... 17
Bulgaria ................................................................................................................................ 18
Cambodia............................................................................................................................. 19
Cameroon ............................................................................................................................ 22
Canada ................................................................................................................................ 22
Chile ..................................................................................................................................... 23
China.................................................................................................................................... 24
Colombia .............................................................................................................................. 24
Congo, Democratic Republic of the ..................................................................................... 25
Costa Rica ........................................................................................................................... 25
Croatia ................................................................................................................................. 26
iii

Cuba .................................................................................................................................... 28
Cyprus.................................................................................................................................. 28
Czech Republic .................................................................................................................... 29
Denmark .............................................................................................................................. 30
Dominica .............................................................................................................................. 33
Dominican Republic ............................................................................................................. 33
Ecuador................................................................................................................................ 34
Egypt .................................................................................................................................... 34
El Salvador........................................................................................................................... 35
Estonia ................................................................................................................................. 36
Ethiopia ................................................................................................................................ 37
Finland ................................................................................................................................. 42
France .................................................................................................................................. 43
Gambia ................................................................................................................................ 44
Georgia ................................................................................................................................ 45
Germany .............................................................................................................................. 46
Ghana .................................................................................................................................. 47
Greece ................................................................................................................................. 48
Grenada ............................................................................................................................... 49
Guatemala ........................................................................................................................... 49
Haiti ...................................................................................................................................... 50
Honduras ............................................................................................................................. 51
Hong Kong ........................................................................................................................... 52
Hungary ............................................................................................................................... 52
Iceland ................................................................................................................................. 53
India ..................................................................................................................................... 55
Indonesia ............................................................................................................................. 70
Iran ....................................................................................................................................... 71
Ireland .................................................................................................................................. 73
Israel .................................................................................................................................... 74
Italy ...................................................................................................................................... 76
Jamaica................................................................................................................................ 76
Japan ................................................................................................................................... 77
Jordan .................................................................................................................................. 77
Kazakhstan .......................................................................................................................... 78
Kenya ................................................................................................................................... 79
Kuwait .................................................................................................................................. 79
iv

Kyrgyzstan ........................................................................................................................... 80
Laos (Lao Peoples Democratic Republic) ........................................................................... 81
Latvia ................................................................................................................................... 83
Lebanon ............................................................................................................................... 85
Liberia .................................................................................................................................. 85
Libya .................................................................................................................................... 85
Lithuania .............................................................................................................................. 86
Luxembourg ......................................................................................................................... 87
Macedonia ........................................................................................................................... 89
Madagascar ......................................................................................................................... 90
Malaysia ............................................................................................................................... 91
Malta .................................................................................................................................... 92
Mauritania ............................................................................................................................ 93
Mauritius .............................................................................................................................. 93
Mexico.................................................................................................................................. 93
Moldova ............................................................................................................................... 94
Mongolia .............................................................................................................................. 94
Morocco ............................................................................................................................... 95
Myanmar, Republic of the Union of (also called Burma) ...................................................... 95
Nepal.................................................................................................................................... 96
Netherlands.......................................................................................................................... 97
New Zealand ........................................................................................................................ 98
Nicaragua............................................................................................................................. 99
Nigeria.................................................................................................................................. 99
Norway ............................................................................................................................... 101
Oman ................................................................................................................................. 103
Pakistan ............................................................................................................................. 103
Panama.............................................................................................................................. 105
Papua New Guinea ............................................................................................................ 106
Paraguay............................................................................................................................ 108
Peru ................................................................................................................................... 109
Philippines.......................................................................................................................... 109
Poland ................................................................................................................................ 113
Portugal.............................................................................................................................. 115
Qatar .................................................................................................................................. 115
Romania............................................................................................................................. 116
Russia (Russian Federation).............................................................................................. 116
v

Saint Kitts and Nevis .......................................................................................................... 116


Saint Lucia ......................................................................................................................... 117
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ..................................................................................... 117
Samoa................................................................................................................................ 118
Saudi Arabia ...................................................................................................................... 119
Serbia................................................................................................................................. 119
Seychelles.......................................................................................................................... 121
Sierra Leone ...................................................................................................................... 121
Singapore........................................................................................................................... 122
Slovak Republic ................................................................................................................. 122
Slovenia ............................................................................................................................. 124
South Africa ....................................................................................................................... 125
South Korea (Republic of Korea) ....................................................................................... 129
Spain .................................................................................................................................. 131
Sri Lanka ............................................................................................................................ 132
Sweden .............................................................................................................................. 135
Switzerland ........................................................................................................................ 136
Syria ................................................................................................................................... 137
Taiwan ............................................................................................................................... 137
Tajikistan ............................................................................................................................ 138
Thailand ............................................................................................................................. 139
Tibet (China) ...................................................................................................................... 142
Togo ................................................................................................................................... 144
Trinidad and Tobago .......................................................................................................... 146
Tunisia ............................................................................................................................... 146
Turkey ................................................................................................................................ 146
Turkmenistan ..................................................................................................................... 147
Uganda .............................................................................................................................. 148
Ukraine............................................................................................................................... 150
United Arab Emirates ......................................................................................................... 151
United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) ......................................... 152
United States of America ................................................................................................... 154
Uruguay ............................................................................................................................. 156
Uzbekistan ......................................................................................................................... 157
Venezuela .......................................................................................................................... 158
Vietnam .............................................................................................................................. 159
Yemen................................................................................................................................ 160
vi

Zambia ............................................................................................................................... 161


Zimbabwe .......................................................................................................................... 164
Braille Alphabets Used in Multiple Countries ......................................................................... 165
Albanian ............................................................................................................................. 165
Arabic ................................................................................................................................. 166
Cantonese.......................................................................................................................... 169
Catalan............................................................................................................................... 172
Danish ................................................................................................................................ 173
Dutch.................................................................................................................................. 174
English ............................................................................................................................... 175
Esperanto........................................................................................................................... 177
Ew .................................................................................................................................... 179
French ................................................................................................................................ 180
German .............................................................................................................................. 182
Greek ................................................................................................................................. 183
Greek (International) .......................................................................................................... 185
Hungarian .......................................................................................................................... 188
Irish Gaelic ......................................................................................................................... 189
Italian ................................................................................................................................. 190
Japanese ........................................................................................................................... 191
Kiswahili ............................................................................................................................. 193
Malay ................................................................................................................................. 194
Mandarin ............................................................................................................................ 195
Ndebele.............................................................................................................................. 197
Portuguese......................................................................................................................... 197
Romanian........................................................................................................................... 199
Russian .............................................................................................................................. 200
Spanish .............................................................................................................................. 201
Swedish ............................................................................................................................. 203
Turkish ............................................................................................................................... 204
Index by Language Name...................................................................................................... 205

vii

Foreword to the Third Edition


Sixty years ago UNESCO led the charge in publishing the first edition of World Braille Usage.
The initial effort was focused on the establishment of a universal, worldwide code. While there
is still interest in universal agreement on characters that are used throughout the world, the
emphasis now is on unification within languages, as driven by braille authorities and other
organizations. Many new countries have adopted official codes, and countries with shared
languages have formed coalitions to assess current usage and craft recommendations for the
future. The International Council on English Braille (ICEB), for example, brought together
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United
States to develop a Unified English Braille Code (UEB) for both technical and literary
purposes, which the final member nation recently adopted. Meanwhile, the Braille Music Code
has been internationally standardized since the 1990s.
Braille, as the worlds pre-eminent system of touch reading and writing used by people who are
blind, continues to be a vital tool of literacy. Allowing immediate and direct access to written
communication, braille has broadened from a method for reading embossed books to a
multimodal tool encompassing a myriad of uses, from braille signage and product labeling to
refreshable braille displays. As a tool for writing, it also allows a person who is blind to easily
record accurate information and access that information quickly for later use.
All this is made possible by the establishment of braille codes: standardized, agreed-upon
ways of representing characters and arranging text for maximum comprehension. As braille
authoritiesentities organized to formulate and promulgate braille codeshave become
prevalent throughout the world, the foundation of braille has become strengthened. Although
braille authorities take many forms, from government agencies to consortiums of interested
organizations, their influence is wide-ranging. The codes they develop permit consistent
education for people who are blind, and the advanced study of subjects such as mathematics,
science, and other languages. Many authorities also take on the task of promoting braille
literacy, as well as instruction, production, and distribution.
Despite dire predictions of its demise, braille continues to develop as a vibrant means of
communication that enables people who are blind to participate in society, pursue educational
opportunities, attain commensurate employment, and enjoy the many activities of everyday
life. Standardization has given braille a firmer foundation than it has had before nowand
technology has transformed the ways in which it is both produced and accessed. Braille
translation software, while it does not completely replace the human transcriber, allows text to
be encoded quickly for embossing, or displayed on a refreshable braille device. DAISY and
other standards have streamlined the alternative text production process through the use of
mark-up languages, an area rife with possibilities for future development in incorporating
braille. Embossing technology has continued to improve, producing machines that can print
hundreds of cells per second.
In developed countries, more and more braille readers are shifting much of their reading to
refreshable braille displays, which make lengthy braille works practical and portable, and allow
braille readers to interface with computers, smart phones, and the other accoutrements of the
viii

twenty-first century. Refreshable braille displays have made the use of 8-dot codes more
prevalent now than when they were used for only a few specialized purposes. With 256
possible combinations, 8-dot codes allow a much wider variety of characters to be represented
by a unique cell, making interaction with computers more straightforward. There is as yet no
international standard for 8-dot braille, but many systems use the seventh dot to mark uppercase characters or use one of the extra dots to display where the cursor is on the screen.
Several organizations are currently working to develop specialized 8-dot codes that directly
address the needs of math and science users, and it is possible we will see standardization in
those areas in the future.
8-dot code is not the only aspect of braille that is still evolving and shifting. While international
standardization and unification are on the rise, there are also many new braille codes being
developed as a result of geopolitical changes and improved recognition of linguistic diversity.
Some countries have resisted standardization, while other language codes remain basically
uncontracted braille with few, if any, rules, due to lack of development or organizational
authority. With the support of the Latin American Union of the Blind (ULAC) and other
organizations, there has been some effort to create codes for indigenous languages, but few
such codes have been officially adopted. Meanwhile, refreshable braille displays and other
modern technologies remain out of reach for many braille readers around the world due to their
expense. Until production costs are reduced, the slate and stylus will remain the primary tool of
braille literacy for these people, allowing them to inexpensively write and read what has been
written.
In short, the world of braille remains in flux. Developed with support from Perkins, the
International Council on English Braille, and the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped, this third edition of World Braille Usage attempts to document the
current state of braille around the world. But many changes and innovationsboth
technological and politicalremain on the horizon. We hope that the trend toward codifying
additional languages, standardizing current codes, and developing new tools for access will
continue, making braille literacy accessible in every native tongue to people who are blind.
Judith M. Dixon, Ph.D.
Washington, DC
March 2013

ix

Acknowledgements
Three collaborating organizations, Perkins, the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress (NLS) and the International Council on English
Braille (ICEB), dedicate this newest edition of World Braille Usage to the millions of braille
users, teachers, producers, and organizations, past and present, who tirelessly advance equal
and global access to literacy and greater independence for persons who are blind, through the
use of braille.
World Braille Usage, Third Edition, is built upon the firm foundation of those who have labored
on behalf of braille literacy and the success they have achieved in prior editions. UNESCO has
been instrumental in recognizing that literacy is a fundamental human right. Without
UNESCOs vision and support in publishing the first two editions of World Braille Usage, this
third edition would not have been possible. In addition, the International Phonetic Association
developed the phonetic chart, which was the cornerstone of the first edition, and continues to
be the seminal tool through which new languages can be translated into braille.
Many other braille-related organizations deserve thanks for their contributions to this project,
including the World Blind Union, the International Council for Education of People with Visual
Impairment, the Latin American Braille Council of ULAC (Comisin Braille Latinoamericana),
Duxbury Systems, and the Japan Braille Library, authors of the report Braille in Asia.
In addition, this publication is the product of a worldwide effort by hundreds of individuals who
provided crucial information about the use of braille in their respective countries. Although too
numerous to mention individually, they deserve our sincere gratitude.
Several individuals closely associated with the publication of this edition of World Braille Usage
also deserve special acknowledgement: William Schawbel, of the Schawbel Corporation, for
his generous donation that enabled Perkins to take the lead on this project; Steven Rothstein,
President of Perkins, for spearheading this project and ensuring that there were adequate
resources to support it; Karen Keninger, Director of NLS, for her commitment to the publication
of this book; Mr. Jawahar Lal Kaul, Secretary General of the All India Confederation of the
Blind, a champion of braille and of this project; Dr. Judith Dixon, Consumer Relations Officer of
NLS for her contribution to both the 1990 and 2013 editions; Dr. Robert Englebretson for his
generous support and the contribution of his article on the International Phonetic Alphabet; Kim
Charlson, Director of the Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) at Perkins and a member of
the project team who helped to guide the development of a third edition; Susan Christensen,
the editor, for her consultative advice and detailed work preparing the language and braille
characters in this book; and Ellen Hall, Braille Literacy Manager of Perkins, for her work
developing content and coordinating efforts to publish this Third Edition of World Braille Usage.
Dr. Aubrey Webson
Director of Perkins International
Perkins

The International Phonetic Alphabet


The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system for representing precise details of
pronunciation in written form. It is widely used in linguistics, clinical speech sciences, language
teaching, vocal music pedagogy, accent training for actors, pronunciation guides found in
many dictionaries and language textbooks, and in any endeavor where it is necessary to
capture accurately the nuances of speech. The IPA itself is not a language, and it is not
localized to any particular country or language group. It is developed and maintained by the
International Phonetic Association, and its goal is to represent unambiguously all of the sounds
in the approximately 6,000 languages spoken on earth today, including languages that have no
writing system. The IPA consists of nearly 200 unique symbols: consonants, vowels,
suprasegmentals, tones and word accents, diacritics, and miscellaneous symbols.
The complete, current, print IPA charts can be downloaded from the International Phonetic
Associations web page at http://www.langsci.ucl.ac.uk/ipa/ipachart.html. These charts are
freely distributable under a Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Unported License,
Copyright 2005 International Phonetic Association. Complete IPA charts are also found in
most introductory-level phonetics or general linguistics textbooks. The most recent,
comprehensive reference work in print is The Handbook of the International Phonetic
Association: A Guide to the Use of the International Phonetic Alphabet, published in 1999 by
Cambridge University Press.
The most recent, up-to-date, braille notation of the IPA (Englebretson 2008) was produced
under the auspices of the International Council on English Braille. It has been adopted by the
Braille Authority of North America, and has been approved by ICEB for use alongside Unified
English Braille for the transcription of phonetic and phonemic materials. It is available online in
both PDF and BRF formats from http://www.iceb.org/icebipa.htm. The first braille volume
contains a general introduction and overview, all of the IPA charts presented in tabular format,
basic rules for the use of IPA Braille, and several sample passages. This volume also contains
an index designed for braille transcribers, which lists the print IPA glyphs in pseudoalphabetical order along with the corresponding braille symbols. The second braille volume
consists of swell-paper tactile illustrations of each print IPA symbol along with its braille
equivalent.
IPA Braille is summarized in a journal article targeting professional phoneticians and linguists
(Englebretson 2009). This article presents a detailed history of other braille notations of the
IPA, gives a thorough overview of the steps and rationale which led to the development of the
current IPA Braille system, and presents all of the IPA Braille symbols in chart form for the
benefit of sighted phoneticians and teachers who wish to learn IPA Braille or who are currently
working with braille-reading students.

References
Englebretson, Robert (ed.). 2008. IPA Braille: An Updated Tactile Representation of the International
Phonetic Alphabet, 2 vols. Toronto: CNIB. http://www.iceb.org/icebipa.htm
Englebretson, Robert. 2009. An overview of IPA Braille: an updated tactile representation of the
International Phonetic Alphabet. Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 39: 67-86.
xi

IPA Braille Charts (IPA Revised to 2005)


The following charts originally appeared as the appendix to Englebretson, Robert. 2009. An overview of IPA Braille: an updated tactile
representation of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 39: 67-86. They are reprinted
here by permission of the secretary of the International Phonetic Association.
Consonants (Pulmonic)
Bilabial

Labiodental

Dental

Alveolar

p b

Plosive

t d
m

Nasal

6m

9b

Trill

6v
.f .b

Retroflex

Palatal

4t 4d

c 9j

4n

f v

Approximant

.? ]

s z

g
$

8v

q 9g

Pharyngeal

Glottal

9n

4r
: !

4s 4z 6c 8j x .g .& 9# 6h 62 h 8h

8l l"!

Lateral approximant

4#

8m

4l

8y

9l

Consonants (Non-Pulmonic)

xii

Uvular

9r

6r

Lateral fricative

Clicks

Velar

Tap or Flap
Fricative

Postalveolar

Voiced implosives

Ejectives

&p

Bilabial

8b

Bilabial

"'

&?

Dental

8d

Dental/alveolar

p"'

Bilabial

&t

(Post) alveolar

89j

Palatal

t"'

Dental/alveolar

&:

Palatoalveolar

8g

Velar

k"'

Velar

&l

Alveolar lateral

89g

Uvular

s"'

Alveolar fricative

Examples

Other Symbols

6w

Voiceless labial-velar fricative

Voiced labial-velar approximant

4h

Voiced labial-palatal approximant

9h

Voiceless epiglottal fricative

92

Voiced epiglottal fricative

82

Epiglottal plosive

8c

8z

Alveolo-palatal fricatives

8#

Voiced alveolar lateral flap

8$

Simultaneous and x

k"p t"s

Affricates and double articulations can be represented by two symbols joined by a tie bar if necessary.

Vowels

Close

Front

Central

Back

i y

0i 0u

6u u

/ 9y
Close-mid

e |

(
6e 0o

6o o

5
Open-mid

Open

> [

6> 8>

6a

a 9[

+ <
* 6*

xiii

Diacritics

,$

Voiceless

,8

Voiced

`h

Aspirated

,o

,3

Breathy voiced

b,3 a,3

,?

Dental

t,? d,?

,]

Creaky voiced

b,] a,]

,6?

Apical

t,6? d,6?

t`h d`h

,&

Linguolabial

More rounded

<,o

`w

Labialized

,[

Less rounded

<,[

`j

Palatalized

,+

Advanced

u,+

`.g

Velarized

,-

Retracted

e,-

`62

Pharyngealized

`3

Centralized

`x

Mid-centralized

,2

Syllabic

,)

Non-syllabic

"r

Rhoticity

xiv

n,$ d,$

s,8 t,8

e`3

t,& d,&

,7

Laminal

t`w d`w

`]

Nasalized

t`j d`j

`n

Nasal release

t`.g d`.g

`l

Lateral release

`d

No audible release

t`62 d`62

"]

Velarized or pharyngealized

,>

Raised

,<

Lowered

e,)

,:

Advanced Tongue Root

e,:

5"r a"r

,s

Retracted Tongue Root

e,s

e`x

n,2

t,7 d,7
e`]

l"]

e,> (#,> = voiced alveolar fricative)


e,< (.b,< = voiced bilabial approximant)

d`n
d`l
d`d

Suprasegmentals

_b

Primary stress

_2

Secondary stress

_2fo(n5_bt/:5n

e3

Long

"1

Half-long

`(

Extra-short

_|

Minor (foot) group

_=

Major (intonation) group

'

e"1
e`(

Syllable break

_l

#i'%kt

Linking (absence of a break)

Tones And Word Accents


LEVEL

`,/

CONTOUR

_`c

Extra high

`8

_/

Rising

`/

_c

High

`%

_*

Falling

`c

_3

Mid

`i

_i

High rising

`*

_-

Low

`9

_9

Low rising

_,-

Extra low

`4

_4

Rising-falling

or

`,*

or

_!

Downstep

_d

Global rise

_$

Upstep

_0

Global fall

xv

Introduction to Country Listings


Welcome to World Braille Usage. This third edition of World Braille Usage has been made
possible by hundreds of people who use and produce braille throughout the world. As a result,
it captures a new perspective on the global use of braille. Unlike previous editions, this one
includes links to electronic media, and a digital copy can be found online on the Perkins
website: www.perkins.org/worldbraille.
How this book is organized:

The 142 countries represented in this book are listed in alphabetical order.
This book includes 133 languages that have been transcribed into 137 different braille
alphabet and punctuation codes. [Nepali, Tamil, and Urdu are transcribed in two
countries, but each has different braille codes, and there are two codes for Greek]
In countries where multiple languages have been transcribed into braille, the languages
are listed in order of predominance of use.
The braille alphabet and punctuation codes for languages that are used in a single
country appear only once, on the page for that country.
The braille alphabets for languages that are used in two or more countries are crossreferenced on country pages, e.g. Spanish Alphabet: see Spanish, page 201. These
alphabets and punctuation codes are contained in the section titled, Braille Alphabets
Used in Multiple Countries, which follows the country pages.
The braille and alphabet and punctuation code for Esperanto, a language that is not
associated with a country can be found in Braille Alphabets Used in Multiple Countries.
The Index by Language Name contains the names all of the languages represented in
this book.

