                           APPENDIX 1
                                
            THE INTRODUCTION OF GRADE 2 CONTRACTIONS
            AND SHORTFORMS INTO THE BRITISH LITERARY
                 BRAILLE CODE DURING THE YEARS
                      CIRCA 1870 AND 1990
                                 
  INTRODUCTION
     Sources
     Key
  
  SIMPLE UPPER WORDSIGNS
  
  SIMPLE UPPER GROUPSIGNS
  
  LOWER CONTRACTIONS
     Wordsigns
     Initial Groupsigns
     Medial Groupsigns
     Initial, Medial, and Terminal Groupsigns
  
  COMPOSITE GROUPSIGNS
  
  SHORTFORMS (ABBREVIATED WORDS)
  
  SUMMARY
    INTRODUCTION
  
  The French braille code was adapted for use in Britain in 1870, but
  because of perceptual problems encountered when reading embossed
  material, changes to the contents of the code have been made from
  time to time in endeavours to make it easier to read and to write. 
  These have been described in the text.  This appendix condenses the
  information concerning contracted words and letter strings at six
  stages in time from 1870 until 1990. It is possible from information
  given here to recognise main trends and the more specific information
  regarding each contraction.  A summary is given at the end.
  
  Not only are the lists of historical interest, but the information
  contained, coupled with a knowledge of the frequency of occurrence
  of the signs (e.g. Lorimer, J., Tobin, Douce, and Gill, "A Study of
  Braille Contractions", Vol.2, Statistical Data, 1982) will help to provide
  a basis for implementing future changes to the literary braille code.
  
  Only symbols officially recognised by the British and Foreign Blind
  Association, the Uniform Type Committee, the British Uniform Type
  Committee, and the Braille Authority of the United Kingdom
  respectively are included in this appendix.  Contents of primers have
  not been specifically mentioned because the information included in
  them is derived from the official rule books.
  
  Sources
  
  Circa 1870   British and Foreign Blind Association
  "Key to Braille Reading and Writing."  This four-page pamphlet
  appears to be the first available source of information concerning the
  British braille code.
  
  1895    British and Foreign Blind Association
  "Dictionary of Braille Contractions with Rules."  The dictionary was
  intended for the use of transcribers.
  
  1905    British and Foreign Blind Association
  "Revised Braille for Reading and Writing, Grade 2."  This was
  published subsequent to the report given at the First Triennial
  Conference on the Blind, 1905.  Only the fourth edition (May, 1912)
  was available with no reference to the date of the first edition, so
  entries have been placed under 1905.
  
  1932    British National Uniform Type Committee together with the
  American Committee on Grade 2 (representing jointly the American
  Association of Instructors of the Blind, the American Association of
  Workers for the Blind, and the American Foundation for the Blind).
  "Standard English Braille, Grades 1 and 2."  
  
  1960    British Uniform Type Committee
  "Changes to Standard English Braille, 1st May, 1960."  Several
  alterations to Grade 2 were considered at a working party held in 1956
  between the braille authorities of Britain and America.  Public opinion
  was sought before the changes were authorised.
  
  1990    Braille Authority of the United Kingdom
  "Changes to Grade 2 Braille, 1st May, 1990."  Decisions made at the
  International Braille Conference held in 1988 were authorised in 1990.
  
    Key
  
     Absent from the code.
  4  Present in the code.
  T  Transferred.
  
  In 1905 six meanings which had previously been represented by
  simple upper wordsigns were given different configurations.  These
  wordsigns could then represent new words of greater frequency.
  
  
    SIMPLE UPPER WORDSIGNS
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  
  
  but
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  can
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  Christ
  4
  4
  T
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  do
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  every
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  from
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  go
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  God
  4
  4
  T
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  have
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  Jesus
  4
  4
  T
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  just
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  knowledge
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  lord
  4
  4
  T
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  like
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  more
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  not
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  people
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  quite
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  rather
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  right
  4
  4
  T
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  so
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  some
  4
  4
  T
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  that
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  unto
  4
  4
  4
   
   
   
  
    SIMPLE UPPER WORDSIGNS (Continued)
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  
  
  us
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  very
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  will
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  it
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  you
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  as
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  and
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  for
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  of
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  the
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  with
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  child
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  shall
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  this
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  which
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  out
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  still
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
    SIMPLE UPPER GROUPSIGNS
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  
  
  AND
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  FOR
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  OF
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  THE
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  WITH
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  CH
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  GH
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  SH
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  TH
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  WH
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  ED
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  ER
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  OU
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  OW
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  ST
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  AR
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  BLE
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  ING
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
    LOWER CONTRACTIONS
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  WORDSIGNS
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  be
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  enough
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  to
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  were
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  his
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  in
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  into
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  was
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  by
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  INITIAL GROUPSIGNS
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  BE
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  CON
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  DIS
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  COM
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
    LOWER CONTRACTIONS