The majority of the data collected to create the contents of this book came from two primary
sources: a questionnaire sent to representatives of braille-related organizations in 197
countries between April 2012 and April 2013; and the 1990 edition of World Braille Usage.
Additionally, some of the data for this book was sourced with the support provided by Duxbury
Systems.
Data sourced from the questionnaire: The information provided by the various participating
countries may vary. Although every effort was made to ensure that the information presented
in this book was verified as correct, the content of this book is based upon the information
provided by the returned questionnaires and follow-up communications prior to publication. Not
all countries were able to verify their respective information prior to publication.
Data sourced from World Braille Usage, 1990: A number of countries that appeared in the
1990 edition did not respond to the questionnaire during the information data gathering phase.
The source of information given for these countries, and the languages they use, is cited as:
World Braille Usage, 1990. A number of countries that didnt respond were formally part of the
Soviet Union or Yugoslavia, or changed names, and this information is also indicated by
sourcing World Braille Usage, 1990.
xvi

Braille Usage by Country


Albania
Language: Albanian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
LInstitut des Enfants Aveugles
Braille alphabet was adopted by Ministria of Education of the Republic with the Council of
Ministers in 1963
www.mash.gov.al
Braille Code:
Albanian Braille Code
Albanian Alphabet: See Albanian, page 165

Algeria
Language: Arabic (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166

Andorra
Language: Catalan (uncontracted)
Catalan Alphabet: See Catalan, page 172

Antigua and Barbuda


Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Argentina
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

Armenia
Languages: Eastern Armenian (uncontracted), Western Armenian (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Alphabet: Eastern Armenian
(1)

(12)

(1245)

(145)

(245)

(2346)

(15)

(34)

(345)

(23456)

a
b
g
d
j
!
e
/
>
)

(24)

(123)

(1456)

(14)

(13)

(125)

(126)

(12456)

(146)

(134)

i
l
?
c
k
h
<
]
%
m

(13456)

(1345)

(156)

(1236)

(12345)

(1234)

(1346)

(1235)

(234)

(2456)

(156)

(1345)

(146)

(246)

(16)

y
n
:
v
q
p
x
r
s
w

(2345)

(1235)

(1356)

(136)

(12346)

(346)

(135)

(124)

t
r
z
u
&
+
o
f

Alphabet: Western Armenian


(1)

(1234)

(12345)

(1456)

(13456)

(1356)

(15)

(136)

(2345)

(345)

a
p
q
?
y
z
e
u
t
>

(24)

(123)

(1346)

(34)

(1245)

(125)

(346)

(126)

(245)

(134)

i
l
x
/
g
h
+
<
j
m

(12)

(14)

(12456)

(234)

(1236)

:
n
%
[
*
b
c
]
s
v

(145)

(1235)

(2346)

(2456)

(1246)

(13)

(135)

(124)

d
r
!
w
$
k
o
f

Punctuation: Armenian Languages


comma (Eastern)

(25)

comma (Western)

(6)

semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

full stop

(256)

question mark (Eastern)

(26)

question mark (Western)

(236)

exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

(236356)

quote

hyphen

(36)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

3
,
2
3
4
5
8
6
'
80
.
#

Australia
Language: English: Unified English Braille (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Australian Braille Authority
c/o Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc.
http://www.printdisability.org/aba
International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
http://www.iceb.org/
Literary Notation:
The Rules of Unified English Braille, 2010
The Unified English Braille Primer Australian Edition, 2008
Mathematics and Science Notation:
The Rules of Unified English Braille, 2010
Unified English Braille Guidelines for Technical Materials, 2008
Music Notation:
The New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1996
Introduction to Braille Music Transcription, Second Edition 2005
IPA Braille:
An Updated Tactile Representation of the International Phonetic Alphabet, 2008
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Austria
Language: German (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Braille Authority of German Speaking Countries
Literary Notation:
Das System der deutschen Blindenschrift, 2005
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Anleitung zur Umsetzung mathematischer Formeln, Nov. 2001
Neufassung und Vervollstndigung des Systems der internationalen Mathematikschrift fr
Blinde, 1986 (Marburger Systematiken der blindenschrift, Vol. 6)
Chemistry Notation:
Das System der Chemieschrift in der deutschen Blindenschrift, 2005, Vol. 23
Computer Notation:
Marburger Systematiken der blindenschrift: Phonetic transcription Weltlautschrift fr Blinde,
1938, 2010
Eurobraille (8-dot Braille): Code tables 437 and 850 of ISO TR 11548, Part 2
Chess Notation:
Schachschrift fr Blinde, 2004, Vol. 15
Stenography
System der deutschen 6-Punkt-Stenografie fr Blinde, 2002, Vol. 21
German Alphabet: See German, page 182

Azerbaijan
Language: Azerbaijani (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Alphabet: Azerbaijani
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(16)

(145)

(15)

* (4, 1)

a
b
c
*
d
e
@a
f

f
(124)
* replaced in 1991

(1245)

(126)

(125)

(1346)

(35)

(24)

(245)

(13)

g
<
h
x
9
i
j
k

(12345)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

q
l
m
n
o
[
p
r

(234)

(146)

(2345)

(136)

(1256)

(1236)

(13456)

(1356)

s
%
t
u
\
v
y
z

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

, quote

(236356)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
3
4
8
6
80
,
#

Bahamas
Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Bahrain, Kingdom of
Languages: Arabic (uncontracted), English (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
The Saudi-Bahraini Institute for the Blind
www.blindinstitute.org
Literary Notation:
English: British Braille: A Restatement of Standard English Braille 4, 2004
Mathematics and Science Notation:
English: Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Computer Notation:
English: Braille Computer Notation, 2006
Music Notation:
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1996 (modified for Arab music icons)
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Bangladesh
Language: Bangla (uncontracted)
Alphabet: Bangla, Independent Vowels

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

a
>
i
9

(136)

(1256)

(5, 1235)

(15)

u
\
"r
e

ai

(34)

(135)

au (246)

/
o
[

Consonants

ka

(13)

kha

(1346)

ga

(1245)

gha

(126)

(346)

ca

(14)

cha

(16)

ja

(245)

jha

(1356)

(25)

(23456)

ha

(2456)

(1246)

ha

(123456)

(3456)

ta

(2345)

tha

(1456)

da

(145)

dha

(2346)

k
x
g
<
+
c
*
j
z
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!

na

(1345)

pa

(1234)

pha

(124)

ba

(12)

bha

(1236)

ma

(134)

ya

(13456)

ra

(1235)

la

(123)

(146)

(12346)

sa

(234)

ha

(125)

(12456)

ha

(12356)

ya

(26)

khanda ta

(5, 2345)

ka

(12345)

ja

(156)

n
p
f
b
v
m
y
r
l
%
&
s
h
]
(
5
"t
q
:

Special Characters

Anusvara

(56)

Visarga

(6)

Candrabindu

(3)

;
,
'

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

single quote

(6, 236356, 3)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(6, 23562356, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

/ slash

(456, 34)

* asterisk

(35, 35)

number sign

(3456)

10

1
2
3
4
8
6
80
,80'
77
,77'
-_/
99
#

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

Barbados
Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

11

Belarus
Language: Belarusian (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Alphabet: Belarusian

(1)

(12)

(2456)

(1245)

(145)

(15)

(16)

(245)

a
b
w
g
d
e
*
j

(1356)

(13456)

(12346)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

z
y
&
k
l
m
n
o

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

12

1
2
3
4
5
6
80
77
.
#
_

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(346)

(124)

(125)

p
r
s
t
u
+
f
h

(14)

(12345)

(156)

(2346)

(23456)

(246)

(1256)

(1246)

c
q
:
!
)
[
\
$

Belgium
Languages: Dutch (uncontracted), French (uncontracted), German (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
De Federatie Slechtzienden en Blindenbelang
Belgische Confederatie voor Blinden en Slechtzienden
http://www.phk.be/
Literary Notation:
Dutch: Braillestandaard voor algemeen gebruik in het Nederlandse taalgebied, 2005
French: Code braille franais uniformise pour la transcription des textes imprimes (CBFU),
2008
German: Das System der deutschen Blindenschrift, 2005
Mathematics and Science Notation:
French: Notation Mathmatique Braille, 1st edition, January 2007; Notation Braille dans le
Domaine de la Chimie, 1st edition, June 2008
German: Mathematikschrift fr Blinde (2000, internal Handbook of the Swiss Library for Blind,
Visually-Impaired and Print-Disabled); Neufassung und Vervollstndigung des Systems der
internationalen Mathematikschrift fr Blinde, 1986 (braille) and 1992 (print)
Chemistry Notation:
German: Das System der Chemieschrift in der deutschen Blindenschrift, 2005
Computer Notation:
French: Table Braille Informatique Franaise (TBFR2007), 1st edition, October 2007
German: Eurobraille, DIN 32982 (8-Punkt-Brailleschrift fr die Informationsverarbeitung/
Information processing 8-dot-Braille graphic characters) (1994) and in ISO Technical
Report 11548-2 (2001)
Music Notation:
French: Nouveau Manuel International de Notation Musicale Braille, 1996
German: New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1996
Dutch Alphabet: See Dutch, page 174
French Alphabet: See French, page 180
German Alphabet: See German, page 182

13

Bhutan
Languages: English (BANA, contracted), Dzongkha (uncontracted)
Literary Notation:
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Dzongkha Braille Code
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Alphabet: Dzongkha, Consonants

(13)

(126)

k
<
g
+
c
*
j
v

(1245)

(346)

(14)

(16)

(245)

(1236)

(2345)

(5, 1456)

(2346)

(1345)

(1234)

(124)

(12)

(134)

t
"?
!
n
p
f
b
m

(34)

(12456)

(1356)

(2456)

(12345)

(1346)

(156)

/
]
z
w
q
x
:
y

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(146)

(234)

(125)

(1)

r
l
%
s
h
a

Consonants for Foreign Words

(5, 2345)

(5, 1456)

(5, 2346)

"t
"?
"!

(5, 1345)

(5, 146)
(13, 45, 5, 146)

"n
"%
k^"%

Vowels

(24)

(136)

(15)

(135)

Special Characters

(456, 246)

(56, 1256)

14

_[
;\

(2)

(456)

1
_

(23, 23)

22

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(5, 35, 234)

? question mark

(6, 236)

! exclamation

(6, 235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(1235623456)

[] brackets

(4, 123564, 23456)

{} braces

(46, 1235646, 23456)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

/ slash

(456, 34)

asterisk

(46, 35)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
3
"9s
,8
,6
80
()
@(@)
.(.)
'''
_/
.9
#

15

Bolivia
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

Bosnia and Herzegovina


Language: Bosnian (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Yugoslavia)
Alphabet: Bosnian
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(16)

(146)

(145)

(12456)

(1456)

(15)

(124)

16

a
b
c
*
%
d
]
?
e
f

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

lj

(126)

(134)

(1345)

nj

(1246)

g
h
i
j
k
l
<
m
n
$

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(156)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(1356)

(2346)

o
p
r
s
:
t
u
v
z
!

Brazil
Language: Portuguese (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
Grafia Braille para Lingua Portuguesa, 2003 (Braille Writing for the Portuguese Language)
Estenografia Braille Para Lngua Portuguesa (Grade 2)
Normas Tcnicas para a Produo de Textos em Braille, 2003 (Standards for the Production
of Braille texts)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1997
Chemistry Notation:
Grafia Quimica Braille, 2010
Computer Notation:
Grafia Braille para Informtica, 2006 (Braille Writing for Computing)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation (Portuguese translation, 2007)
Portuguese Alphabet: See Portuguese, page 197

17

Bulgaria
Language: Bulgarian (uncontracted)
Literary Notation:
Bulgarian Braille, 2004
Mathematics Notation:
Russian math system
Science Notation:
Latin letters for physics and chemistry (formulas)
Computer Notation:
Partially Russian computer braille and some Bulgarian letters
Music Notation:
Marburg
Alphabet: Bulgarian

(1)

(12)

(2456)

(1245)

(145)

(15)

(245)

(1356)

a
b
w
g
d
e
j
z

(24)

(13456)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

i
y
k
l
m
n
o
p

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(124)

(125)

(14)

(12345)

r
s
t
u
f
h
c
q

(156)

(1346)

(12356)

(23456)

(1256)

(1246)

:
x
(
)
\
$

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

18

1
2
3
4
5

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

6
80
77
.
#

Cambodia
Language: Khmer (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Krousar Thmey Cambodia
www.krousar-thmey.org
Braille Code:
Braille Khmer, 2012
Alphabet: Khmer

(1245)

(13)

(6, 1245)

(6, 13)

(12456)

(245)

(346)

(6, 245)

(6, 346)

(6, 1456)

(145)

g
k
,g
,k
]
j
+
,j
,+
,?
d

(36, 23456)

(6, 145)

(356, 23456)

(1345)

(2345)

(23456)

(6, 2345)

(6, 23456)

(6, 1345)

(12)

(1234)

-)
,d
0)
n
t
)
,t
,)
,n
b
p

(12346)

(6, 1234)

(134)

(6, 13456)

(1235)

(6, 123)

(2456)

(234)

(125)

(123)

(135)

&
,p
m
,y
r
,l
w
s
h
l
o

19

Consonant Legs: Each consonant has its leg, except and

(1236, 1245)

(1236, 13)

(1236, 6, 1245)

(1236, 6, 13)

(1236, 12456)

(1236, 245)

(1236, 346)

(1236, 6, 245)

(1236, 6, 346)

(1236, 6, 1456)

(1236, 145)

(1236, 36, 23456)

(1236, 6, 145)

(1236, 356, 23456)

(1236, 1345)

vg
vk
v,g
v,k
v]
vj
v+
v,j
v,+
v,?
vd
v-)
v,d
v0)
vn

(1236, 2345)

(1236, 23456)

(1236, 6, 2345)

(1236, 6, 23456)

(1236, 6, 1345)

(1236, 12)

(1236, 1234)

(1236, 12346)

(1236, 6, 1234)

(1236, 134)

(1236, 6, 13456)

(1236, 1235)

(1236, 6, 123)

(1236, 2456)

(1236, 234)

vt
v)
v,t
v,)
v,n
vb
vp
v&
v,p
vm
v,y
vr
v,l
vw
vs

No Legs
(1236, 125)
(1236, 135)

vh
vo

Vowels

(16)

(34)

(15)

(246)

(26)

20

*
/
e
[
5

(14)

(25)

(23)

(146)

(12345)

c
3
2
%
q

(12356)

(124)

(126)

(24)

(156)

(
f
<
i
:

(456)

(1246)

(13456)

(1356)

(1)

_
$
y
z
a

Additional Vowels

(1346)

(136)

x
u

(2346)

(34, 1)

!
/a

(246, 1)

(126, 1)

[a
<a

Full Vowels

(6, 34)

(15, 1)

(14, 1)

(1256)

,/
ea
ca
\

(6, 1346)

(1346, 1)

(1456)

(1456, 1)

,x
xa
?
?a

(5)

(124, 1)

(156, 1)

(456, 14)

"
fa
:a
_c

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)
3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(45)

. period, point

(256)

period, full stop

(123456)

? question mark

(23)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
^
4
=
2
6
80
77
,
#

21

Cameroon
Languages: French (uncontracted), English (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
French Alphabet: See French, page 180
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Canada
Languages: English (contracted), French (uncontracted and contracted)
Unified English Braille has been adopted, but is not implemented at this time
Braille Standards Set by:
Braille Literacy Canada/l Littratie braille Canada
http://www.canadianbrailleauthority.ca
www.brailleliteracycanada.ca
The Braille Authority of North America
http://www.brailleauthority.org
Literary Notation:
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Code braille franais uniformis, 2008
Braille Formats:
Braille Formats: Principles of Print-to-Braille Transcription, 2011
IPA Braille:
An Updated Tactile Representation of the International Phonetic Alphabet, 2008
Computer Notation:
Computer Braille Code, 2000 Revision
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
Chemistry Notation:
Braille Code for Chemical Notation, 1997
Music Notation:
Music Braille Code, 1997
Tactile Graphics:
Guidelines and Standard for Tactile Graphics, 2010

22

Refreshable Braille:
Provisional Guidelines for Linear Braille Format, 1987
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
French Alphabet: See French, page 180

Chile
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

23

China
Languages: Mandarin (contracted), Cantonese (uncontracted and no space between words)
Braille Standards Set by:
China Association for the Blind
Literary Notation:
Chinese Braille, Teng, Li, Yang, Gao; ISBN7-5080-0346-2/G.424, Huaxia Press, 1996;
Chinese Braille, GB/T157202008;
Braille. author: Zhong Jinghua; Tianjin: Tianjin Education Press, 2007
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Mathematical, Physical and Chemical Symbols of Chinese Braille, 2000
Music Notation:
China Braille Musical Signs, 2009
Mandarin Alphabet: See Mandarin, page 195
Cantonese Alphabet: See Cantonese, page 169

Colombia
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

24

Congo, Democratic Republic of the


Languages: French (contracted), English (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Zaire)
French Alphabet: See French, page 180
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Costa Rica
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

25

Croatia
Language: Croatian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Croatian Association of the Blind, Braille Committee (Hrvatski odbor za brajicu)
www.savez-slijepih.hr
Websites:
For books and magazines: Hrvatska knjinica za slijepe (Croatian Library for the Blind)
http://www.hkzasl.hr/
Textbooks for blind children adapt: Hrvatska knjinica za slijepe (Croatian Library for the Blind)
http://www.hkzasl.hr/
Hrvatski savez slijepih/Croatian Association of the Blind http://www.savez-slijepih.hr/
Centar za odgoj i obrazovanje Vinko Bek (School for the Blind)
http://www.centar-vinko-bek-zg.skole.hr/
Udruenje za unapreivanje obrazovanja slijepih i slabovidnih osoba (Association for the
Advancement of Education of Blind and Visually Impaired Persons) http://www.uuosso.hr
Literary Notation:
Elementary Braille Code, 1994
Music Notation:
Braille Music Notation, 2005
Alphabet: Croatian
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(16)

(146)

(145)

(12456)

(1456)

(15)

a
b
c
*
%
d
]
?
e

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

lj

(126)

(134)

f
g
h
i
j
k
l
<
m

(1345)

nj

(1246)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(156)

(2345)

n
$
o
p
q
r
s
:
t

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(2346)

Accents
` short rising accent

(4)

short downward accent

(5)

26

@
"

long rising accent

(45)

long downward accent

(56)

^
;

u
v
w
x
y
z
!

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe (Izostavnik)

(256)

, , "", quote

(23562356)

single quote

(33)

() parentheses

(236356)

[] brackets

(1235623456)

/./ parentheses

(12561256)

- hyphen

(36)

* asterisk

(35)

& ampersand

(12346)

or paragraph

(346)

superscript

(34)

# release

(6)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

1
2
3
'
5
6
4
77
''
80
()
\\
9
&
+
/
,
.
#
_

27

Cuba
Language: Spanish (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Notacin Matemtica. Fundacin Braille de Uruguay. Unificacin del cdigo matemtico
Science Notation:
Guas Comisin Braille espaola
Music Notation:
Notacin musical en sistema braille. Frank Emilio Flynn, Ediciones Braille Iris, La Habana,
1997
Stenography:
Conferencia estenografa Hispanoamericana, Grado 2 Aprobado en Montevideo, 1964,
Buenos Aires Organizacin nacional del ciegos y Nacional braille de Buenos Aires, 1966
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

Cyprus
Languages: Greek (uncontracted), Turkish (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Greek Alphabet: See Greek, page 183
Turkish Alphabet: See Turkish, page 204

28

Czech Republic
Language: Czech (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Czech Blind United (SONS)
www.sons.cz
Literary Notation:
GONZROV, Wanda, Pruka pro pepis text do bodovho psma (Braille Transcription
Manual)
Mathematics and Science Notation:
GONZROV, Wanda, Pruka pro pepis text do bodovho psma (Braille Transcription
Manual)
Computer Notation:
8-dot: used to represent braille on braille displays (braille translation tables implanted in
screenreaders and braille embossing software)
Music Notation:
JELNEK, Ji: Notopis pro nevidom (Braille Music Notation for the Blind)
Alphabet: Czech
a

(1)

(16)

(12)

(14)

(146)

(145)

(1456)

(15)

(345)

(126)

(124)

a
*
b
c
%
d
?
e
>
<
f

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(34)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(1246)

(135)

g
h
i
/
j
k
l
m
n
$
o

(246)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(2456)

(234)

(156)

(2345)

(1256)

(136)

(346)

[
p
q
r
w
s
:
t
\
u
+

(23456)

(1236)

(12356)

(1346)

(13456)

(12346)

(1356)

(2346)

)
v
(
x
y
&
z
!

29

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(4)

quote

(23562356)

() parentheses

(236356)

- hyphen

(36)

/ slash

(12456)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(6)

series capital

(56)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
3
'
5
6
@
77
80
]
9
,
;
#

Denmark
Languages: Danish (contracted), Faroese (uncontracted), Greenlandic (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Braille Authority Denmark
Det Danske Punktskriftnvn
Literary Notation:
Den Danske Punktskrift, 1993
Mathematics and Science Notation:
LaTex nomenclature based on the authorized 8-dot code (Latin 1252)
Music Notation:
International Notation for Music, Marburg
Danish Alphabet: See Danish, page 173

30

Alphabet: Faroese
a

(1)

(34)

(12)

(145)

(1456)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
/
b
d
?
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(126)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

h
i
<
j
k
l
m
n

(135)

(23456)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(12356)

o
)
p
r
s
t
u
(

(1236)

(13456)

(123456)

(345)

(246)

v
y
=
>
[

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe and abbreviation

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(56)

1
2
3
4
5
6
'
80
77
'''
-,
#
;

31

Alphabet: Greenlandic
a

(1)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

a
e
f
g
i
j
k
l

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t

(136)

(1236)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(125)

(2456)

(1346)

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(4)

, "" quote

(23562356)

() parentheses

(236356)

[] brackets

(5, 2365, 356)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(46)

uppercase letters

(456)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(56)

32

1
2
3
'
5
6
@
77
80
"8"0
'''
-/
9
.
_
#
;

u
v
b
c
d
h
w
x

(13456)

(1356)

(345)

(246)

(16)

y
z
>
[
*

Dominica
Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Dominican Republic
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

33

Ecuador
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

Egypt
Language: Arabic (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166

34

El Salvador
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

35

Estonia
Language: Estonian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Tartu Emaje School
kool@tek.tartu.ee
Literary and Mathematics Notation:
Handbook of Estonian Braille, 2012. Tartu School, Estonian State School for the Blind and
Visually Impaired
Alphabet: Estonian
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(156)

(1356)

(2346)

(2345)

(136)

q
r
s
:
z
!
t
u

(1236)

(2456)

(126)

(345)

(246)

(1256)

(1346)

(13456)

v
w
<
>
[
\
x
y

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(5)

quote

(5656)

() parentheses

(236356)

36

1
2
3
'
5
6
"
;;
80

[] brackets

(1235623456)

- hyphen, dash

(36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(46)

bold

(456)

()
/
9
,
#
.
_

Ethiopia
Language: Amharic (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Ethiopian Standards Agency
enfo@ethiostandrs.org
Alphabet: Amharic

(125, 26)
(125, 136)
(125, 24)
(125, 1)
(125, 15)
(125)
(125, 135)
(123, 26)
(123, 136)
(123, 24)
(123, 1)
(123, 15)
(123)
(123, 135)
(126, 26)
(126, 136)
(126, 24)
(126, 1)
(126, 15)
(126)
(126, 135)

h5
hu
hi
ha
he
h
ho
l5
lu
li
la
le
l
lo
<5
<u
<i
<a
<e
<
<o

(134, 26)
(134, 136)
(134, 24)
(134, 1)
(134, 15)
(134)
(134, 135)
(234, 26)
(234, 136)
(234, 24)
(234, 1)
(234, 15)
(234)
(234, 135)
(1235, 26)
(1235, 136)
(1235, 24)
(1235, 1)
(1235, 15)
(1235)
(1235, 135)

m5
mu
mi
ma
me
m
mo
s5
su
si
sa
se
s
so
r5
ru
ri
ra
re
r
ro

(1456, 26)
(1456, 136)
(1456, 24)
(1456, 1)
(1456, 15)
(1456)
(1456, 135)
(146, 26)
(146, 136)
(146, 24)
(146, 1)
(146, 15)
(146)
(146, 135)
(12345, 26)
(12345, 136)
(12345, 24)
(12345, 1)
(12345, 15)
(12345)
(12345, 135)

?5
?u
?i
?a
?e
?
?o
%5
%u
%i
%a
%e
%
%o
q5
qu
qi
qa
qe
q
qo

37

38

(12, 26)
(12, 136)
(12, 24)
(12, 1)
(12, 15)
(12)
(12, 135)
(2345, 26)
(2345, 136)
(2345, 24)
(2345, 1)
(2345, 15)
(2345)
(2345, 135)
(16, 26)
(16, 136)
(16, 24)
(16, 1)
(16, 15)
(16)
(16, 135)
(156, 26)
(156, 136)
(156, 24)
(156, 1)
(156, 15)
(156)
(156, 135)

b5
bu
bi
ba
be
b
bo
t5
tu
ti
ta
te
t
to
*5
*u
*i
*a
*e
*
*o
:5
:u
:i
:a
:e
:
:o

(1345, 26)
(1345, 136)
(1345, 24)
(1345, 1)
(1345, 15)
(1345)
(1345, 135)
(346, 26)
(346, 136)
(346, 24)
(346, 1)
(346, 15)
(346)
(346, 135)
(12356, 26)
(12356, 136)
(12356, 24)
(12356, 1)
(12356, 15)
(12356)
(12356, 135)
(13, 26)
(13, 136)
(13, 24)
(13, 1)
(13, 15)
(13)
(13, 135)

n5
nu
ni
na
ne
n
no
+5
+u
+i
+a
+e
+
+o
(5
(u
(i
(a
(e
(
(o
k5
ku
ki
ka
ke
k
ko

(236, 26)
(236, 136)
(236, 24)
(236, 1)
(236, 15)
(236)
(236, 135)
(2456, 26)
(2456, 136)
(2456, 24)
(2456, 1)
(2456, 15)
(2456)
(2456, 135)
(1256, 26)
(1256, 136)
(1256, 24)
(1256, 1)
(1256, 15)
(1256)
(1256, 135)
(1356, 26)
(1356, 136)
(1356, 24)
(1356, 1)
(1356, 15)
(1356)
(1356, 135)

85
8u
8i
8a
8e
8
8o
w5
wu
wi
wa
we
w
wo
\5
\u
\i
\a
\e
\
\o
z5
zu
zi
za
ze
z
zo

(356, 26)
(356, 136)
(356, 24)
(356, 1)
(356, 15)
(356)
(356, 135)
(13456, 26)
(13456, 136)
(13456, 24)
(13456, 1)
(13456, 15)
(13456)
(13456, 135)
(145, 26)
(145, 136)
(145, 24)
(145, 1)
(145, 15)
(145)
(145, 135)
(245, 26)
(245, 136)
(245, 24)
(245, 1)
(245, 15)
(245)
(245, 135)

05
0u
0i
0a
0e
0
0o
y5
yu
yi
ya
ye
y
yo
d5
du
di
da
de
d
do
j5
ju
ji
ja
je
j
jo

(1245, 26)
(1245, 136)
(1245, 24)
(1245, 1)
(1245, 15)
(1245)
(1245, 135)
(23456, 26)
(23456, 136)
(23456, 24)
(23456, 1)
(23456, 15)
(23456)
(23456, 135)
(14, 26)
(14, 136)
(14, 24)
(14, 1)
(14, 15)
(14)
(14, 135)
(235, 26)
(235, 136)
(235, 24)
(235, 1)
(235, 15)
(235)
(235, 135)

g5
gu
gi
ga
ge
g
go
)5
)u
)i
)a
)e
)
)o
c5
cu
ci
ca
ce
c
co
65
6u
6i
6a
6e
6
6o

(2346, 26)
(2346, 136)
(2346, 24)
(2346, 1)
(2346, 15)
(2346)
(2346, 135)
(12346, 26)
(12346, 136)
(12346, 24)
(12346, 1)
(12346, 15)
(12346)
(12346, 135)
(124, 26)
(124, 136)
(124, 24)
(124, 1)
(124, 15)
(124)
(124, 135)
(1234, 26)
(1234, 136)
(1234, 24)
(1234, 1)
(1234, 15)
(1234)
(1234, 135)

!5
!u
!i
!a
!e
!
!o
&5
&u
&i
&a
&e
&
&o
f5
fu
fi
fa
fe
f
fo
p5
pu
pi
pa
pe
p
po

39

(1236, 26)

(13, 2456, 26)

(123, 1346)

40

(1236, 136)
(1236, 24)
(1236, 1)
(1236, 15)
(1236)
(1236, 135)

v5
vu
vi
va
ve
v
vo

(13, 2456, 136)


(13, 2456, 24)
(13, 1346)
(13, 2456, 15)
(12345, 2456, 26)
(12345, 2456, 136)
(12345, 2456, 24)
(12345, 1346)
(12345, 2456, 15)

(134, 1346)
(1235, 1346)
(1456, 1346)
(12, 1346)
(2345, 1346)
(16, 1346)
(13, 1346)
(156, 1346)
(1345, 1346)

kw5
kwu
kwi
kx
kwe
qw5
qwu
qwi
qx
qwe

(156, 2456, 26)

(1245, 2456, 15)

lx
mx
rx
?x
bx
tx
*x
kx
:x
nx

(346, 1346)

(124, 1346)

(156, 2456, 136)


(156, 2456, 24)
(156, 1346)
(156, 2456, 15)
(1245, 2456, 26)
(1245, 2456, 136)
(1245, 2456, 24)
(1245, 1346)

(1356, 1346)
(356, 1346)
(145, 1346)
(245, 1346)
(1245, 1346)
(23456, 1346)
(14, 1346)
(2346, 1346)

:w5
:wu
:wi
:x
:we
gw5
gwu
gwi
gx
gwe
+x
zx
0x
dx
jx
gx
)x
cx
!x
fx

Geez Numerical Codes

(1, 1, 23)

(1, 14, 23)

(1, 25, 23)

(1, 36, 23)

(1, 15, 23)

(1, 26, 23)

(1, 24, 23)

(1, 35, 23)

(1, 12, 23)

10

(1, 13, 23)

aa2
ac2
a32
a-2
ae2
a52
ai2
a92
ab2
ak2

20

(1, 13, 14, 23)

30

(1, 13, 25, 23)

40

(1, 13, 36, 23)

50

(1, 13, 15, 23)

60

(1, 13, 26, 23)

70

(1, 13, 24, 23)

80

(1, 13, 35, 23)

90

(1, 13, 12, 23)

100 (1, 124, 1, 13)

akc2
ak32
ak-2
ake2
ak52
aki2
ak92
akb2
afak

Punctuation

tonal mark
wordspace
comma
semicolon
preface colon
period, full stop

(5)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

... quote

(236356)

single quote

(6, 236356, 3)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(6, 23562356, 3)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

hyphen

(25, 25)

dash

(36, 36)

/ slash

(5, 2)

* asterisk

(35, 35)

number sign

(3456)

(6, 3)
(2)
(23)
(25)
(256)

"
,'
1
2
3
4
8
6
80
,80'
77
,77'
'''
33
-"1
99
#

41

Finland
Languages: Finnish (uncontracted), Swedish (uncontracted)
Note: Finnish punctuation is used with Swedish text
Braille Standards Set by:
Braille-neuvottelukunta (Finnish Braille Authority)
braille@celia.fi
www.pistekirjoitus.fi
Literary Notation:
Hietaketo-Vieno, Kartovaara, Mntyl, Pytsi, Salo, Pistekirjoituksen perusteet, Brailleneuvottelukunta & Nkvammaisten kirjasto, Helsinki 2000
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Anneli Salo, Matematiikan, fysiikan ja kemian pistemerkinnt, Braille-neuvottelukunta & Celia
Nkvammaisten kirjasto, Helsinki 2004
Music Notation:
Bettye Krolick (toim.), Uusi kansainvlisen pistenuottikirjoituksen ksikirja, Brailleneuvottelukunta & Celia Nkvammaisten kirjasto, Helsinki 2006
Swedish Alphabet: See Swedish, page 203
Alphabet: Finnish
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(256)

42

1
2
3
'
5
4

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(1346)

(13456)

q
r
s
t
u
v
x
y

(1356)

(16)

(345)

(246)

(2456)

z
*
>
[
w

apostrophe

(5)

quote

(5656)

() parentheses

(236356)

[] brackets

(1235623456)

- hyphen

(36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

"
;;
80
()
/
9
,
#

France
Language: French (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Ministre charg des personnes handicapes
http://www.avh.asso.fr
Literary Notation:
Code Braille Franais Uniformis (CBFU) 2nd edition, September 2008
http://www.avh.asso.fr/rubriques/infos_braille/nouveau_code_braille.php
Mathematics Notation:
Notation mathmatique braille, 1st edition, January 2007
Science Notation:
Notation braille dans le domaine de la chimie, 1st edition, June 2008
Computer Notation:
Table braille informatique franaise (TBFR2007), 1st edition, October 2007
Music Notation:
Nouveau manuel international de notation musicale braille, 1996 edition
French Alphabet: See French, page 180

43

Gambia
Language: English (United Kingdom, contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Royal National Institute of the Blind (now UKAFF)
Literary Notation:
British Braille Revised Edition, 2005
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

44

Georgia
Language: Georgian (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Alphabet: Georgian

(1)

(12)

(1245)

(145)

(15)

(2456)

(1356)
(124)

a
b
g
d
e
w
z
f
i

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(245)

(1235)

k
l
m
n
o
p
j
r
s

(2345)
(136)

(1236)

(12456)

(1246)

(2346)

(156)

(12345)

t
u
v
]
$
!
:
q
c

(13456)

(1456)

(1346)

(125)

(246)

(12346)

y
?
x
h
[
&

(24)
(234)
(14)
Note: There is no distinction between upper- and lowercase letters in the Georgian alphabet.
Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(5, 1265, 345)

number sign

(3456)

paragraph separator

(34, 34)

1
2
3
4
8
6
80
"<">
#
//

45

Germany
Language: German (three contraction grades)
Basisschrift: no contractions; very rarely used.
Vollschrift: eight simple contractions for common vowel and consonant groups (publications for
younger school children and signage)
Kurzschrift: contracted (publications for adults and older schoolchildren)
Braille Standards Set by:
Authority of the German-Speaking Countries (Brailleschriftkomitee der deutschsprachige,
BSKDL)
Literary Notation:
Das System der deutschen Blindenschrift, 2005
Mathematics and Science Notation: (under revision)
Mathematikschrift fr Blinde, 2000
Neufassung und Vervollstndigung des Systems der internationalen Mathematikschrift fr
Blinde, 1986 (braille) and 1992 (print)
For use with computers and 8-dot hardcopy braille: various derivatives and adaptations of
LaTeX
Computer Notation:
Eurobraille, DIN 32982 (8-Punkt-Brailleschrift fr die Informationsverarbeitung/Information
processing 8-dot-Braille graphic characters) (1994) and in ISO Technical Report 11548-2
(2001)
Chemistry Notation:
Das System der Chemieschrift in der deutschen Blindenschrift, 2005
Music Notation:
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation (German translation)
Chess Notation:
Schachschrift fr Blinde, 2004
Shorthand Notation:
System der deutschen 6-Punkt-Stenografie fr Blinde, 2002
IPA Braille:
Weltlautschrift fr Blinde, 1938, reprinted 2010
Considering adoption of the code used in Unified English Braille with minimal adaptions for the
German braille code
Ancient and New Testament Greek:
Internationale griechische Blindenschrift, 1939
All Other Languages:
Uncontracted codes of the languages are used. English is occasionally contracted.
German Alphabet: See German, page 182
46

Ghana
Languages: English (contracted), Twi (uncontracted), Ew (uncontracted), Ga (uncontracted),
Dagaare (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Braille Council of Ghana
Ghana Blind Union
braillecouncilofghana@gmail.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Science Notation:
Braille Science Notation, 2008
Computer Notation:
Braille Computer Notation, 2006
Music Notation:
Music Braille Code, 1997
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Ew Alphabet: See Ew, page 179
Alphabet: Twi
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(12456)

(124)

a
b
d
e
]
f

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(13)

(123)

m (134)

g
h
i
k
l
m

(1345)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

n
o
[
p
r
s

(2345)

(136)

(2456)

(13456)

t
u
w
y

47

Alphabet: Ga
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(12456)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
d
e
]
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(13)

(123)

h
i
j
k
l
m
n

(346)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(1345)

(346)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(234)

+
o
[
p
r
s
t

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(2345)

(136)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

u
v
w
y

Alphabet: Dagaare
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(12456)

(124)

a
b
d
e
]
f

m (134)

Punctuation: Ghanaian Languages


Same as English

Greece
Language: Greek (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Greek Alphabet: See Greek, page 183

48

g
h
i
k
l
m

n
+
o
[
p
s

t
u
w
y
z

Grenada
Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Guatemala
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

49

Haiti
Language: French (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
Code Braille Franais Uniformis (CBFU) 2nd edition, September 2008
http://www.avh.asso.fr/rubriques/infos_braille/nouveau_code_braille.php
Mathematics Notation:
Notation mathmatique braille, 1st edition, January 2007
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
Science Notation:
Notation braille dans le domaine de la chimie, 1st edition, June 2008
Computer Notation:
Table braille informatique franaise (TBFR2007), 1st edition, October 2007
Music Notation:
Nouveau manuel international de notation musicale braille, 1996 edition
French Alphabet: See French, page 180

50

Honduras
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

51

Hong Kong
Languages: English (contracted), Cantonese (uncontracted and no space between words)
Will adopt Unified English Braille at a later date
Braille Standards Set by:
The Hong Kong Society for the Blind
http://www.hksb.org.hk
Literary Notation:
English: Braille Authority of North America: English Braille American Edition
English: Braille Authority of North America: Braille Formats: Principles of Print-to-BrailleTranscription
Cantonese: The Canossa School for the Visually Disabled: Chinese (Cantonese) Braille Code
1982
Cantonese: The Hong Kong Society for the Blind: Cantonese Braille Punctuation, 1998
Mathematics Notation:
Braille Authority of the United Kingdom: Braille Mathematics Notation
Science Notation:
Braille Authority of the United Kingdom: Braille Science Notation
Music Notation:
Braille Authority of North America: Music Braille Code, 1997
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Cantonese Alphabet: See Cantonese, page 169

Hungary
Language: Hungarian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Braille Authority of MVGYOSZ
Literary Notation:
Hungarian Dot Writing Grade 1 (A magyar pontrs teljesrs), by Mikls Grgnyi,
Budapest, 1998
Mathematics and Chemistry Notation:
Mikls Bn dr. & Gza Ambrzy, Braille Codes in Mathematics and Chemistry, 1952
Hungarian Alphabet: See Hungarian, page 188

52

Iceland
Languages: Icelandic (uncontracted)
English (uncontracted) and Danish (uncontracted) for foreign language requirement
German (uncontracted), Spanish (uncontracted), or French (uncontracted) for option third
language
All foreign textbooks scanned and embossed in Grade 0 (uncontracted code), sometimes with
improvisation (discussions in Iceland to change this and start teaching contracted braille
codes for a given language)
Will likely adopt Unified English Braille at a later date
Braille Standards Set by:
Icelandic Braille Authority (IBA)
Iceland National Institute for the Visually Impaired
http://www.midstod.is/english/the-icelandic-braille-committee/
Literary Notation:
IceBraille, 2010 (Icelandic Braille Standard)
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Evaluating codes at this time, will most likely go with Nemeth and, possibly, raw LaTeX source
code, depending on student preferences
Computer Notation:
8-dot IceBraille
Music Notation:
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, WBU, 1996
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Danish Alphabet: See Danish, page 173
German Alphabet: See German, page 182
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201
French Alphabet: See French, page 180

53

Alphabet: Icelandic
a

(1)

(16)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(156)

(15)

(2346)

(124)

a
*
b
c
d
:
e
!
f

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(126)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

g
h
i
<
j
k
l
m
n

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(5)

quote

(23562356)

single quote

(55)

() parentheses

(236356)

[] brackets

(1235623456)

ellipsis

(6)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

54

1
2
3
'
5
6
"
77
""
80
()
,
-/
9
,
#

(135)

(1456)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(12456)

o
?
p
q
r
s
t
u
]

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(12346)

(1356)

(1246)

(345)

(246)

v
w
x
y
&
z
$
>
[

India
Languages: Hindi (Official Language of India), English (contracted), Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati,
Bengali, Kannada, Punjabi, Assamese, Malayalam, Nepali, Oriya, Telugu, Urdu
Bharati Braille Code is the collective name given to the all the languages of India.
Contractions have been prepared for Hindi, Oriya, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil,
and Malayalam but they are not widely used.
Braille Standards Set by:
National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH), Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttrakhand
State is responsible for standardization of braille codes through its Braille Development Unit. In
the year 2008 the Government of India constituted the Braille Council of India. NIVH is
serving as its Secretariat.
Literary Notation:
Bharati Braille, April, 1951, (Name of the language concerned is preceded by the phrase
Bharati Braille), viz. Bharati Braille (Hindi), Bharati Braille (Assamese), etc.
Mathematics Notation:
Braille Mathematics and Science Code for India, 1989
Music Notation:
The Braille Code for Hindustani Sangeet, 1982
Braille notation for Carnatik Music, 2008
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

55

Alphabet: Hindi

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(26)

(15)

ai

(34)

(1346)

(135)

au

(246)

(5, 1235)

(6, 1235)

(5, 123)

(6, 123)

(13)

kh

(46)

(1245)

a
>
i
9
u
\
5
e
/
x
o
[
"r
,r
"l
,l
k
.
g

<
+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n
p
6

gh

(126)

(346)

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

(1234)

ph

(235)

Visarga

Candrabindu (3)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(456)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

(156)

/ (12456)

(5, 12456)

(124)

(1356)

Avagraha

b
^
m
y
r
l
_
v
%
&
s
h
q
:
]
"]
f
z

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Anusvara

(56)

@
;

(6)

,
'

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

56

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

(2)

Alphabet: Tamil

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(26)

(15)

ai

(34)

(1346)

(135)

au

a
>
i
9
u
\
5
e
/
x
o
[

(246)

(13)

(346)

(14)

(245)

(25)

(23456)

(3456)

(2345)

(1345)

(1234)

(134)

(13456)

k
+
c
j
3
)
#
t
n
p
m
y

(1235)

(123)

(456)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

/ (12456)

(12356)

(56)

r
l
_
v
%
&
s
h
q
]
(
;

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Visarga (6)

@
,

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

57

Alphabet: Marathi

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(26)

(15)

ai

(34)

(1346)

(135)

au

(246)

(5, 1235)

(6, 1235)

(5, 123)

(6, 123)

(13)

kh

(46)

(1245)

a
>
i
9
u
\
5
e
/
x
o
[
"r
,r
"l
,l
k
.
g

<
+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n
p
6

gh

(126)

(346)

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

(1234)

ph

(235)

Visarga

Candrabindu (3)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(456)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

(156)

/ (12456)

(5, 12456)

(124)

(1356)

Avagraha

b
^
m
y
r
l
_
v
%
&
s
h
q
:
]
"]
f
z

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Anusvara

(56)

@
;

(6)

,
'

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

58

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

(2)

Alphabet: Gujarati

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(15)

ai

(34)

a
>
i
9
u
\
e
/
o
[
"r
,r
k
.
g
<

(1)

(135)

au (246)

(5, 1235)

(6, 1235)

(13)

kh (46)

gh (126)

(1245)

+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n

(346)

(14)

ch (16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

h (123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh (2346)

Visarga

Candrabindu (3)

(1345)

ph (235)

bh (45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(456)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

(156)

Avagraha

(1234)

(12)

p
6
b
^
m
y
r
l
_
v
%
&
s
h
q
:

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Anusvara

(56)

@
;

(6)

,
'

(2)

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j
59

Alphabet: Bengali

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(26)

(15)

ai

(34)

(135)

au

(246)

(5, 1235)

(5, 123)

(13)

kh

(46)

(1245)

gh

(126)

a
>
i
9
u
\
5
e
/
o
[
"r
"l
k
.
g
<

(346)

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

(1234)

+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n
p

ph

(235)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

(156)

/ (12456)

(5, 12456)

6
b
^
m
y
r
l
v
%
&
s
h
q
:
]
"]

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Anusvara

(56)

@
;

Visarga

Candrabindu (3)

(6)

,
'

Avagraha

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

60

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

(2)

Alphabet: Kannada

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(26)

(15)

ai

(34)

(1346)

(135)

au

(246)

(5, 1235)

(6, 1235)

(13)

kh

(46)

(1245)

a
>
i
9
u
\
5
e
/
x
o
[
"r
,r
k
.
g

gh

(126)

(346)

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

Anusvara

<
+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n

(1234)

ph

(235)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(456)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

/ (12456)

Visarga

p
6
b
^
m
y
r
l
_
v
%
&
s
h
q
]

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

(56)

(6)

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j
61

Alphabet: Punjabi (Gurmukhi script)

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(15)

ai

(34)

(1346)

(135)

au

(246)

(13)

kh

(46)

(1245)

gh

(126)

(346)

a
>
i
9
u
\
e
/
x
o
[
k
.
g
<
+

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

(1234)

c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n
p

ph

(235)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(456)

(1236)

(146)

(234)

(125)

/ (12456)

(5, 12456)

(124)

(1356)

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Anusvara

(56)

@
;

Visarga

(6)

Candrabindu

(3)

,
'

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

62

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

6
b
^
m
y
r
l
_
v
%
s
h
]
"]
f
z

Alphabet: Assamese

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(26)

(15)

ai

(34)

(135)

au

(246)

(5, 1235)

(5, 123)

(13)

kh

(46)

(1245)

gh

(126)

a
>
i
9
u
\
5
e
/
o
[
"r
"l
k
.
g
<

(346)

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

(1234)

+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n
p

ph

(235)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

(156)

/ (12456)

(5, 12456)

6
b
^
m
y
r
l
v
%
&
s
h
q
:
]
"]

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Anusvara

(56)

@
;

Visarga

Candrabindu (3)

(6)

,
'

Avagraha

(2)

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

63

Alphabet: Malayalam

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(26)

(15)

ai

(34)

(1346)

(135)

au (246)

(5, 1235)

(6, 1235)

(5, 123)

(6, 123)

(13)

kh (46)

a
>
i
9
u
\
5
e
/
x
o
[
"r
,r
"l
,l
k
.

(1245)

gh

(126)

(346)

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

g
<
+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n

(1234)

ph

(235)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(456)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

/ (12456)

(12356)

p
6
b
^
m
y
r
l
_
v
%
&
s
h
q
]
(

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Anusvara (56)

Visarga

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

64

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

(6)

Alphabet: Nepali

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(26)

(15)

ai

(34)

(1346)

(135)

au

(246)

(5, 1235)

(6, 1235)

(5, 123)

(6, 123)

(13)

kh

(46)

(1245)

a
>
i
9
u
\
5
e
/
x
o
[
"r
,r
"l
,l
k
.
g

<
+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n
p
6

gh

(126)

(346)

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

(1234)

ph

(235)

Visarga

Candrabindu (3)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(456)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

(156)

/ (12456)

(5, 12456)

(124)

(1356)

Avagraha

b
^
m
y
r
l
_
v
%
&
s
h
q
:
]
"]
f
z

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Anusvara

(56)

@
;

(6)

,
'

(2)

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j
65

Alphabet: Oriya

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(26)

(15)

ai

(34)

(135)

au

(246)

(5, 1235)

(6, 1235)

(5, 123)

(6, 123)

(13)

kh

(46)

(1245)

a
>
i
9
u
\
5
e
/
o
[
"r
,r
"l
,l
k
.
g

gh

(126)

<
+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n
p

(346)

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

(1234)

@
;

Visarga

Candrabindu (3)

ph

(235)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(456)

/ v

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

(156)

(12456)

(5, 12456)

6
b
^
m
y
r
l
_
v
%
&
s
h
q
:
]
"]

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Anusvara

(56)

(6)

,
'

Avagraha

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

66

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

(2)

Alphabet: Telugu

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

(136)

(1256)

(26)

(15)

ai

(34)

(1346)

(135)

au

(246)

(5, 1235)

(6, 1235)

(5, 123)

(6, 123)

(13)

kh

(46)

a
>
i
9
u
\
5
e
/
x
o
[
"r
,r
"l
,l
k
.

(1245)

g
<
+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w
$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n

gh

(126)

(346)

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

jh

(356)

(25)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(3456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

@
;

Visarga

Candrabindu (3)

(1234)

ph

(235)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(456)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

/ (12456)

Avagraha

p
6
b
^
m
y
r
l
_
v
%
&
s
h
q
]

Diacritics

Virama

(4)

Anusvara

(56)

(6)

,
'

(2)

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j
67

Alphabet: Urdu

(345)

(35)

(1256)

(15)

ai

(34)

(1346)

(135)

au

(246)

(13)

kh

(46)

(1245)

gh

(126)

(14)

ch

(16)

(245)

>
9
\
e
/
x
o
[
k
.
g
<
c
*
j

jh

(356)

(23456)

(2456)

(1246)

(123456)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1345)

(1234)

ph

(235)

(12)

bh

(45)

(134)

0
)
w
$
=
t
?
d
!
n
p
6
b
^
m

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

(234)

(125)

(12345)

(156)

/ (12456)
h

(5, 12456)

(12356)

(124)

(1356)

Numbers

1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)

4 (3456, 145)

5 (3456, 15)

68

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)

7 (3456, 1245)

8 (3456, 125)

9 (3456, 24)

0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

y
r
l
v
%
&
s
h
q
:
]
"]
(
f
z

Punctuation: Indian Languages


, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

danda, . period, full stop

(256)

double danda

(256, 256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(2)

quote

(236356)

[] brackets

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

* asterisk

(35, 35)

capital *

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics
(46)
* Capital used only when transcribing English

1
2
3
4
44
8
6
1
80
77
-99
,
#
.

69

Indonesia
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (usually uncontracted), English (contracted)
Literary Arabic is used for reading the Holy Koran
Braille Standards Set by:
Directorat of Special Education, Directorat General of Primary Education, Ministry of Education
and Culture, Republic of Indonesia
Literary Notation:
Bahasa Indonesia: Indonesian Braille, 2000
English: English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Bahasa Indonesia: Indonesian Braille, 2000
English: Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
Music Notation:
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, WBU, 1996
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
Alphabet: Bahasa Indonesia
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

h
i
j
k
l
m
n

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

o
p
q
r
s
t
u

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

v
w
x
y
z

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

70

1
2
3
4
8
6
'
80

() parentheses

(23562356)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35, 35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(46)

77
'''
/
99
,
#
.

Iran
Languages: Farsi (uncontracted), English (contracted), Arabic for embossing the Koran
(uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Special Education Organization, a sub-division of Ministry of Education of Iran
http://seo.medu.ir
Literary Notation:
Farsi Braille, Grade 1
Mathematics Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Computer Notation:
Braille Computer Notation, 2006 (UK)
Computer Braille Code, 2000 Revision (US)
Music Notation:
Music Braille Code, 1997
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
Alphabet: Farsi

aa

(345)

a/e/o (1)
b

(12)

(1234)

(2345)

(1456)

(245)

ch

(14)

(156)

kh

(1346)

(145)

>
a
b
p
t
?
j
c
:
x
d
!

(1235)

(1356)

zh

(346)

(234)

sh

(146)

(12346)

(1246)

(23456)

(123456)

a/

(12356)

gh

(126)

r
z
+
s
%
&
$
)
=
(
<
f

*
*

gh

(12345)

(13)

(1245)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(125)

(2456)

i/y

(24)

aa

)135(

q
k
g
l
m
n
h
w
i
o

z
(2346)
f
(124)
* In modern Persian, it is sometimes not written with the dots 135 and due to its shape/usage
that is like Persian , it may be written as the same letter and as a result may be written with
the dots 24 as in the letter .

71

Numbers

number sign (3456)


1

(3456, 1)

(3456, 12)

(3456, 14)

(3456, 145)

(3456, 15)

#
#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

! exclamation

(235)

? question mark

(236)

() parentheses

(23562356)

quote

(236356)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

72

1
2
3
4
6
8
77
80
--

(3456, 124)

(3456, 1245)

(3456, 125)

(3456, 24)

(3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

Ireland
Languages: English (contracted), Irish Gaelic (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Irish National Braille and Alternative Format Association (INBAF)
info@inbaf.ie
http://www.inbaf.ie
UKAAF
www.ukaaf.org
Literary Notation:
Braille Primer, 2008
Languages and Linguistics:
Braille Gaelic Code: as per usage and agreements, currently under INBAF review
Braille Notation Guides: Using the Braille French Code (RNIB 2007)
Using the Braille German Code (RNIB 2007)
Using the Braille Spanish Code (RNIB 2007)
Welsh Braille Code, 2006
An Updated Tactile Representation of the International Phonetic Alphabet, 2008
Computer Notation:
Braille Computer Notation, BAUK, RNIB Peterborough 1996/2006
Mathematics Notation:
RNIB Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005 edition, RNIB Using the Braille Mathematics Code,
2007
Science Notation:
Braille Science Notation, 2008 and RNIB Using the Braille Science Code, 2008
Music Notation:
Focus on Braille Music, 2004
Chess Code:
Braille Chess Code and Layout, 2001
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Irish Gaelic Alphabet: See Irish Gaelic, page 189

73

Israel
Languages: Hebrew (uncontracted), Arabic (uncontracted), English (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
The Central Library for the Blind
Literary Notation:
Braille Book: Writing and Editing, 1988
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision [additional symbols have
been added]
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Alphabet: Hebrew, Consonants

74

alef

(1)

bet

(12)

vet

(1236)

gimel

(45, 1245)

gimel

(1245)

dalet

(45, 145)

dalet

(145)

he

(45, 125)

he

(125)

vav

(2456)

zayin

(1356)

et

(1346)

tet

(2345)

yod

(245)

kaf

(13)

a
b
v
^g
g
^d
d
^h
h
w
z
x
t
j
k

,
,

,
,

khaf

(16)

lamed

(123)

mem

(134)

nun

(1345)

same

(234)

ayin

(1246)

pe

(1234)

fe

(124)

tsadi

(2346)

qof

(12345)

resh

(1235)

shin

(146)

sin

(156)

tav

(1256)

tav

(1456)

*
l
m
n
s
$
p
f
!
q
r
%
:
\
?

Vowels and Pronunciation Aids

pata

(14)

ataf pata

(25)

tsere

(34)

segol

(15)

ataf segol

(26)

iriq aser

(24)

iriq male

(35)

c
3
/
e
5
i
9

olam male

(135)

olam aser

(246)

qamats

(126)

ataf qamats

(345)

qubuts

(136)

shuruq

(346)

shva

(6)

o
[
<
>
u
+
,

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(6, 23562356, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35, 35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
3
4
8
6
'
80
77
,77'
-/
99
,
#

75

Italy
Language: Italian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Biblioteca Italiana per i ciechi Regina Margherita (Italian Library for the Blind Regina
Margherita NPO)
www.bibciechi.it
bic@bibciechi.it
Music Notation:
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, WBU, 1996
Italian Alphabet: See Italian, page 190

Jamaica
Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

76

Japan
Language: Japanese (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
The Braille Authority of Japan
http://www.braille.jp
Literary Notation:
Japanese Braille Notation, 1990
Mathematics Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 1981
Science Notation:
Braille Science Notation, 1983
Computer Notation:
Japanese Braille Code for Computer, 1981
Music Notation:
Japanese Braille Code for Music, 1965
Japanese Alphabet: See Japanese, page 191

Jordan
Language: Arabic (uncontracted), English (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

77

Kazakhstan
Languages: Kazakh (uncontracted), Russian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
The Kazakhstan Society for the Blind
Literary Notation:
Kazakh: The Kazakh Braille Code
Russian: Contractions for the Blind, 1978
Mathematics and Science Notation:
System of Symbols for Math
Physics, Chemistry, and Astronomy: A Learning Aid, 1982
Russian Alphabet: See Russian, page 200
Alphabet: Kazakh

(1)

(345)

(12)

(2456)

(1245)

(12456)

(145)

(15)

(16)

(245)

(1356)

a
>
b
w
g
]
d
e
*
j
z

(24)

(12346)

(13)

(1456)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(146)

(1236)

(135)

(126)

i
&
k
?
l
m
n
%
v
o
<

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(34)

(346)

(124)

(125)

(14)

(12345)

p
r
s
t
u
/
+
f
h
c
q

(156)
(1346)

(12356)

(13456)

(2346)

(23456)

(246)

(1256)

(1246)

:
x
(
y
!
)
[
\
$

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

78

1
2
3
4
5
6

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(126345)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

80
<>
.
#
_

Kenya
Languages: English (contracted), Kiswahili (contracted), French (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Kenya Bureau of Standards
www.kebs.org
Literary Notation:
English: Braille Primer with Exercises based on British Braille, Revised Edition 1992, Reprinted
with Corrections, 2001
Kiswahili: Swahili Braille Primer, 1993
Mathematics Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notations, 1987
Science Notation:
Braille Science Notations, 1989
Music Notation:
A Guide to Braille Music Notation, 1974
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Kiswahili Alphabet: See Kiswahili, page 193
French Alphabet: See French, page 180

Kuwait
Languages: Arabic (uncontracted), English (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

79

Kyrgyzstan
Languages: Russian (uncontracted), Kyrgyz (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Kyrgyz Association of Blind and Deaf People
erc@elcat.kg
Russian Alphabet: See Russian, page 200
Alphabet: Kyrgyz

(1)

(12)

(2456)

(1245)

(145)

(15)

(16)

(245)

(1356)

a
b
w
g
d
e
*
j
z

(25)

(12346)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(13456)

(135)

(34)

3
&
k
l
m
n
y
o
/

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(124)

(125)

(14)

p
r
s
t
u
v
f
h
c

(12345)

(156)
(1346)

(12356)

(2346)

(23456)

(246)

(1256)

(1246)

q
:
x
(
!
)
[
\
$

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

80

1
2
3
4
8
6

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

80
77
.
#
_

Laos (Lao Peoples Democratic Republic)


Language: Lao (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Lao Association of the Blind
Braille Code:
Lao Braille Code
Alphabet: Lao, Consonants
k

(1245)

kh (13)

kh (136)

(12456)

(245)

(234)

(2346)

(13456)

(145)

g
k
u
]
j
s
!
y
d

(1256)

th

(2345)

th

(23456)

(1345)

(1236)

(12346)

\
t
)
n
v
&
p
x
?

ph (1234)
f

(1346)

(1456)

(1246)

(134)

(6, 13456)

(1235)

(123)

(2456)

(125)

(135)

(123456)

$
m
,y
r
l
w
h
o
=

Compound Consonants

nhau

(125, 1345)

mhau

(125, 134)

nyhau

(125, 13456)

hn
hm
hy

lhau

(125, 123)

whau

(125, 2456)

(125, 12456)

nghau

hl
hw
h]

81

Vowels
X

(1)

aa

(16)

(12)

ii

(23)

(246)

(26)

(36)

uu

(25)

(124, 1)

ee

(124)

(126, 1)

(126)

a
*
b
2
[
5
3
fa
f
<a
<

(24, 1)

oo

(24)

(135, 1)

(135)

(146, 1)

(146)

ia

(12356, 1)

ia

(12356)

ua

(15, 1)

ua

(15)

a (12345, 1)

(12345)

ia
i
oa
o
%a
%
(a
(
ea
e
qa
q

Special Vowel Symbols


X

ai

(156)

ai

(156, 2)

aw

(235)

am

(1356)

(k)ong

(14)

(k)an

(345)

oi

(456)

(symbol for word repetition) (2)

:
:1
6
z
c
>
_
1

Intonation Symbols
(35)

82

(256)

(2356)

(236)

Numbers

(3456, 1)

(3456, 12)

(3456, 14)

(3456, 145)

(3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

(3456, 124)

(3456, 1245)

(3456, 125)

(3456, 24)

(3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

Punctuation
, comma

(456, 2)

; semicolon

(456, 23)

: colon

(456, 25)

. period, full stop

(456, 256)

? question mark

(456, 236)

! exclamation

(456, 235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

number sign

(3456)

_1
_2
_3
_4
_8
_6
80
77
#

Latvia
Language: Latvian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latvian Society of the Blind (LSB)
lnbcv@e-apollo.lv
http://www.lnbrc.lv/english.htm
The Latvian Library for the Blind
info@neredzigobiblioteka.lv
http://www.neredzigobiblioteka.lv/
Braille Code:
Latvian Braille Code

83

Alphabet: Latvian
a

(1)

(16)

(12)

(14)

(146)

(145)

(15)

(156)

(124)

a
*
b
c
%
d
e
:
f

(1245)

(12456)

(125)

(24)

(246)

(245)

(13)

(136)

(123)

g
]
h
i
[
j
k
u
l

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(25)

/ slash (in text)

(456, 123)

/ slash (on box)

(34)

number sign

(3456)

uppercase

(46)

lowercase

(6)

84

1
2
3
4
5
6
'
80
77
3
_l
/
#
.
,

(1236)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(13456)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2346)

v
m
n
y
o
p
r
s
!

(2345)

(34)

(346)

(2456)

(345)

(3456)

t
/
+
w
>
#

Lebanon
Language: Arabic (uncontracted), English (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Liberia
Language: English (BANA contracted)
Literary Notation:
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Libya
Language: Arabic (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166

85

Lithuania
Language: Lithuanian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania
Literary Notation:
Reformed Lithuanian Braille Alphabet, 2000
Computer Notation:
Lithuanian Single Eight-dot Braille Writing System, 2011
Alphabet: Lithuanian
a

(1)

(16)

(12)

(14)

(146)

(145)

(15)

(156)

(345)

a
*
b
c
%
d
e
:
>

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(246)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)

f
g
h
i
[
j
k
l
m

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2346)

(2345)

(136)

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop, dot

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

ellipsis

(256, 256, 256)

- hyphen, minus

(36)

/ slash, oblique stroke

(34)

86

1
2
3
4
5
6
'
80
77
444
/

n
o
p
q
r
s
!
t
u

(1256)

(346)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(126)

\
+
v
w
x
y
z
<

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

9
.
#

Luxembourg
Languages: Luxembourgish (uncontracted), French (uncontracted), German (uncontracted),
English (uncontracted)
6-dot braille is used for beginners (4-6 years old), and students are transitioned to 8-dot braille
when they start reading numbers in primary school
Braille Standards Set by:
LInstitut pour Deficients Visuels
idv@ediff.lu
http://www.idv.lu
Literary Notation:
Luxembourgish Literary Braille Code
French Literary Braille Code
German Literary Braille Code
English Literary Braille Code
Computer Notation:
Eurobraille (ISO/IEC 8859-1)
Music Notation:
Neues internationales Handbuch der Braillenotenschrift, 1998
French Alphabet: See French, page 180
German Alphabet: See German, page 182
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

87

Alphabet: Luxembourgish
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x

(13456)

(1356)

(3458)

(12468)

(1234568)

Numbers
1 (16)
2 (126)
3 (146)

1
2
3

4 (1456)
5 (156)
6 (1246)

4
5
6

7 (12456)
8 (1256)
9 (246)

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(5)

apostrophe

(6)

quote

(44)

() parentheses

(236356)

[] brackets

(123567234567)

{} braces

(1235623456)

capital

(7)

88

,
;
:
.
?
!
'
""
()
[]
{}

7
8
9

0 (346)

y
z

Macedonia
Language: Macedonian (uncontracted)
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt. Neufassung und Vervollstandigung des Systems der
Internationalen Mathematikschrift fur Blinde. Revised ed. Marburg and Zurich: Deutsche
Blindenstudienanstalt, 1986
Mathematik und Chemieschrift fur Blinde. Marburg, 1930
Alphabet: Macedonian

(1)

(12)

(1236)

(1245)

(145)

gj

(345)

(15)

(2346)

(1356)

dz (1256)

(24)

a
b
v
g
d
>
e
!
z
\
i

(245)

(13)

(123)

lj

(126)

(134)

(1345)

nj

(1246)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

j
k
l
<
m
n
$
o
p
r
s

(2345)

kj

(34)

(136)

(124)

(125)

(14)

(16)

d (12456)

(156)

t
/
u
f
h
c
*
]
:

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

1
2
3
4
5

! exclamation

(235)

() parentheses

(23562356)

quote

(236356)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

6
77
80
.
#

89

Madagascar
Languages: Malagasy (contracted), French (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
French Alphabet: See French, page 180
Alphabet: Malagasy
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

90

a
b
d
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

h
i
j
k
l
m

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

n
o
p
r
s
t

(1236)

(13456)

(1356)

v
y
z

Malaysia
Languages: Malay (contracted after Year 4), English (UK), Arabic (for transcription of Quran),
Mandarin (for leisure)
Braille Standards Set by:
National Council for the Blind Malaysia
http://www.ncbm.org.my/
Literary Notation:
Malay: Malay Braille Code Revision, 2004
English: British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
Chinese: Xian Sing Mang Wen, 1953
Mathematics Notation:
Malay: Malay Braille Code Revision, 2004
English: Braille Mathematics Notation, 1987
Arabic: not in use
Chinese: not in use
Science Notation:
English: Adapt from United Kingdom as necessary
Computer Notation:
English: Computer Braille Code, 2000 Revision (BANA)
Music Notation:
English: New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1996
Other Codebooks:
Arabic: Arabic Braille for the transcription of Quran.
Chinese: Chinese Braille for leisure (Xian Sing Mang Wen, 1953)
Malay Alphabet: See Malay, page 194
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
Mandarin Alphabet: See Mandarin, page 195

91

Malta
Language: Maltese (uncontracted)
Alphabet: Maltese
a

(1)

(12)

(16)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(245)

(1245)

a
b
*
d
e
f
j
g

g (126)
h

(125)

(156)

(24)

ie

(24, 15)

(13456)

(13)

(123)

<
h
:
i
ie
y
k
l

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

92

1
2
3
4
5
6
'
80
77
.
#

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(146)

(1356)

(12356)

u
v
w
%
z
(

Mauritania
Languages: Arabic (uncontracted); French (uncontracted)
Literary Notation:
French: Code Braille Franais Uniformis (CBFU) 2nd edition, September 2008
http://www.avh.asso.fr/rubriques/infos_braille/nouveau_code_braille.php
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
French Alphabet: See French, page 180

Mauritius
Languages: English (contracted), French (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
French Alphabet: See French, page 180

Mexico
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

93

Moldova
Languages: Romanian (contracted), Russian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Moldova Blind Union
Romanian Alphabet: See Romanian, page 199
Russian Alphabet: See Russian, page 200

Mongolia
Language: Mongolian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Mongolian National Federation of the Blind
Alphabet: Mongolian

(1)

(12)

(2456)

(1245)

(145)

(15)

(16)

(245)

(1356)

a
b
w
g
d
e
*
j
z

(24)

(12346)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(1236)

(1234)

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

94

1
4
5
6

i
&
k
l
m
n
o
v
p

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1456)

(124)

(125)

(14)

(12345)

r
s
t
u
?
f
h
c
q

(156)
(1346)

(12356)

(2346)

(23456)

(246)

(1256)

(1246)

:
x
(
!
)
[
\
$

Morocco
Language: Arabic
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166

Myanmar, Republic of the Union of (also called Burma)


Language: Burmese (uncontracted)
Alphabet: Burmese

Ka

(13)

Kha

(46)

Ga

(1245)

Gha

(12345)

Nga

(34)

Ca

(234)

Cha

(235)

Ja

(1356)

Jha

(2346)

Nya

(12356)

Tta

(1256)

k
.
g
q
/
s
6
z
!
(
\

Ttha

(12456)

Dda

(23456)

Ddha

(123456)

Nna

(1246)

Ta

(2345)

Tha

(245)

Da

(145)

Dha

(124)

Na

(1345)

Pa

(1234)

Pha

(45)

]
)
=
$
t
j
d
f
n
p
^

Ba

(146)

Bha

(12)

Ma

(134)

Ya

(13456)

Ra

(1235)

La

(123)

Wa

(2456)

Sa

(1456)

Ha

(125)

Lla

(456)

(126)

%
b
m
y
r
l
w
?
h
_
<

Numbers
1 (3456, 1)

2 (3456, 12)

3 (3456, 14)
4 (3456, 145)
5 (3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

6 (3456, 124)
7 (3456, 1245)
8 (3456, 125)
9 (3456, 24)
0 (3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

95

Nepal
Languages: Nepali (contracted), English (contracted)
Braille Code:
Nepali Braille Code, 2006
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Alphabet: Nepali, Vowels

(1)

(345)

(24)

(35)

a
>
i
9

(136)

(1256)

(15)

ai

(34)

u
\
e
/

(135)

au

(246)

a (56)

(6)

o
[
;
,

Consonants

ka

(13)

kha (46)
ga

(1245)

gha (126)
a

(346)

ca

(14)

cha (16)
ja

(245)

jha

(356)

(25)

(23456)

ha

96

(2456)

k
.
g
<
+
c
*
j
0
3
)
w

(1246)

ha (123456)
a

(3456)

ta

(2345)

tha

(1456)

da

(145)

dha (2346)
na

(1345)

pa

(1234)

pha (235)
ba

(12)

bha (45)

$
=
#
t
?
d
!
n
p
6
b
^

ma

(134)

ya

(13456)

(1235)

ra

la

(123)

wa

(1236)

(146)

(12346)

sa

(234)

ha

(125)

ka (12345)
tra

(5, 12456)

ja

(156)

m
y
r
l
v
%
&
s
h
q
"]
:

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. , danda, period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

single quote

(33)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(46, 12646, 345)

{} braces

(456, 126456, 345)

- hyphen

(36)

* asterisk

(5, 35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
3
4
8
6
80
''
77
.<.>
_<_>
"9
,
#

Netherlands
Language: Dutch (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Oogvereniging
info@oogvereniging.nl
www.Viziris.nl
Literary Notation:
Braillestandaard voor algemeen gebruik in het Nederlandse taalgebied, 2005
Computer Notation:
Braille tables derived from literary tables implemented in screenreaders, sold in Netherlands:
Jaws, Supernova, and NVDA
Pharma Braille:
www.pharmabraille.com
Dutch Alphabet: See Dutch, page 174

97

New Zealand
Languages: English: Unified English Braille (contracted), Mori (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
The Braille Authority of New Zealand Aotearoa Trust (BANZAT)
http://banzat.org.nz/
International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
http://www.iceb.org/
Literary Notation:
The Rules of Unified English Braille, 2010
Unified English Braille Manual, New Zealand Edition, 2011
Mathematics, Science, and Computer Notation:
The Rules of Unified English Braille, 2010
Unified English Braille Guidelines for Technical Materials, 2008
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision (until transition to Unified
English Braille is complete)
Music Notation:
Music Braille Code, 1997
Introduction to Braille Music Transcription, Second Edition, Mary Turner De Garmo, 2005
IPA Braille:
An Updated Tactile Representation of the International Phonetic Alphabet, 2008
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Alphabet: Mori
a

(1)

(15)

(125)

(24)

(13)

(134)

(1345)

a
e
h
i
k
m
n

Punctuation
Same as English

98

ng

(1345, 1245)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(2345)

(136)

(2456)

ng
o
p
r
t
u
w

wh (156)

(456, 1)

(456, 15)

(456, 24)

(456, 135)

(456, 136)

:
_a
_e
_i
_o
_u

Nicaragua
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

Nigeria
Language: English: Unified English Braille (contracted); Hausa (limited contractions), Igbo
(limited contractions), Yoruba (limited contractions)
Braille Standards Set by:
Braille Advancement Association of Nigeria (BRAAN)
International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
http://www.iceb.org/
Literary Notation:
The Rules of Unified English Braille, 2010
Mathematics and Science Notation:
The Rules of Unified English Braille, 2010
Unified English Braille Guidelines for Technical Materials, 2008
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

99

Alphabet: Hausa
a

(1)

(12)

(23)

(14)

(145)

(1246)

(15)

a
b
2
c
d
$
e

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(46)

f
g
h
i
j
k
.

<
h
i
9
j
k
l
m

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

kw (12345)
r

(1235)

(234)

(1345)

(346)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

l
m
n
o
q
r
s

sh (146)
ts

(34)

(136)

(2456)

(13456)

(12346)

(1356)

sh

(146)

(136)

(1256)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

%
/
u
w
y
&
z

Alphabet: Igbo
a

(1)

(12)

gb (23)
ch

(16)

(145)

(26)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
2
*
d
5
f
g

gh (126)
h

(125)

(24)

(35)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

kw (12345)
r

(1235)

(234)

(1345)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(146)

n
+
o
[
p
q
r
s

%
u
\
v
w
y
z

Alphabet: Yoruba
a

(1)

(12)

gb (23)
d

(145)

(15)

(26)

(124)

a
b
2
d
e
5
f

Punctuation: Nigerian Languages


Same as English

100

g
h
i
j
k
l
m

n
o
[
p
r
s
%

u
v
w
y

Norway
Languages: Norwegian Bokml (national, uncontracted), Norwegian Nynorsk (national,
uncontracted), North Smi (indigenous, uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Offentlig utvalg for punktskrift
www.punktskriftutvalget.no
oup@punktskriftutvalget.no
Literary Notation:
Hndbok i litterr punktskrift, 2012
Mathematics Notation:
Norsk standard for matematikknotasjon i 6-punkts blindeskrift, 2003
Science Notation:
Norsk standard for kjemi-, fysikk- og biologinotasjon i 6-punkts blindeskrift, 2006
Computer Notation:
8-dot braille table based on Windows Codepage 1252, continuously enhanced with braille
representations of Unicode characters according to the emerging needs
Music Notation:
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1996
Other Codebooks:
Contractions: Kortskrift i norsk punktskrift, KS04, printed in braille 2009
Shorthand: Jan Bruteig: Stenografi p punkt, printed in braille 1987
Chess: Norsk standard for sjakknotasjon i 6-punkts blindeskrift, 2003, slightly modified in: Knut
J. Helmers: Praktisk bruk av sjakknotasjon i 6-punkts blindeskrift, 2005
Phonetics: In principle, the OUP has decided to adopt Prof. Robert Englebretsons updatings
of A Braille Notation of the International Phonetic Alphabet
Alphabet: Norwegian Bokml and Norwegian Nynorsk
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(345)

(246)

(16)

u
v
w
x
y
z
>
[
*

(12356)

(345)

(12346)

(123456)

(2346)

(126)

(346)

(246)

(1256)

(
>
&
=
!
<
+
[
\
101

Alphabet: North Smi


a

(1)

(12356)

(12)

(14)

(146)

(145)

(1456)

(15)

a
(
b
c
%
d
?
e

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)

f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m

(1345)

(1246)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(156)

(2345)

Punctuation: Norwegian Languages


, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop, dot

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(5)

, "" quote

(256256)

() parentheses

(236356)

[] brackets

(1235623456)

{} braces

(6, 123566, 23456)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(6, 36, 3)

bold

(2356)

102

1
2
3
'
5
6
"
44
80
()
,(,)
'''
-/
9
,
#
,','
2;

n
$
o
p
r
s
:
t

(1256)

(136)

(1236)

(1356)

(2346)

\
u
v
z
!

Oman
Language: Arabic
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166

Pakistan
Languages: English (contracted), Urdu (contracted), Arabic (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Ministry of Health Social Welfare and Special Education Islamabad with collaboration of
Pakistan Association of the Blind
Braille Code:
Urdu Braille, 1986
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166

103

Alphabet: Urdu

alif

(1)

alif-mud

(345)

bay

(12)

pay

(1234)

tey

(2345)

tay

(246)

say

(1456)

jeem

(245)

chay

(14)

hay

(156)

khay

(1346)

dal

(145)

daal

(346)

zal

(2346)

ray

(1235)

ray

(12456)

zhay

(1356)

zhay

(5, 1356)

seen

(234)

sheen

(146)

zaber

(2)

zair

(15)

paish

(136)

tashdeed

(6)

ko

(12456)

es

(15)

in

(35)

bah

(23)

pah

(235)

tah

(1256)

104

a
>
b
p
t
[
?
j
c
:
x
d
+
!
r
]
z
"z
s
%

1
e
u
,
]
e
9
2
6
\

tah

(135)

jhay

(356)

chay

(16)

wao-noon-guaf

(2356)

na

(26)

nay

(3456)

yah

(13456)

la

(1236)

bay

(36)

alif-humza

(4)

swad

(12346)

zwaad

(1246)

tway

(23456)

zway

(123456)

ain

(12356)

ghain

(126)

fay

(124)

quaf

(12345)

kauf

(13)

guaf

(1245)

laum

(123)

meem

(134)

noon

(1345)

noon ghunna

(56)

wao

(2456)

hay

(125)

dou chashmi hay (236)


humza

(3)

chhoti yai

(24)

barri yai

(34)

&
$
)
=
(
<
f
q
k
g
l
m
n
;
w
h
8
'
i
/
o
0
*
7
5
#
y
v
@

Punctuation
comma

(2)

semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

period, full stop

(256)

question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
3
4
8
6
#

Panama
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

105

Papua New Guinea


Languages: English (contracted), Dobuan, Huli, Kuanua, Motu, Pidgin
A limited number of contractions are used in Dobuan, Huli, Kuanua, and Pidgin; these vary
according to language.
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Alphabet: Dobuan
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(1245)

a
b
d
e
g

(24)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(125)

(24)

(13)

(123)

i
k
l
m
n

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

o
p
r
s
t

(136)

(2456)

(13456)

(2345)

(136)

(2456)

(13456)

(136)

(1236)

u
w
y

Alphabet: Huli
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(1245)

a
b
d
e
g

m (134)

h
i
k
l
m

n
o
p
r
s

t
u
w
y

Alphabet: Kuanua
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(1245)

106

a
b
d
e
g

(24)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

i
k
l
m
n

o
p
r
s
t

u
v

Alphabet: Motu
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
d
e
f
g

(123456)

(125)

(24)

(13)

(123)

m (134)

=
h
i
k
l
m

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

n
o
p
r
s
t

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

u
v
w

Alphabet: Pidgin
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
d
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)

h
i
j
k
l
m

n
o
p
r
s
t

u
v
w
y

Punctuation: Papua New Guinean Languages


Same as English

107

Paraguay
Languages: Spanish (usually uncontracted); Guaran (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201
Alphabet: Guaran
a

(1)

(156, 1)

ch

(14, 125)

(15)

(156, 15)

(1245)

(156, 1245)

(125)

(24)

(156, 24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

mb

(134, 12)

(1345)

nd

(1345, 145)

108

a
:a
ch
e
:e
g
:g
h
i
:i
j
k
l
m
mb
n
nd

ng

(1345, 1245)

nt

(1345, 2345)

(12456)

(135)

(156, 135)

(1234)

(1235)

rr

(1235, 1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(156, 136)

(1236)

(13456)

(156, 13456)

' (puso)

(25)

ng
nt
]
o
:o
p
r
rr
s
t
u
:u
v
y
:y
3

Peru
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

Philippines
Languages: English (contracted), Tagalog (contracted), Ilocano (uncontracted), Cebuano
(uncontracted), Hiligaynon (uncontracted), Bicol (uncontracted)
The dialects include five borrowed English contractions: ar, er, en, in, ing
Braille Standards Set by:
Philippine Printing House for the Blind, Department of Education
osiealforte@yahoo.com
Literary Notation:
English American Code (BANA), 1994
Filipino Braille Code, Revised Edition 2005
Mathematics and Science Notation:
The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation, 1972 Revision
Computer Notation:
Computer Braille Code, 2000 Revision
Music Notation:
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1960
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
109

Alphabet: Tagalog
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(4, 1345)

ng (1345, 1245)
o

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(13)

(123)

k
l
m
n
@n
ng
o
p
q
r

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

Alphabet: Ilocano
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

110

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j

m (134)
n

(1345)

(4, 1345)

ng (1345, 1245)
o

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

k
l
m
n
@n
ng
o
p
q
r

s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

Alphabet: Cebuano
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(4, 1345)

ng (1345, 1245)
o

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(13)

(123)

k
l
m
n
@n
ng
o
p
q
r

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

Alphabet: Hiligaynon
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j

m (134)
n

(1345)

(4, 1345)

ng (1345, 1245)
o

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

k
l
m
n
@n
ng
o
p
q
r

s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

111

Alphabet: Bicol
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(4, 1345)

ng (1345, 1245)
o

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

k
l
m
n
@n
ng
o
p
q
r

Punctuation: Filipino Languages


, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

single quote

(6, 236356, 3)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(6, 23562356, 3)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

/ slash

(456, 34)

* asterisk

(35, 35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(46)

112

1
2
3
4
8
6
'
80
,80'
77
,77'
'''
-_/
99
,
#
.

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

Poland
Language: Polish (uncontracted; contracted for individual use)
Braille Standards Set by:
Polish Association of the Blind
http://www.pzn.org.pl
pzn@pzn.org.pl
Literary Notation:
A Tutorial for Braille Copyrighters, 1994
Principles of Using the Modified Braille Code in Humanist Publications, 2003
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Code used in Mathematic, Physics and Chemistry, 2011
Music Notation:
International Unified Braille Music Notation, 2002
Contracted Braille:
Polish Ortographic Contractions, printed transcription, The Society for the Care of the Blind,
1934
Tutorial of Polish Braille Contractions, 19841985
Polish Ortographic Braille Contractions, Level 1, 1985
A List of Polish Braille Contractions Published in the Alphabetical Order of Braille Symbols,
1985
A List of Abbreviated Words in the Alphabetic Order of Braille Symbols, Level 1, 1985
Braille Contractions, Level 2, 1988
The System of Polish Braille Contractions, Analysis and History (1991), this publication is not
printed in braille
Alphabet: Polish
a

(1)

(16)

(12)

(14)

(146)

(145)

(15)

(156)

(124)

a
*
b
c
%
d
e
:
f

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(126)

m (134)
n

(1345)

g
h
i
j
k
l
<
m
n

(1456)

(135)

(346)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(246)

(2345)

?
o
+
p
q
r
s
[
t

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(12346)

(2346)

u
v
w
x
y
z
&
!

113

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop; apostrophe; multiplication

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation mark; + plus sign

(235)

quote

(236356)

inside quote

(66)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(1235623456)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen; dash; long dash; - minus

(36)

/ slash; division sign

(256)

* asterisk

(35)

= equals

(2356)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

114

1
2
3
'
5
6
80
,,
77
()
'''
4
9
7
.
#
_

Portugal
Language: Portuguese (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Nucleo de Braiile e Outros Meios Complementares de Leitura, INR
http://www.inr.pt/
inr@inr.msss.pt
Literary Notation:
Grafia Braille Para a Lngua Portuguesa 3 Edio, 2002
Grafia Fonetica Braille, 1994
Mathematics Notation:
Grafia Matemtica Braille, 1994
Science Notation:
Grafia Qumica Braille, 1993
Computer Notation:
Grafia Braille Para a Informtica, 2003
Music Notation:
Guia Musicogrfico Braille, 2004
Portuguese Alphabet: See Portuguese, page 197

Qatar
Language: Arabic (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Conference of Developing and Unifying Arabic Braille Characters
Literary Notation:
Advanced Arabic Braille System, 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Advanced Arabic Braille System, 2002
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166

115

Romania
Language: Romanian (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Romanian Alphabet: See Romanian, page 199

Russia (Russian Federation)


Language: Russian (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Russian Alphabet: See Russian, page 200

Saint Kitts and Nevis


Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

116

Saint Lucia
Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines


Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

117

Samoa
Languages: English (contracted), Samoan (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Alphabet: Samoan
a

(1)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(24)

a
e
f
g
i

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

l
m
n
o
p

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(4)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

line over letter

(56)

repeat sign

(145)

118

1
2
3
4
8
6
@
80
77
-,
#
;
d

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(125)

s
t
u
v
h

(13)

(1235)

k
r

Saudi Arabia
Languages: Arabic (uncontracted), English (contracted)
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Serbia
Languages: Serbian (uncontracted), English (contracted), Russian (uncontracted), Albanian
(uncontracted), Hungarian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
The Union of the Blind of Serbia
The Braille Committee
www.savezslepih.org
Literary Notation:
Serbian: Serbian Braille Code in General Use, 2011
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Russian: Bykov, A.G., M.I. Egorov, G.B. Morozova, and I.V. Proskuryakov, comps. System of
Symbols for Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Astronomy: A Learning Aid. Edited by I.V.
Proskuryakov and A.G. Bykov. Developed by the Committee for Exact Sciences of the All
Russia Association for the Blind. 2d ed., rev. and enl. Moscow: The All Russia Association
for the Blind, 1982.
Music Notation:
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1996
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Russian Alphabet: See Russian, page 200
Albanian Alphabet: See Albanian, page 165
Hungarian Alphabet: See Hungarian, page 188

119

Alphabet: Serbian

(1)

(12)

(1236)

(1245)

(145)

(1456)

(15)

(2346)

(1356)

(24)

(245)

(13)

a
b
v
g
d
?
e
!
z
i
j
k

(123)

lj

(126)

(134)

(1345)

nj

(1246)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(146)

(136)

l
<
m
n
$
o
p
r
s
t
%
u

Accents

short up

short down (5)

long up

(45)

long down

(56)

long vocal

(25)

(4)

@
"
^
;
3

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

single quote

(236, 36, 356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(2356, 36, 2356)

120

1
2
3
4
5
6
'
80
8',0
77
7',7

(124)

(125)

(14)

(16)

d (12456)

(156)

(12345)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

f
h
c
*
]
:
q
w
x
y

{} braces

(2356, 2356, 2356)

ellipsis

(256, 256, 256)

- hyphen, - minus

(36)

__ underscore

(6, 36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(46)

group capital

(45)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

72;7
444
,/
9
.
^
#
_

Seychelles
Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Seychelles Union of the Blind
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Sierra Leone
Language: English (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

121

Singapore
Language: English (contracted), Malay (contracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Malay Alphabet: See Malay, page 194

Slovak Republic
Language: Slovak (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union www.unss.sk with close cooperation with the Slovak
Library for the Blind www.skn.sk
unss@unss.sk
Literary Notation:
Slovak ver. 1 of 1996
Music Notation:
JELNEK, Ji: Notopis pro nevidom (Braille Music Notation for the Blind)
Alphabet: Slovak
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

122

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(16)

(4)

(146)

(1456)

(345)

(34)

(46)

w
x
y
z
*
@
%
?
>
/
.

(456)

(1246)

(246)

(23456)

(12356)

(156)

(1256)

(346)

(12346)

(2346)

_
$
[
)
(
:
\
+
&
!

Punctuation
, comma, decimal point

(2)

: colon

(25)

; semicolon

(23)

. period, full stop, dot

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(23562356)

() parentheses

(236356)

- dash, minus

(36)

/ slash

(12456)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(6)

series capital

(6, 6)

number sign

(3456)

1
3
2
4
5
6
'
77
80
]
9
,
,,
#

123

Slovenia
Language: Slovene (contractions rarely used)
Braille Standards Set by:
Zveza drutev slepih in slabovidnih Slovenije (Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted of
Slovenia)
http://www.zveza-slepih.si/
zdsss@zveza-slepih.si
Zavod za slepo in slabovidno mladino Ljubljana (Institute for Blind and Partially Sighted
Children Ljubljana)
www.zssm.si
zavod@zssm.si
Literary Notation:
The Slovenian Braille Code (Slovenska brajica), 1974
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Mathematical Notation on the Computer for the Blind (Matematicni zapis na racunalniku za
slepe), 2007
Computer Notation:
Slovenian 8-dot Braille (Computer)
Alphabet: Slovene
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(16)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

124

a
b
c
*
d
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(156)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

p
q
r
s
:
t
u
v

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(2346)

w
x
y
z
!

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

1
2
3
4
5
6
'

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

* asterisk

(35)

number sign

(3456)

capital

(46)

abbreviation sign

(456)

80
77
9
#
.
_

South Africa
Languages: English: Unified English Braille (contracted), Afrikaans (contracted), Isizulu
(contracted), IsiXhosa, Sotho (contracted), Tswana (contracted), Venda, Swati, Ndebele
Braille Standards Set by:
SA Braille Authority
International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
http://www.iceb.org/
Literary Notation:
The Rules of Unified English Braille, 2010
The Unified English Braille Primer Australian Edition, 2008
A Guide for the Use of Zulu Braille
A Guide for the Use of Xhosa Braille
A Guide for the Use of Northern Sotho Braille
A Guide for the Use of Southern Sotho Braille
A Guide for the Use of Tswana Braille
A Guide for the Use of Venda Braille
A Guide for the Use of Swati Braille
A Guide for the Use of Ndebele Braille
Mathematics and Science Notation:
The Rules of Unified English Braille, 2010
Unified English Braille Guidelines for Technical Materials, 2008
Music Notation:
The New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1996
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Ndebele Alphabet: See Ndebele, page 197

125

Alphabet: Afrikaans
a (1)
(4, 1)
(45, 16, 1)
b (12)
c

(14)

d (145)
e (15)
(4, 15)
(45, 16, 15)
(45, 15)
(56, 15)
f

(124)

g (1245)
h (125)

a
@a
^*a
b
c
d
e
@e
^*e
^e
;e
f
g
h

(24)

(4, 24)

(56, 24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n (1345)
o (135)
(4, 135)
(45, 135)
(56, 135)
p (1234)
q (12345)

i
@i
;i
j
k
l
m
n
o
@o
^o
;o
p
q

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

u (136)
(4, 136)
(45, 136)
(56, 136)
v

(1236)

w (2456)
x

(1346)

(13456)

(4, 13456)

(1356)

r
s
t
u
@u
^u
;u
v
w
x
y
@y
z

Alphabet: Isizulu
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

h
i
j
k
l
m
n

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

o
p
q
r
s
t
u

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

v
w
x
y
z

Alphabet: IsiXhosa
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

126

a
b
c
d
e
f
g

m (134)
n

(1345)

h
i
j
k
l
m
n

o
p
q
r
s
t
u

v
w
x
y
z

Alphabet: Sotho
a (1)
b (12)
c

(14)

d (145)
e (15)
(45, 15)
f

(124)

g (1245)
h (125)
i

(24)

a
b
c
d
e
^e
f
g
h
i

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n (1345)
o (135)
(45, 135)
p (1234)
q (12345)
r

(1235)

(245)

(13)

(123)

j
k
l
m
n
o
^o
p
q
r

(234)

(4, 234)

(2345)

u (136)
v

(1236)

w (2456)
x

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(234)

(4, 234)

(2345)

s
@s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

Alphabet: Tswana
a (1)
b (12)
c

(14)

d (145)
e (15)
(45, 15)
f

(124)

g (1245)
h (125)
i

(24)

a
b
c
d
e
^e
f
g
h
i

m (134)
n (1345)
o (135)
(45, 135)
p (1234)
q (12345)
r

(1235)

j
k
l
m
n
o
^o
p
q
r

u (136)
v

(1236)

w (2456)
x

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

s
@s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

127

Alphabet: Venda
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(46, 145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

a
b
c
d
.d
e
f
g
h
i
j

(13)

(123)

(46, 123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(46, 1345)

(4, 1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

k
l
.l
m
n
.n
@n
o
p
q
r

(234)

(2345)

(46, 2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

s
t
.t
u
v
w
x
y
z

Alphabet: Swati
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

h
i
j
k
l
m
n

Punctuation: South African Languages


Same as English

128

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

o
p
q
r
s
t
u

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

v
w
x
y
z

South Korea (Republic of Korea)


Language: Korean (Hangeul) (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism
www.mcst.go.kr
Literary Notation:
Korean (Hangeul) Braille Code
Mathematics Notation:
Math Code for Korea
Consonants
g

(4)

(14)

(24)

(5)

(15)

(45)

@
c
i
"
e
^

(6)

(46)

ch (56)
k

(124)

(125)

(145)

(12)

(3)

,
.
;
f
h
d

(245)

kk

(6, 4)

tt

(6, 24)

pp (6, 45)
ss

(6, 6)

jj

(6, 46)

(235)

(236)

(256)

(356)

j
,@
,i
,^
,,
,.

Consonants (Finals)
g

(1)

(25)

(35)

(2)

(26)

a
3
9
1
5

ng (2356)
j

(13)

ch (23)

b
'
7
k
2

6
8
4
0

129

Vowels
a

(126)

ya

(345)

eo

(234)

yeo

(156)

(136)

yo

(346)

(134)

yu

(146)

eu

(246)

(135)

ae

(1235)

<
>
s
:
u
+
m
%
[
o
r

(5)

; semicolon

(56, 23)

: colon

(5, 2)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(3636)

130

(345, 1235)

(1345)

ye

(34)

wa

(1236)

wae (1236, 1235)

Punctuation
, comma

yae

"
;2
"1
4
8
6
80
--

oe

(13456)

wo

(1234)

we

(1234, 1235)

wi

(134, 1235)

ui

(2456)

>r
n
/
v
vr
y
p
pr
mr
w

Spain
Languages: Spanish (uncontracted), Catalan (uncontracted), Galician (uncontracted), Basque
(uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Organizacin Nacional de Ciegos Espaoles (ONCE) [The National Organization of the Blind]
www.once.es
Literary Notation:
Guas de la Comisin Braille Espaola: Signografa bsica, Primera edicin, Madrid 2005
Mathematics Notation:
Guas de la Comisin Braille Espaola: Signografa matemtica, Primera edicin, Madrid 2007
Science Notation:
Guas de la Comisin Braille Espaola: Qumica lineal, Primera edicin, Madrid 2006
Signografa para la representacin en braille de expresiones bidimensionales de qumica,
2012
Guas de la Comisin Braille Espaola: Signografa general para la representacin braille de
smbolos electrnicos, circuitos y electricidad, Primera edicin, Madrid 2008
Music Notation:
Nuevo Manual Internacional de Musicografa Braille, 1998
Linguistics Notation:
Guas de la Comisin Braille Espaola: Lingstica, Primera edicin, Madrid 2007
Chess Notation:
Guas de la Comisin Braille Espaola: Ajedrez, Primera edicin, Madrid 2006
Graphics:
Requisitos tcnicos para la confeccin de planos accesibles a personas con discapacidad
visual, 2012
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201
Catalan Alphabet: See Catalan, page 172

131

Alphabet: Galician
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(12456)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

j
k
l
m
n
]
o
p
q

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(1345)

(12456)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

(12356)

(2346)

(34)

(346)

(23456)

(1256)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1346)

(1356)

(
!
/
+
)
\

Alphabet: Basque
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
d
e
f
g

m (134)

h
i
j
k
l
m

n
]
o
p
q
r

Punctuation: Galician and Basque


Same as Spanish

Sri Lanka
Languages: Sinhala (contracted), English (contracted), Tamil (contracted)
Literary Notation:
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
Computer Notation:
Computer Braille Code, 2000 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

132

s
t
u
x
z

Alphabet: Sinhala, Vowels

(1)

(345)

(12356)

(12456)

(24)

(35)

a
>
(
]
i
9

(136)

(1256)

(5, 1235)

(6, 1235)

(15)

(26)

(1246)

(123456)

u
\
"r
,r
e
5

(34)

$
=
z
2$
t
?
d
!
n
2D
p
:
b
^

(134)

(23, 12)

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(1236)

(12346)

(146)

(234)

(125)

(456)

(124)

(1346)

(135)

(246)

/
x
o
[

Consonants

(13)

(46)

(1245)

(126)

(346)

(23, 1245)

(14)

(16)

(245)

(356)
(25)

(12345)

(23456)

(2456)

k
.
g
<
+
2G
c
*
j
0
3
Q
)
w

(1356)

(23, 1246)

(2345)

(1456)

(145)

(2346)

(1345)

(23, 145)

(1234)

(156)

(12)

(45)

m
2b
y
r
l
v
&
%
s
h
_
f

Signs

(3)
(3, 3)
(4)

'
''
@

133

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
3
4
8
6
80
77
#

Alphabet: Tamil, Vowels

(1)

(345)

(24)

a
>
i

(35)

(136)

(1256)

k
+
c
J
3
)

(3456)

(2345)

(1345)

(56)

(1234)

(134)

9
u
\

(26)

(15)

(34)

#
t
n
;
p
m

(13456)

(1235)

(12456)

(123)

(456)

(12356)

5
e
/

(1346)

(135)

y
r
]
l
_
(

(1236)

(146)

(234)

(246)

x
o
[

Consonants

(13)

(346)

(14)

(245)

(25)

(23456)

(125)

Numbers

(3456, 245)

(3456, 1)

(3456, 12)

(3456, 14)

(3456, 145)

(3456, 15)

134

#j
#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

(3456, 124)

(3456, 1245)

(3456, 125)

(3456, 24)

10 (3456, 1, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#aj

v
%
S
H

Sweden
Language: Swedish (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
The Swedish Braille Authority
www.punktskriftsnamnden.se
Swedish Agency for Accessible Media (Myndigheten fr tillgngliga medie), MTM
Literary Notation:
Svenska skrivregler fr punktskrift, 2010
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Punktskriftens skrivregler fr matematik och naturvetenskap, 2nd Edition, 2012
Computer Notation:
Teckentabell som norm fr svensk ttapunktsskrift, 1997
Music Notation:
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, WBU, 1996
Phonetic Notation:
Fonetik och punktskrift, 2005
Contracted Braille:
Kortskrift. Niv 1 och 2, 1997
Kortskrift. Niv 3 och 4, fr anteckningar, 1997
Chess Notation:
In development
Swedish Alphabet: See Swedish, page 203

135

Switzerland
Languages: German (uncontracted/Kurzschrift; largely uncontracted/Vollschrift;
contracted/Kurzschrift), French (contracted), Italian (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
German: Authority of the German-Speaking Countries
French: Commission Romande du Braille (CRB)
Italian: Biblioteca Italiana per i ciechi Regina Margherita (Italian Library for the Blind Regina
Margherita NPO) www.bibciechi.it
Literary Notation:
German: Das System der deutschen Blindenschrift, 2005
French: Code braille franais uniformise pour la transcription des textes imprimes (CBFU),
2008
Italian: Tabella Braille 1998, Commissione Braille italiana, UIC
Computer Notation:
German: 8-Punkt-Brailleschrift fr die Informationsverarbeitung
Mathematics and Science Notation:
German: Mathematikschrift fr Blinde (2000, internal Handbook of the Swiss Library for Blind,
Visually-Impaired and Print-Disabled); Neufassung und Vervollstndigung des Systems der
internationalen Mathematikschrift fr Blinde, 1986 (braille) and 1992 (print)
Chemistry Notation:
German: Das System der Chemieschrift in der deutschen Blindenschrift, 2005
Music Notation:
German: New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, WBU, 1996
Italian: New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, WBU, 1996
Additional Codebooks in Use:
German:
Chess: Schachschrift fr Blinde
Shorthand: System der deutschen 6-Punkt-Stenografie fr Blinde, 2002
IPA: Weltlautschrift fr Blinde, 1938, reprinted 2010
Ancient and New Testament Greek: Internationale griechische Blindenschrift, 1939
German Alphabet: See German, page 182
French Alphabet: See French, page 180
Italian Alphabet: See Italian, page 190

136

Syria
Language: Arabic (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166

Taiwan
Languages: Mandarin (uncontracted), English (contracted), Japanese (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Center for Education and Rehabilitation for Visually Impaired, NUTN
vhc-1@pubmail.nutn.edu.tw
Literary Notation:
Chinese Braille Learning Manual
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Nie Meizi Compilation of Mathematics and Science Braille Signs
Mandarin Alphabet: See Mandarin, page 195
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Japanese Alphabet: See Japanese, page 191

137

Tajikistan
Language: Tajik (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Alphabet: Tajik

(1)

(12)

(2456)

(1245)

(12456)

(145)

(15)

(16)

(245)

a
b
w
g
]
d
e
*
j

(1356)

(24)

(12346)

(34)

(13)

(13456)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

z
i
&
/
k
y
l
m
n

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

138

1
2
3
4
5
6
80
77
.
#
_

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(346)

(124)

(125)

o
p
r
s
t
u
+
f
h

(1456)

(12345)

(1236)

(156)

(12356)

(246)

(1256)

(1246)

?
q
v
:
(
[
\
$

Thailand
Languages: Thai (contracted), English (contracted)
Sources:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Braille in Asia, 2008
Literary Notation:
Thai Braille Code
Mathematics Notation:
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
Science Notation:
Codebooks from Europe and North America are used
Computer Notation:
Codebooks from Europe and North America are used
Music Notation:
Codebooks from Europe and North America are used
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

139

Alphabet: Thai, Consonants

140

g, k

(1245)

k, kh (13)
kh

(356, 13)

kh

(136)

kh

(36, 136)

kh

(6, 136)

ng

(12456)

j, c

(245)

ch

(34)

ch

(346)

(2346)

ch

(6, 346)

y, j

(6, 13456)

(6, 145)

(6, 1256)

th, t

(6, 2345)

th, t

(6, 23456)

th, t

(36, 23456)

(6, 1345)

(145)

(1256)

th, t

(2345)

g
k
0k
u
-u
,u
]
j
/
+
!
,+
,y
,d
,\
,t
,)
-)
,n
d
\
t

th, t

(23456)

th, t

(356, 23456)

(1345)

(1236)

(12346)

ph

(1234)

f, fh

(1346)

ph

(1456)

f, fh

(1246)

ph

(6, 1456)

(134)

y, j

(13456)

(1235)

(123)

(2456)

(6, 234)

(36, 234)

(234)

(125)

(6, 123)

(135)

(123456)

)
0)
n
v
&
p
x
?
$
,?
m
y
r
l
w
,s
-s
s
h
,l
o
=

Vowels

(1)

oe

(146, 1)

oe

(146)

(12)

a
*
b

ia

(12356, 1)

%a
%
(a

(16)

(23)

ia

(12356)

(246)

ue

(12345, 1)

qa

(26)

ue

(12345)

(14)

ua

(15, 1)

ea

(25)

ua

(15)

(124, 1)

am (1356)

(124)

ai

(156)

ae

(126, 1)

ai

(156, 2)

ae

(126)

3
fa
f
<a
<

aw

(235)

(1235, 2)

(1235, 2, 16)

(123, 2)

(123, 2, 16)

-
-
-

(24, 1)

ia

(24)

(135, 24)

oi

(135)

z
:
:1
6
r1
r1*
l1
l1*

Tones and Other Signs

(35)
(256)

9
4

(2356)
(236)

7
8

(345)
(356)

>
0

(2)

(6)

1
,

Numbers (Dot 6 is only used with Thai numbers)

1 (6, 3456, 1)
2 (6, 3456, 12)
3 (6, 3456, 14)
4 (6, 3456, 145)
5 (6, 3456, 15)

,#a
,#b
,#c
,#d
,#e

6 (6, 3456, 124)


7 (6, 3456, 1245)
8 (6, 3456, 125)
9 (6, 3456, 24)
0 (6, 3456, 245)

,#f
,#g
,#h
,#i
,#j
141

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, point

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(6, 23562356, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

/ slash

(456, 34)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(46)

1
2
3
4
8
6
80
77
,77'
_/
#
.

Tibet (China)
Languages: Tibetan (uncontracted), Mandarin (contracted), English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Braille Without Borders
www.braillewithoutborders.org
BrailleWB@gmx.net
Braille Code:
The Tibetan Braille Script
Mandarin Alphabet: See Mandarin, page 195
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

142

Alphabet: Tibetan, Consonants

ka

(13)

kha

(14)

ga

(1245)

nga

(2356)

ca

(1456)

cha

(13456)

ja

(12345)

nya

(345)

ta

(2345)

tha

(23456)

k
c
g
7
?
Y
q
>
t
)

da

(145)

na

(1345)

pa

(1234)

pha

(12346)

ba

(12)

ma

(134)

tsa

(1346)

tsha (1356)

dza

(123456)

wa

(2456)

d
n
p
&
b
m
x
z
=
w

zha

(146)

za

(234)

'a

(1246)

ya

(245)

(1235)

ra

la

(123)

(156)

sha

sa

(2346)

(125)

ha

(1)

%
s
$
j
r
l
:
!
h
a

Vowels

(24)

(136)

(15)

(135)

i
u
e
o

Numbers

(3456, 1)

(3456, 12)

(3456, 14)

(3456, 145)

(3456, 15)

#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

(3456, 124)

(3456, 1245)

(3456, 125)

(3456, 24)

(3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

. period, full stop

(23, 23)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
22
#

143

Togo
Languages: Bassar, Ew, Kabiy, Konkomba, Moba, Tem
French became Togos official language in 1992
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Ew Alphabet: See Ew, page 179
Alphabet: Bassar
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
c
d
f
g

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(1245)

(126)

(125)

(24)

(35)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

i
j
k
l
m
n

(346)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

+
[
p
r
s
t

(1256)

(2456)

(13456)

(2345)

(1256)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

(2345)

(1256)

(2456)

(13456)

\
w
y

Alphabet: Kabiy
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(1246)

(15)

(12456)

(124)

a
b
c
d
$
e
]
f

g
<
h
i
9
j
k
l

m (134)
n

(1345)

(346)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(346)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

m
n
+
o
[
p
r
s

t
\
u
v
w
y
z

Alphabet: Konkomba
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

144

a
b
d
e
f
g

m (134)
n

(1345)

i
j
k
l
m
n

+
o
[
p
r
s

t
\
w
y

Alphabet: Moba
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(12456)

(124)

a
b
c
d
e
]
f

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(35)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(35)

(245)

(13)

(123)

g
h
i
9
j
k
l

m (134)
n

(1345)

(346)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

(1345)

(346)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

m
n
+
o
[
p
r

(234)

(2345)

(1256)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1256)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

s
t
\
v
w
y

Alphabet: Tem
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(1246)

(15)

(12456)

(124)

a
b
c
d
$
e
]
f

m (134)

g
h
i
9
j
k
l
m

n
+
o
[
p
r
s
t

\
u
v
w
y
z

Tones: Togoan Languages

Nasalization

(16)

High Tone

(456)

Mid Tone

(45)

Low Tone

(56)

*
_
^
;

Punctuation: Togoan Languages


, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

1
2
3
4
8
6

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

'
80
77
,
#
145

Trinidad and Tobago


Language: English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Under the care of: Caribbean Council for the Blind
http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

Tunisia
Language: Arabic
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166

Turkey
Language: Turkish (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990
Turkish Alphabet: See Turkish, page 204

146

Turkmenistan
Language: Turkmen (uncontracted)
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Alphabet: Turkmen
a

(1)

(12)

(12345)

(145)

(15)

(126)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
q
d
e
<
f
g

(125)

(24)

(1456)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

h
i
?
j
k
l
m
n

(345)

(135)

(1236)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(156)

(2345)

>
o
v
p
r
s
:
t

(136)

(13456)

(2456)

(2346)

(12346)

(1356)

u
y
w
!
&
z

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

1
2
3
4
5
6
80
77
.
#
_

147

Uganda
Languages: English (contracted), Luganda (contracted), Kiswahili (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Uganda Braille Authority
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
Braille Writing Course, 2000
Mathematics Notation:
Mathematics Braille Notation for Uganda
Science Notation:
Braille Science Notation, 2008
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Kiswahili Alphabet: See Kiswahili, page 193
Alphabet: Luganda
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(24)

148

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
i

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(1345, 1245, 1)

(135)

(1234)

j
k
l
m
n
nga
o
p

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

r
s
t
u
v
w
y
z

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(6, 23562356, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
3
4
8
6
'
80
77
,77'
-,
#

149

Ukraine
Language: Ukrainian
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Alphabet: Ukrainian

(1)

(12)

(2456)

(1245)

(12456)

(145)

(15)

(345)

(245)

a
b
w
g
]
d
e
>
j

(1356)

(24)

(13456)

(1456)

(12346)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

z
i
y
?
&
k
l
m
n

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

150

1
2
3
4
5
6
'
80
77
.
#
_

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(124)

(125)

(14)

o
p
r
s
t
u
f
h
c

(12345)

(156)
(1346)

(23456)

(1256)

(1246)

q
:
x
)
\
$

United Arab Emirates


Languages: Arabic (contracted), English (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Tamkeen
Literary Notation:
Developed Arabic Braille System, 2002
Mathematics Notation:
Developed Arabic Braille System, 2002
Science Notation:
Developed Arabic Braille System, 2002
Computer Notation:
Developed Arabic Braille System, 2002
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

151

United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)


Languages: English (contracted), Irish Gaelic (contracted), Welsh Gaelic (contracted)
There is no formal code for Scottish Gaelic. The suggested format is to use Grade 1
(uncontracted) Unified English Braille, using the appropriate accented letters.
Unified English Braille (UEB) has been adopted, but is not implemented at this time. (Most
school children should be using UEB for literary braille by school year end 2015/2016, all
state exams in SEB and UEB. For general readers the transition to UEB will be complete
by December 2015.)
Braille Standards Set by:
UK Association for Accessible Formats (UKAAF)
http://www.ukaaf.org/
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
Languages and Linguistics:
Braille French Code
Braille German Code
Braille Spanish Code
Welsh Braille Code, 2006
An Updated Tactile Representation of the International Phonetic Alphabet, 2008
Computer Notation:
Braille Computer Notation, 2006
Mathematics Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Science Notation:
Braille Science Notation, 2008
Music Notation:
Music Braille Code, 1997
Chess Code:
Braille Chess Code and Layout, 2001
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Irish Gaelic Alphabet: See Irish Gaelic, page 189

152

Alphabet: Welsh Gaelic


a

(1)

(12)

(14)

ch (16)
d

(145)

dd (145, 145)
e

(15)

(124)

ff

(124, 124)

(1245)

ng (1345, 1245)
h

(125)

a
b
c
*
d
dd
e
f
ff
g
ng
h

(24)

(123)

ll

(123, 123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

ph (1234, 125)
r

(1235)

rh

(1235, 125)

(234)

(2345)

i
l
ll
m
n
o
p
ph
r
rh
s
t

th

(2345, 125)

(136)

(2456)

(13456)

(245)

(13)

(12345)

(1236)

(1346)

(1356)

th
u
w
y
j
k
q
v
x
z

Accents
^ circumflex (4)

diaeresis

(45)

` grave

(23)

acute

(25)

@
^
2
3

Punctuation
Same as English

153

United States of America


Languages: English (contracted), Hawaiian (uncontracted), Iupiaq (uncontracted)
Unified English Braille has been adopted, but is not implemented at this time
Hawaiian braille is handled by the Hawaiian Department of Education
Iupiaq braille is handled by the Alaskan Department of Education
Braille Standards Set by:
Braille Authority of North American (BANA)
http://brailleauthority.org/
Literary Notation:
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002
Braille Formats:
Braille Formats: Principles of Print-to-Braille Transcription, 2011
IPA Braille:
An Updated Tactile Representation of the International Phonetic Alphabet, 2008
Computer Notation:
Computer Braille Code, 2000 Revision
Computer Braille Code: Flowchart Design for Applicable Braille Codes Supplement, 1992
Mathematics and Science Notation:
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision
Chemistry Notation:
Braille Code for Chemical Notation, 1997
Music Notation:
Music Braille Code, 1997
Tactile Graphics:
Guidelines and Standard for Tactile Graphics, 2010
Refreshable Braille:
Provisional Guidelines for Linear Braille Format, 1987
English Alphabet: See English, page 175

154

Alphabet: Hawaiian
a

(1)

(15)

(125)

(24)

(13)

(123)

a
e
h
i
k
l

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(136)

(2456)

m
n
o
p
u
w

'

(3)

(456, 1)

(456, 15)

(456, 24)

(456, 135)

(456, 136)

'
_a
_e
_i
_o
_u

The okina ' is a Polynesian glottal stop. It is treated as a composition sign. It has the same
rules as the apostrophe.
'ina
'ina

'_aina
',_aina

Punctuation
Same as English

Alphabet: Iupiaq
a

a
ch
g
)
h
i
k
l

(1)

ch (14, 125)
g

(1245)

(23456)

(125)

(24)

(13)

(123)

(12356)

(1456)

(12346)

(134)

(1345)

(12456)

(1246)

(1234)

(
?
&
m
n
]
$
p

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

sr

(234, 1235)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(13456)

q
r
s
sr
t
u
v
y

Letters for Older Texts

(1256)

(346)

\
+

Punctuation
Same as English

155

Uruguay
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

156

Uzbekistan
Language: Uzbek
Source:
World Braille Usage, 1990 (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Alphabet: Uzbek
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

a
b
d
e
f
g
h

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

i
j
k
l
m
n
o

(1234)

(13456)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(2456)

p
y
r
s
t
u
w

(1456)

(12346)

(1356)

(1236)

(12456)

sh (156)
ch (12345)

?
&
z
v
]
:
q

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(356356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

1
2
3
4
5
6
00
77
'''
.
#
_

157

Venezuela
Language: Spanish (usually uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Latin American Braille Council [Comisin Braille Latinoamericana] (CBL)
Latin American Blind Union [Unin Latinoamericana de ciegos] (ULAC)
www.ulacdigital.org
Braille@ulacdigital.org
Consejo Iberoamericano del Braille (CIB)
ADTA@once.es
Literary Notation:
El Braille integral y la estenografa, 1987 (Literary Braille and Grade 2 Braille)
Mathematics Notation:
Cdigo Matemtico Unificado, 1988 (Unified Mathematics Code)
Music Notation:
International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1997
Spanish Alphabet: See Spanish, page 201

158

Vietnam
Language: Vietnamese (contracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Vietnamese Sighted
Braille Code:
Vietnamese Braille and Braille Code, 2004
Music Notation:
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation, 1996
Alphabet: Vietnamese
a

(1)

(345)

(16)

(12)

(14)

(1356)

(145)

(15)

(126)

(1245)

(125)

a
>
*
b
c
z
d
e
<
g
h

(24)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1456)

(246)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

i
k
l
m
n
o
?
[
p
q
r

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1256)

(1236)

(1346)

(13456)

(124)

(245)

(2456)

(6, 1356)

s
t
u
\
v
x
y
f
j
w
,z

Tones
falling (combining grave)

(56)

rising (combining hook above)

(26)

high rising (combining acute)

(35)

broken rising (combining tilde)

(36)

low constricted (combining dot below)

(6)

;
5
9
,

159

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(46, 12646, 345)

{} braces

(456, 126456, 345)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen, dash

(36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(236)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

Yemen
Language: Arabic
Arabic Alphabet: See Arabic, page 166

160

1
2
3
4
5
6
80
77
.<.>
_<_>
'''
/
8
.
#

Zambia
Languages: English (contracted), Silozi (uncontracted), Chibemba (uncontracted), Chinyanja
(uncontracted), Kikaonde (uncontracted), Lunda (uncontracted), Luvale (uncontracted),
Chitonga (uncontracted)
Braille Standards Set by:
Zambia Association of the Blind, Curriculum Development Center
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
Mathematics Notation:
Braille Mathematics Notation, 2005
Science Notation:
Braille Science Notation, 2008
Computer Notation:
Braille Computer Notation, 2006
Music Notation:
Music Braille Code, 1997
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Alphabet: Silozi
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

ch

(14, 125)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

a
b
c
ch
d
e
f
g
h

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(1345, 1245, 3)

(135)

(1234)

i
j
k
l
m
n
ng'
o
p

(234)

sh

(234, 125)

(2345)

(136)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

s
sh
t
u
w
y
z

161

Alphabet: Chibemba
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

h
i
j
k
l
m
n

(135)

(1234)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(2456)

(13456)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

o
p
s
t
u
w
y

Alphabet: Chinyanja
a

(1)

(12)

ch

(14, 125)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

a
b
ch
d
e
f
g
h

i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p

r
s
t
u
v
w
y
z

Alphabet: Kikaonde
a

(1)

(12)

ch

(14, 125)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

162

a
b
ch
d
e
f
g
h

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(1345, 1245, 3)

(135)

i
j
k
l
m
n
ng'
o

(1234)

(234)

sh

(234, 125)

(2345)

(136)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

p
s
sh
t
u
w
y
z

Alphabet: Lunda
a

(1)

(12)

ch

(14, 125)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

a
b
ch
d
e
f
g
h
i

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(1345, 1245, 3)

(135)

(1234)

(234)

j
k
l
m
n
ng'
o
p
s

sh

(234, 125)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

sh
t
u
v
w
y
z

Alphabet: Luvale
a

(1)

(12)

ch

(14, 125)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

a
b
ch
d
e
f
g
h
i

(245)

(13)

kh

(13, 125)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

ph

(1234, 125)

j
k
kh
l
m
n
o
p
ph

(234)

sh

(234, 125)

(2345)

th

(2345, 125)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

s
sh
t
th
u
v
w
y
z

Alphabet: Chitonga
a

(1)

(12)

bb

(12, 12)

(14)

ch

(14, 125)

cc

(14, 14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
bb
c
ch
cc
d
e
f
g

(125)

hh (125, 125)
i

(24)

(245)

(13)

kk (13, 13)
l

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(1345, 1245, 3)

h
hh
i
j
k
kk
l
m
n
ng'

(135)

(1234)

(234)

sh

(234, 125)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

o
p
s
sh
t
u
v
w
y
z
163

Punctuation: Zambian Languages


Same as English

Zimbabwe
Languages: English (contracted), Shona (uncontracted), Ndebele (uncontracted)
In the process of transitioning to Unified English Braille
Braille Standards Set by:
Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) [Zimbabwe is in the process of forming an official
braille authority]
Literary Notation:
British Braille A Restatement of Standard English Braille, 2004
English Alphabet: See English, page 175
Ndebele Alphabet: See Ndebele, page 197
Alphabet: Shona
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

a
b
c
d
e
f

Punctuation
Same as English

164

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

m (134)

g
h
i
j
k
m

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

n
o
p
r
s
t

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

u
v
w
y
z

Braille Alphabets Used in Multiple Countries


Albanian
Primary language transcribed: Albania
Secondary language transcribed: Serbia
Alphabet: Albanian
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(146)

(145)

dh (1456)
e

(15)

(16)

(124)

a
b
c
%
d
?
e
*
f

(1245)

gj

(12456)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

ll

(12356)

(134)

g
]
h
i
j
k
l
(
m

(1345)

nj

(1246)

(135)

(1234)

(12346)

(1235)

rr

(12345)

(234)

sh (156)

n
$
o
p
&
r
q
s
:

(2345)

th

(23456)

(136)

(1236)

(1346)

xh (2346)
y

(13456)

(1356)

zh (1256)

t
)
u
v
x
!
y
z
\

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
3
4
5
6
'
80
77
.
#

165

Arabic
Notes: The Conference of Developing and Unifying Arabic Braille Characters met in Saudi
Arabia in October 2002. There has been confirmation from several countries that they are
using this unified code, and other countries are not.
Primary language transcribed: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates,
Yemen
Secondary language transcribed: Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Pakistan
Alphabet: Unified Arabic (Qatar, United Arab Emirates)

alef

(1)

beh

(12)

teh

(2345)

theh

th

(1456)

jeem

(245)

hah

(156)

khah

kh (1346)

dal

thal

dh (2346)

reh

(1235)

zain

(1356)

seen

(234)

(145)

sheen sh (146)
sad

(12346)

a
b
t
?
j
:
x
d
!
r
z
s
%
&

dad

(1246)

tah

(23456)

zah

(123456)

ain

(12356)

ghain

gh (126)

feh

(124)

qaf

(12345)

kaf

(13)

lam

(123)

meem m

(134)

noon

(1345)

heh

(125)

waw

(2456)

yeh

(24)

$
)
=
(
<
f
q
k
l
m
n
h
w
i

Ligatures

166

La

(1236)

(135)

(34)

v
o
/

(46)

Aa

(345)

(3)

.
>
'

Waw (1256)
ya

(13456)

(16)

\
y
*

Diacritical Marks: Written after the letter, except the Shadda which is before the letter

Fatha

(2)

Kasra

(15)

Damma

(136)

1
e
u

Fathatan

(23)

Kasratan

(35)

2
9
5

Dammatan (26)

Shadda

(6)

Sukun

(25)

,
3

Numbers

number sign (3456)


1

(3456, 1)

(3456, 12)

(3456, 14)

(3456, 145)

(3456, 15)

#
#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

(3456, 124)

(3456, 1245)

(3456, 125)

(3456, 24)

(3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

Punctuation

comma
semicolon

(5)
(56)

: colon

(5, 2)

. period, full stop


question mark

(256)

! exclamation

(235)

, quote

(23562356)

() parentheses

(236356)

[] brackets

(6, 236356, 3)

{} braces

(5, 236356, 2)

- dash

(36)

number sign

(3456)

underlining

(6, 36)

(236)

"
;
"1
4
8
6
77
80
,80'
"801
#
,-

167

Alphabet: Arabic, Not Using Unified Arabic (Bahrain, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia)

(1)

(12)

(2345)

th

(1456)

(245)

(156)

kh

(1346)

(145)

dh

(2346)

(1235)

(1356)

(234)

sh

(146)

a
b
t
?
j
:
x
d
!
r
z
s
%

(12346)

(1246)

(23456)

(123456)

(12356)

gh

(126)

(124)

(12345)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(2456)

&
$
)
=
(
<
f
q
k
l
m
n
w

(125)

y/i

(24)

(135)

(16)

La

(1236)

(34)

(46)

Aa

(345)

(3)

Waw (1256)
ya

(13456)

Diacritical Marks

(2)
(15)
(136)
(26)

1
e
u
5

(23)
(35)
(6)

2
9
,

Numbers

168

number sign (3456)


1

(3456, 1)

(3456, 12)

(3456, 14)

(3456, 145)

(3456, 15)

#
#a
#b
#c
#d
#e

(3456, 124)

(3456, 1245)

(3456, 125)

(3456, 24)

(3456, 245)

#f
#g
#h
#i
#j

h
i
o
*
v
/
.
>
'
\
y

Punctuation
comma

(5)

semicolon

(56)

: colon

(5, 2)

. period, full stop

(256)

question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

, quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

* asterisk

(35, 35)

accent

(4)

underlining

(46)

"
;
"1
4
8
6
80
77
99
@
.

Cantonese
Primary language transcribed: none
Secondary language transcribed: China, Hong Kong
Alphabet: Cantonese, Initials (* Can be used as finals)
F

(124)

(125)

(13)

(1235)

(123)

M*

(134)

(1345)

f
h
k
r
l
m
n

(1234)

(12346)

(234)

(2345)

(23456)

(2456)

(245)

p
&
s
t
)
w
j

DZ

(14)

TS

(1346)

GW

(12345)

KW

(12456)

NG * (1245)

c
x
q
]
g

169

Finals
A

(12)

(15)

OU

(1236)

(135)

AE

(146)

AI

(346)

AU

(16)

AO

(34)

EI

(125)

OI

(126)

OEY

(245)

EN

(1246)

AN

(45)

ON

(1345)

OEN

(234)

ENG

(1245)

ANG

(14)

b
e
v
o
%
+
*
/
h
<
j
$
^
n
s
g
c

ING

(356)

EING

(2356)

ONG

(56)

UNG

(236)

OENG (25)
OE

(156)

EM

(456)

AM

(345)

JI

(24)

JIU

(13456)

JY

(1456)

JIN

(256)

JYN

(23)

JIM

(235)

WU

(136)

WUI

(1256)

WUN

(2346)

0
7
;
8
3
:
_
>
i
y
?
4
2
6
u
\
!

EK

(46)

AK

(13)

IK

(1235)

EIK

(2456)

OK

(12456)

UK

(12345)

OEK

(246)

ET

(35)

AT

(2345)

OT

(124)

OET

(1346)

EP

(26)

AP

(1234)

JIT

(23456)

JYT

(12356)

JIP

(12346)

WUT

(1356)

Tones (^ turn into space for words with no initials)


() (1)
() (4)
() (3)
() (6)

170

a
@
'
,

() (2)
() (5)
() (3)

1
"
'

.
k
r
w
]
q
[
9
t
f
x
5
p
)
(
&
z

Punctuation

, comma

(36)

pause#

(45)

; semicolon

(26)

: colon

(25)

full stop

(123456)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(2346)

(,)2

open quote

(236)

(,)1

close quote

(356)

(,)2

open single quote

(6, 236)

(,)1

close single quote

(356, 3)

()2

( open parenthesis

(2356)

()1

) close parenthesis

(2356)

()2

[ open bracket

(6, 2356)

()1

] close bracket

(2356, 3)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36, 3)

dash

(36, 36)

separation mark#

(56, 23)

(,)2

open publication#

(126)

(,)1

close publication#

(345)

(,)2

open single publication#

(6, 126)

(,)1

close single publication#

(345, 3)

()2

open emphasis#

(12356)

()1

close emphasis#

(12456)

()2

___ open proper noun#

(456)

()1
___ close proper noun#
# specific to Chinese punctuation
1 with subsequent space
2 with preceding space
3 with preceding and subsequent space

(1356)

^
5
3
=
8
!
8
0
,8
0'
7
7
,7
7'
'''
-'
-;2
<
>
,<
>'
(
]
_
z

171

Catalan
Primary language transcribed: Andorra
Secondary language transcribed: Spain
Alphabet: Catalan
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)

172

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

(12356)

(123456)

(2346)

(34)

(12456)

(246)

(346)

(23456)

(1256)

(12346)

ll

(123, 5, 123)

(
=
!
/
]
[
+
)
\
&
ll

Danish
Primary language transcribed: Denmark
Secondary language transcribed: Iceland
Alphabet: Danish
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x

(13456)

(1356)

(345)

(246)

(16)

y
z
>
[
*

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(4)

, quote

(2356, 2356)

() parentheses

(236356)

[] brackets

(5, 2365, 356)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(46)

uppercase letters

(456)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(56)

1
2
3
'
5
6
@
77
80
"8"0
'''
-/
9
.
_
#
;
173

Dutch
Primary language transcribed: Belgium, Netherlands
Secondary language transcribed: none
Alphabet: Dutch
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t

(136)

(1236)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(12346)

(123456)

(12356)

(2346)

(23456)

u
v
x
y
z
&
=
(
!
)

(16)

(126)

(146)

(1456)

(156)

(1246)

(12456)

(1256)

(246)

(2456)

*
<
%
?
:
$
]
\
[
w

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(23562356)

() parentheses

(236356)

174

1
2
3
4
5
6
'
77
80

[] brackets

(1235623456)

ellipsis

(256, 256, 256)

- hyphen

(36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(46)

series capital

(45)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

()
444
/
9
.
^
#
_

English
Notes: English codes are based in the United Kingdom (UKAFF, previously Braille Authority of
the United Kingdom, BAUK); the United States (Braille Authority of North America, BANA);
and International Council on English Braille (ICEB) with Unified English Braille (UEB). The
alphabet is the same in all English codes. The primary punctuation marks are the same for
UKAFF and BANA codes, with differences in punctuation names. Contractions and usage
vary between UKAFF, BANA, and UEB. UEB includes a number of distinctive differences.
Verified UEB countries (current or transitioning): Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland,
New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Zimbabwe
Primary language transcribed: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados,
Bhutan, Canada, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica,
Kenya, Liberia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom,
United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Secondary language transcribed: Bahrain, Cameroon, Congo, Iceland, India, Indonesia,
Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Serbia,
Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, United Arab Emirates
Alphabet: English
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

h
i
j
k
l
m
n

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

o
p
q
r
s
t
u

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

v
w
x
y
z

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop, abbreviation point

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

single quote

(6, 236356, 3)

() parentheses

(23562356)

1
2
3
4
8
6
'
80
,80'
77
175

[] brackets

(6, 23562356, 3)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

short dash

(36, 36)

long dash

(36, 36, 36, 36)

/ slash

(456, 34)

* asterisk

(35, 35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(46)

Punctuation: Unified English Braille (UEB)


, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

single quote

(6, 2366, 356)

() parentheses

(5, 1265, 345)

[] brackets

(46, 12646, 345)

ellipsis

(256, 256, 256)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(6, 36)

_ underscore

(46, 36)

/ slash

(456, 34)

* asterisk

(5, 35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(46, 23)

bold

(45, 23)

176

1
2
3
4
8
6
'
80
,8,0
"<">
.<.>
444
,._/
"9
,
#
.2
^2

,77'
'''
----_/
99
,
#
.

Esperanto
Esperanto is an international auxiliary language. It is not the official language of any country. It
is spoken in more than one hundred countries.
http://libe.narzan.com/
Esperanta stenografio, Nizhny Novgorod 2003, is a reference for contracted braille, which has
limited use.
Alphabet: Esperanto
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(146)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(12456)

(125)

(1256)

(24)

(245)

a
b
c
%
d
e
f
g
]
h
\
i
j

(2456)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2346)

(2345)

(136)

(346)

w
k
l
m
n
o
p
r
s
!
t
u
+

(1236)

(1356)

(12345)

(23456)

(1346)

(13456)

(345)

(246)

(12356)

(4, 246)

(4, 12356)

v
z
q
)
x
y
>
[
(
@[
@(

Diacritics Belonging to Other Languages (symbol placed before letter)


acute

(4)

` grave, macron

(45)

tilde

(256)

^ circumflex, hachek (caron)

(5)

umlaut (trema, diaeresis), (dot above)

(25)

ring, breve

(56)

cedilla, ogonek, | vertical stroke

(6)

diacritics crossing letter, such as oblique stroke

(35)

@
^
4
"
3
;
,
9

177

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

. abbreviation dot

(3)

. separator in numbers

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

single quote

(6, 236356, 3)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(2356, 23562356, 2353)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(6, 36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35)

capital (grade 1)

(46)

capital (grade 2)

(6)

number sign

(3456)

emphasis (1-3 words)

(456)

emphasis (4 or more words)*

(25, 456456)

emphasis (alternate)

(6, 36, 3)

1
2
3
4
'
'
5
6
'
80
,80'
77
7777
'''
,/
9
.
,
#
_
3__
,','
"1"1

different braille notation


(5, 25, 2)
Notes: Capitals are marked only in proper names, not at beginning of sentences; words
preceded by dot 6 are not contracted.
* The closing emphasis indicator is placed before the last word.

178

Ew
Primary language transcribed: Ghana, Togo
Secondary language transcribed: none
Alphabet: Ew
a

(1)

(12)

(145)

(1246)

(15)

(12456)

(124)

(1456)

a
b
d
$
e
]
f
?

(1245)

(126)

(125)

(24)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

g
<
h
i
k
l
m
n

(346)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

+
o
[
p
r
s
t
u

(1236)

(2346)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

v
!
w
y
z

179

French
Notes: An international expert group worked from 2002 to 2008 on the Code Braille Franais
Uniformis (CBFU). It was created according to an international agreement signed at
Casablanca, Morocco on 7th June 2001 by representatives from French-speaking Africa,
Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Quebec. The Quebecker edition of the CBFU is quite
similar according to the tables and rules, but there are differences in the examples to take
the local differences into account. The CBFU was adopted by the international expert group
in 2006. This Code was completed with new symbols and a 2nd edition was issued in
September, 2008. It is a standard project signed and applied by all French-speaking
countries.
Primary language transcribed: Cameroon, Canada (Quebec), Democratic Republic of the
Congo, France, Haiti
Secondary language transcribed: Belgium, Iceland, Kenya, Luxembourg, Madagascar,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Switzerland
Alphabet: French
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

180

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t

(136)

(1236)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(12346)

(123456)

(12356)

(2346)

(23456)

u
v
x
y
z
&
=
(
!
)

(16)

(126)

(146)

(1456)

(156)

(1246)

(12456)

(1256)

(246)
w

(2456)

*
<
%
?
:
$
]
\
[
w

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe, guide dot

(3)

"", , , quote

(23562356)

() parentheses

(236356)

[] brackets

(45, 236356, 12)

- dash, guide dash

(36)

* asterisk

(5, 35)

/ slash

(34)

capital

(46)

number sign before Louis Braille figures

(3456)

general emphasis indicator

(456)

2nd level emphasis indicator inside word

(2635)

1
2
3
4
5
6
'
77
80
^80b
"9
/
.
#
_
59

Antoine Numerical Notation: Figures


1 (6, 16)
2 (6, 126)
3 (6, 146)
4 (6, 1456)
5 (6, 156)
6 (6, 1246)
7 (6, 12456)
8 (6, 1256)
9 (6, 246)
0 (6, 3456)

,*
,<
,%
,?
,:
,$
,]
,\
,[
,#

181

German
Primary language transcribed: Austria, Germany, Switzerland
Secondary language transcribed: Belgium, Iceland, Luxembourg
Alphabet: German
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x

(13456)

(1356)

(345)

(246)

(1256)

(2346)

(34)

ie

(346)

y
z
>
[
\
!

Vollschrift Contractions
au

(16)

eu

(126)

*
<

ei

(146)

ch

(1456)

%
?

sch (156)
st

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(6)

quote

(236356)

single quote

(6, 2366, 356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(6, 23566, 2356)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(6, 36)

/ slash

(5, 2)

182

1
2
3
'
5
6
,
80
,8,0
77
,7,7
'''
,"1

(23456)

:
)

/
+

* asterisk

(6, 35)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

,9
.
#
_

Greek
Primary language transcribed: Cyprus, Greece
Secondary language transcribed: See International Greek on page 185
Alphabet: Greek

alpha

(1)

beta

(12)

gamma

(1245)

delta

(145)

epsilon

(15)

zeta

(1356)

eta

(345)

theta

(1456)

iota

(24)

kappa

(13)

lambda

(123)

mu

(134)

nu

(1345)

xi

(1346)

omicron

(135)

pi

(1234)

a
b
g
d
e
z
>
?
i
k
l
m
n
x
o
p

rho

(1235)

sigma

(234)

tau

(2345)

upsilon

(13456)

phi

(124)

chi

(125)

psi

(12346)

omega

(245)

alpha iota

(126)

alpha upsilon

(16)

epsilon iota

(146)

epsilon upsilon

(156)

eta upsilon

(1256)

omicron iota

(246)

omicron upsilon

(136)

upsilon iota

(12456)

r
s
t
y
f
h
&
j
<
*
%
:
\
[
u
]

183

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

Greek semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

; Greek question mark

(26)

? English question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(1234613456)

{} braces

(1235623456)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36, 36)

* asterisk

(35, 35)

accent

(5)

Greek capital

(46)

English capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

emphasis

(46)

184

1
2
3
4
5
8
6
'
80
77
&y
()
'''
--99
"
.
,
#
.

Greek (International)
International Greek is used in most countries outside of Greece and Cyprus. The international
alphabetic characters are universal, but some other signs are not. The single accented letters
may be used in some countries, while others use 2-cell characters. Both options are
represented in the charts. International Greek is uncontracted.
Alphabet: Greek (International)

alpha

(1)

beta

(12)

gamma

(1245)

delta

(145)

epsilon

(15)

zeta

(1356)

eta

(156)

theta

(1456)

iota

(24)

kappa

(13)

lambda

(123)

mu

(134)

nu

(1345)

a
b
g
d
e
z
:
?
i
k
l
m
n

xi

(1346)

omicron

(135)

pi

(1234)

rho

(1235)

sigma (initial & medial)

(234)

sigma (terminal)

(234)

tau

(2345)

upsilon

(136)

phi

(124)

chi

(12346)

psi

(13456)

omega

(2456)

x
o
p
r
s
s
t
u
f
&
y
w

Archaic Letters (normally confined to representation of Greek numerals)

digamma

(1236)

koppa

(12345)

sampi

(2346)

v
q
!

185

Acute () Vowels (Oxia)

alpha

(345)

epsilon

(1246)

eta

(123456)

iota

(12456)

omicron (246)
upsilon

(1256)

omega

(245)

>
$
=
]
[
\
j

or

(4, 1)

or

(4, 15)

or

(4, 156)

or

(4, 24)

or

(4, 135)

or

(4, 136)

or

(4, 2456)

@a
@e
@:
@i
@o
@u
@w

Greek Circumflex ( or ) Vowels (Perispomeni)

/
/
/
/
/

alpha

(16)

eta

(126)

iota

(146)

upsilon

(1236)

omega

(3456)

*
<
%
v
#

or

(5, 1)

or

(5, 156)

or

(5, 24)

or

(5, 136)

or

(5, 2456)

or

(6, 1)

or

(6, 15)

or

(6, 156)

or

(6, 24)

or

(6, 135)

or

(6, 136)

or

(6, 2456)

"a
":
"i
"u
"w

Grave (`) Vowels (Varia)

186

alpha

(12356)

epsilon

(14)

eta

(2346)

iota

(34)

omicron (346)
upsilon

(23456)

omega

(12345)

(
c
!
/
+
)
q

,a
,e
,:
,i
,o
,u
,w

Other Special Signs

elision

(3)

iota subscriptum

(35)

Greek question mark

(23)

long vowel (macron)

(456)

short vowel (breve)

(45)

spiritus asper (rough breathing)*

(125)

spiritus lenis (smooth breathing)

(356)

chief stress sign

(34)

'
9
2
_
^
h
0
/
*

secondary stress sign


(16)
* The rough breathing sign precedes vowels, but follows the letter rho in braille; it precedes the
accent signs where these are shown.

187

Hungarian
Primary language transcribed: Hungary
Secondary language transcribed: Serbia
Alphabet: Hungarian
a

(1)

(4)

(12)

(14)

cs (146)
d

(145)

(15)

(16)

(124)

(1245)

gy (1456)

a
@
b
c
%
d
e
*
f
g
?

(125)

(24)

(34)

(245)

(13)

(123)

ly

(456)

(134)

(1345)

ny (1246)
o

(135)

h
i
/
j
k
l
_
m
n
$
o

(246)

(12345)

(12456)

(1234)

(12346)

(1235)

(234)

sz (156)
t

(2345)

ty

(1256)

(136)

[
q
]
p
&
r
s
:
t
\
u

(346)

(12356)

(23456)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(126)

zs (345)

+
(
)
v
w
x
y
<
>

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop (3)


? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

188

1
2
3
'
5
6

apostrophe

(6, 3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23461356)

- hyphen

(36)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

,'
80
!...z
.
#

Irish Gaelic
Primary language transcribed: none
Secondary language transcribed: Ireland, United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
Alphabet: Irish Gaelic
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x

(13456)

(1356)

(12346)

(123456)

(12356)

(2346)

(23456)

y
z
&
=
(
!
)

Punctuation
Same as English

189

Italian
Primary language transcribed: Italy
Secondary language transcribed: Switzerland
Alphabet: Italian
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(12346)

(123456)

(12356)

(2346)

(23456)

(16)

(126)

(146)

x
y
z
&
=
(
!
)
*
<
%

(1456)

(156)

(1246)

(12456)

(246)

(1256)

(346)

(34)

(2456)

?
:
$
]
[
\
+
/
w

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

190

1
2
3
'
5
6
'
80

() parentheses

(26, 35)

[] brackets

(23562356)

- hyphen

(36)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

59
77
9
.
#
_

Japanese
Primary language transcribed: Japan
Secondary language transcribed: Taiwan
Alphabet: Japanese

ka (16)

ki (126)

<

ku (146)

sa (156)

shi (1256)

su (1456)

ta (135)

chi (1235)

na (13)

ni (123)

ha (136)

ma (1356)

ya (34)

ra (15)

ri

wa (3)

'

wi (23)

small tsu (soku-on)

ga (5,16)

gi (5,126)

<

gu (5,146)

ge (5,1246)

go (5,246)

za (5,156)

ji

(5,1256)

zu (5,1456)

ze (5,12456)

zo (5,2456)

da (5,135)

ji

(5,1235)

zu (5,1345)

de (5,12345)

do (5,2345)

ba (5,136)

bi (5,1236)

bu (5,1346)

be (5,12346)

&

bo (5,2346)

pa (6,136)

,u

pi (6,1236)

,v

pu (6,1346)

,x

pe (6,12346)

,&

po (6,2346)

,!

(1)

(356)

ke (1246)

ko (246)

se (12456)

so (2456)

tsu (1345)

te (12345)

to (2345)

nu (134)

ne (1234)

no (234)

hi (1236)

hu (1346)

he (12346)

&

ho (2346)

mi (12356)

mu (13456)

me (123456)

mo (23456)

yu (346)

yo (345)

>

ru (145)

(12)

(125)

(14)

(2)

(124)

(24)

re (1245)

ro (245)

we (235)

wo (35)

vowel lengthening (cho-on)

(25)

191

Alphabet

kya

(4,16)

`*

kyu

(4,146)

`%

kyo

(4,246)

`[

sha

(4,156)

`:

shu

(4,1456)

`?

sho

(4,2456)

`w

cha

(4,135)

`o

chu

(4,1345)

`n

cho

(4,2345)

`t

nya

(4,13)

`k

nyu

(4,134)

`m

nyo

(4,234)

`s

hya

(4,136)

`u

hyu

(4,1346)

`x

hyo

(4,2346)

`!

mya

(4,1356)

`z

myu

(4,13456)

`y

myo

(4,23456)

`)

rya

(4,15)

`e

ryu

(4,145)

`d

ryo

(4,245)

`j

gya

(45,16)

^*

gyu

(45,146)

^%

gyo

(45,246)

^[

ja

(45,156)

^:

ju

(45,1456)

^?

jo

(45,2456)

^w

ja

(45,135)

^o

ju

(45,1345)

^n

jo

(45,2345)

^t

bya

(45,136)

^u

byu

(45,1346)

^x

byo

(45,2346)

^!

pya

(46,136)

.u

pyu

(46,1346)

.x

pyo

(46,2346)

.!

Punctuation
comma

(56)

full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

() parentheses

(23562356)

quote

(3636)

bar line

(25, 25)

wave dash

(36, 36)

ellipsis

(2, 2, 2)

number sign

(3456)

192

;
4
5
6
77
-33
-111
#

Kiswahili
Primary language transcribed: none
Secondary language transcribed: Kenya, Uganda
Alphabet: Kiswahili
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

a
b
c
d
e
f

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

g
h
i
j
k
l

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

m
n
o
p
r
s

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(13456)

(1356)

t
u
v
w
y
z

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(6, 23562356, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

1
2
3
4
8
6
'
80
77
,77'
-,
#

193

Malay
Primary language transcribed: Malaysia
Secondary language transcribed: Singapore
Alphabet: Malay
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

h
i
j
k
l
m
n

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

() parentheses

(23562356)

/ slash

(2356)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(46)

194

1
2
3
4
8
6
80
77
7
,
#
.

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

o
p
q
r
s
t
u

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

v
w
x
y
z

Mandarin
Primary language transcribed: China, Taiwan
Secondary language transcribed: Malaysia, Tibet
Alphabet: Mandarin, Initials/Consonants
b

(12)

(1234)

(134)

(124)

(145)

(2345)

b
p
m
f
d
t

(1345)

(123)

g, j

(1245)

n
l
g
k
h
/

k, q (13)
h, x (125)
zh

(34)

ch

(12345)

sh

(156)

(245)

(1356)

(14)

(234)

q
:
j
z
c
s

Finals/Vowels
a

(35)

o, e

(26)

(24)

(136)

(346)

er

(1235)

ai

(246)

ao

(235)

ei

(2346)

ou

(12356)

ia

(1246)

iao

(345)

9
5
i
u
+
r
[
6
!
(
$
>

ie

(15)

iu

(1256)

ua

(123456)

uai

(13456)

ui

(2456)

uo

(135)

(23456)

an

(1236)

ang

(236)

en

(356)

eng

(3456)

ian

(146)

e
\
=
y
w
o
)
v
8
0
#
%

iang

(1346)

in

(126)

ing

(16)

uan

(12456)

uang (2356)
un

(25)

ong

(256)

an

(12346)

(456)

iong

(1456)

x
<
*
]
7
3
4
&
_
?

Tones
(1)

(2)

(3)

'

(23)

Contractions
zhi (34)
chi (12345)
shi (156)

/
q
:

ri

(245)

zi

(1356)

ci

(14)

j
z
c

si

(234)

de

(145)

s
d

195

Punctuation
, comma

(5)

pause

(4)

; semicolon

(56)

: colon

(36)

period, full stop

(5, 23)

? question mark

(5, 3)

! exclamation

(56, 2)

quote

(4545)

single quote

(45, 4545, 45)

() parentheses

(56, 36, 23)

[] brackets

(56, 2356, 23)

ellipsis

(5, 5, 5)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(6, 36)

capital

(6)
(5, 3636, 2)

title
number sign

(3456)

"
@
;
"2
"'
;1
^^
^^^^
;',2
;2;2
"""
,,
"--1
#

Example
cod

shang de

hu

shi feng

chuikai

de

c6'di2 :8 d h=a : f# qwk[ d"2

196

Ndebele
Primary language transcribed: none
Secondary language transcribed: South Africa, Zimbabwe
Alphabet: Ndebele
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g

(125)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

h
i
j
k
l
m
n

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(12356)

(123456)

(34)

o
p
q
s
t
u
v

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(346)

(23456)

(1246)

(16)

(126)

(1456)

(345)

(246)

(1256)

w
x
y
z

Punctuation
Same as English

Portuguese
Primary language transcribed: Brazil, Portugal
Secondary language transcribed: none
Alphabet: Portuguese
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(12346)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

a
b
c
&
d
e
f
g
h
i

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s

t
u
v
w
x
y
z
(
=
/

+
)
$
*
<
?
>
[
\

197

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(3)

quote

(236236)

quote

(6, 2366, 236)

single quote

(56, 23656, 236)

() parentheses

(126345)

() parentheses

(126, 36, 345)

[] brackets

(1235623456)

[] brackets

(12356, 36, 23456)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

* asterisk

(35)

/ slash

(6, 2)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics, bold, underline, open and close (3535)

198

1
2
3
'
5
6
'
88
,8,8
;8;8
<>
<',>
()
(',)
'''
-9
,1
.
#
99

Romanian
Primary language transcribed: Moldova, Romania
Secondary language transcribed: none
Alphabet: Romanian
a

(1)

(16)

(126)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

a
*
<
b
c
d
e
f

(1245)

(125)

(24)

(146)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)

g
h
i
%
j
k
l
m

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

(234)

(156)

(2345)

n
o
p
q
r
s
:
t

(246)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

[
u
v
w
x
y
z

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

inside quote

(66)

() parentheses

(23562356)

ellipsis

(36, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 3)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

1
2
3
4
5
6
80
,,
77
-'
-'
9
.
#
_

199

Russian
Primary language transcribed: Kyrgyzstan, Russia
Secondary language transcribed: Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia
Alphabet: Russian

(1)

(12)

(2456)

(1245)

(145)

(15)

(16)

(245)

(1356)

a
b
w
g
d
e
*
j
z

(24)

(12346)

(13)

(123)

(134)

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(1235)

i
&
k
l
m
n
o
p
r

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(124)

(125)

(14)

(12345)

(156)
(1346)

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

inside quote

(6, 236356, 3)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(6, 23562356, 3)

ellipsis

(256, 256, 256)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

capital

(46)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(456)

200

1
2
3
4
5
6
80
,80'
77
,77'
444
-.
#
_

s
t
u
f
h
c
q
:
x

(12356)

(2346)

(23456)

(246)

(1256)

(1246)

(
!
)
[
\
$

Spanish
Primary language transcribed: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela
Secondary language transcribed: Iceland
Alphabet: Spanish
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(12456)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

j
k
l
m
n
]
o
p
q

(1235)

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(2456)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

(12356)

(2346)

(34)

(346)

(23456)

(1256)

(
!
/
+
)
\

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(2626)

! exclamation mark

(235235)

apostrophe

(3)

, quote

(236236)

() parentheses

(126345)

* asterisk

(35)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

dash

(36, 36)

/ slash

(6, 2)

capital indicator

(46)

number indicator

(3456)

italics open and close

(3535)

1
2
3
'
55
66
'
88
<>
9
'''
-,1
.
#
99
201

Spain
, internal quote

(6, 2366, 236)

[] brackets

(1235623456)

{} braces

(5, 123456, 2)

,8,8
()
"l_1

Latin American Blind Union Countries


internal quote

202

(5, 2365, 236)

"8"8

Swedish
Primary language transcribed: Sweden
Secondary language transcribed: Finland
Alphabet: Swedish
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

(125)

(24)

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)
n

(1345)

(135)

(1234)

(12345)

(1235)

j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r

(234)

(2345)

(136)

(1236)

(1346)

(13456)

(1356)

(2456)

(16)

s
t
u
v
x
y
z
w
*

(345)

(246)

(12356)

(123456)

(2346)

(1256)

>
[
(
=
!
\

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(3)

? question mark

(26)

! exclamation

(235)

apostrophe

(5)

quote

(5656)

single quote

(55)

() parentheses

(236356)

[] brackets

(1235623456)

ellipsis

(3, 3, 3)

- hyphen

(36)

/ slash

(34)

* asterisk

(35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(6, 3)

1
2
3
'
5
6
"
;;
""
80
()
'''
/
9
,
#
,'
203

Turkish
Primary language transcribed: Turkey
Secondary language transcribed: Cyprus
Alphabet: Turkish
a

(1)

(12)

(14)

(16)

(145)

(15)

(124)

(1245)

a
b
c
*
d
e
f
g

(126)

(125)

(35)

(24)

(245)

(13)

(123)

m (134)

<
h
9
i
j
k
l
m

(1345)

(135)

(246)

(1234)

(1235)

(234)

(146)

(2345)

Punctuation
, comma

(2)

; semicolon

(23)

: colon

(25)

. period, full stop

(256)

? question mark

(236)

! exclamation

(235)

quote

(236356)

single quote

(33)

() parentheses

(23562356)

[] brackets

(6, 23562356, 3)

ellipsis

(256, 256, 256)

- hyphen

(36)

* asterisk

(35, 35)

capital

(6)

number sign

(3456)

italics

(46)

204

1
2
3
4
8
6
80
''
77
,77'
444
99
,
#
.

n
o
[
p
r
s
%
t

(136)

(1256)

(1236)

(13456)

(1356)

u
\
v
y
z

Index by Language Name


Afrikaans
South Africa, 126

Bangla
Bangladesh, 9

Albanian, 165
Albania, 1
Serbia, 119

Basque
Spain, 132

Amharic
Ethiopia, 37
Arabic, 166
Algeria, 1
Bahrain, 8
Egypt, 34
Indonesia, 70
Iran, 71
Israel, 74
Jordan, 77
Kuwait, 79
Lebanon, 85
Libya, 85
Malaysia, 91
Mauritania, 93
Morocco, 95
Oman, 103
Pakistan, 103
Qatar, 115
Saudi Arabia, 119
Syria, 137
Tunisia, 146
United Arab Emirates, 151
Yemen, 160
Armenian, Eastern
Armenia, 3
Armenian, Western
Armenia, 3
Assamese
India, 63
Azerbaijani
Azerbaijan, 7
Bahasa Indonesia
Indonesia, 70

Bassar
Togo, 144
Belarusian
Belarus, 12
Bengali
India, 60
Bicol
Philippines, 112
Bosnian
Bosnia and Herzegovina, 16
Bulgarian
Bulgaria, 18
Burmese
Myanmar, 95
Cantonese, 169
China, 24
Hong Kong, 52
Catalan, 172
Andorra, 1
Spain, 131
Cebuano
Philippines, 111
Chibemba
Zambia, 162
Chinyanja
Zambia, 162
Chitonga
Zambia, 163
Croatian
Croatia, 26
205

Czech
Czech Republic, 29
Dagaare
Ghana, 48
Danish, 173
Denmark, 30
Iceland, 53
Dobuan
Papua New Guinea, 106
Dutch, 174
Belgium, 13
Netherlands, 97
Dzongkha
Bhutan, 14
English, 175
Antigua and Barbuda, 2
Australia, 5
Bahamas, 8
Bahrain, 8
Barbados, 11
Bhutan, 14
Cameroon, 22
Canada, 22
Congo, 25
Dominica, 33
Gambia, 44
Ghana, 47
Grenada, 49
Hong Kong, 52
Iceland, 53
India, 55
Indonesia, 70
Iran, 71
Ireland, 73
Israel, 74
Jamaica, 76
Jordan, 77
Kenya, 79
Kuwait, 79
Lebanon, 85
Liberia, 85
Luxembourg, 87
Malaysia, 91
Mauritius, 93
Nepal, 96
New Zealand, 98
206

Nigeria, 99
Pakistan, 103
Papua New Guinea, 106
Philippines, 109
Saint Kitts and Nevis, 116
Saint Lucia, 117
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 117
Samoa, 118
Saudi Arabia, 119
Serbia, 119
Seychelles, 121
Sierra Leone, 121
Singapore, 122
South Africa, 125
Sri Lanka, 132
Taiwan, 137
Thailand, 139
Tibet, 142
Trinidad and Tobago, 146
Uganda, 148
United Arab Emirates, 151
United Kingdom, 152
United States, 154
Zambia, 161
Zimbabwe, 164
Esperanto, 177
Estonian
Estonia, 36
Ew, 179
Ghana, 47
Togo, 144
Faroese
Denmark, 31
Farsi
Iran, 71
Finnish
Finland, 42
French, 180
Belgium, 13
Cameroon, 22
Canada, 22
Congo, 25
France, 43
Haiti, 50
Iceland, 53

Kenya, 79
Luxembourg, 87
Madagascar, 90
Mauritania, 93
Mauritius, 93
Switzerland, 136

Huli
Papua New Guinea, 106
Hungarian, 188
Hungary, 52
Serbia, 119

Ga
Ghana, 48

Icelandic
Iceland, 54

Galician
Spain, 132

Igbo
Nigeria, 100

Georgian
Georgia, 45

Ilocano
Philippines, 110

German, 182
Austria, 6
Belgium, 13
Germany, 46
Iceland, 53
Luxembourg, 87
Switzerland, 136

Iupiaq
United States, 155

Greek, 183
Cyprus, 28
Greece, 48
Greek (International), 185
Greenlandic
Denmark, 32
Guaran
Paraguay, 108
Gujarati
India, 59
Hausa
Nigeria, 100
Hawaiian
United States, 155
Hebrew
Israel, 74
Hiligaynon
Philippines, 111

Irish Gaelic, 189


Ireland, 73
United Kingdom, 152
IsiXhosa
South Africa, 126
Isizulu
South Africa, 126
Italian, 190
Italy, 76
Switzerland, 136
Japanese, 191
Japan, 77
Taiwan, 137
Kabiy
Togo, 144
Kannada
India, 61
Kazakh
Kazakhstan, 78
Khmer
Cambodia, 19
Kikaonde
Zambia, 162

Hindi
India, 56
207

Kiswahili, 193
Kenya, 79
Uganda, 148
Konkomba
Togo, 144
Korean
South Korea, 129
Kuanua
Papua New Guinea, 106
Kyrgyz
Kyrgyzstan, 80
Lao
Laos, 81
Latvian
Latvia, 84
Lithuanian
Lithuanian, 86
Luganda
Uganda, 148
Lunda
Zambia, 163
Luvale
Zambia, 163
Luxembourgish
Luxembourg, 88
Macedonian
Macedonia, 89
Malagasy
Madagascar, 90
Malay, 194
Malaysia, 91
Singapore, 122
Malayalam
India, 64
Maltese
Malta, 92
208

Mandarin, 195
China, 24
Malaysia, 91
Taiwan, 137
Tibet, 142
Mori
New Zealand, 98
Marathi
India, 58
Moba
Togo, 145
Mongolian
Mongolia, 94
Motu
Papua New Guinea, 107
Ndebele, 197
South Africa, 125
Zimbabwe, 164
Nepali
India, 65
Nepal, 96
North Smi
Norway, 102
Norwegian Bokml
Norway, 101
Norwegian Nynorsk
Norway, 101
Oriya
India, 66
Pidgin
Papua New Guinea, 107
Polish
Poland, 113
Portuguese, 197
Brazil, 17
Portugal, 115
Punjabi
India, 62

Romanian, 199
Moldova, 94
Romania, 116
Russian, 200
Kazakhstan, 78
Kyrgyzstan, 80
Moldova, 94
Russia, 116
Serbia, 119
Samoan
Samoa, 118
Scottish Gaelic
United Kingdom, 152
Serbian
Serbia, 120
Shona
Zimbabwe, 164
Silozi
Zambia, 161
Sinhala
Sri Lanka, 133
Slovak
Slovak Republic, 122
Slovene
Slovenia, 124
Sotho
South Africa, 127
Spanish, 201
Argentina, 2
Bolivia, 16
Chile, 23
Colombia, 24
Costa Rica, 25
Cuba, 28
Dominican Republic, 33
Ecuador, 34
El Salvador, 35
Guatemala, 49
Honduras, 51
Iceland, 53
Mexico, 93

Nicaragua, 99
Panama, 105
Paraguay, 108
Peru, 109
Spain, 131
Uruguay, 156
Venezuela, 158
Swati
South Africa, 128
Swedish, 203
Finland, 42
Sweden, 135
Tagalog
Philippines, 110
Tajik
Tajikistan, 138
Tamil
India, 57
Sri Lanka, 134
Telugu
India, 67
Tem
Togo, 145
Thai
Thailand, 140
Tibetan
Tibet, 143
Tswana
South Africa, 127
Turkish, 204
Cyprus, 28
Turkey, 146
Turkmen
Turkmenistan, 147
Twi
Ghana, 47
Ukrainian
Ukraine, 150
209

Urdu
India, 68
Pakistan, 104
Uzbek
Uzbekistan, 157
Venda
South Africa, 128

210

Vietnamese
Vietnam, 159
Welsh Gaelic
United Kingdom, 153
Yoruba
Nigeria, 100

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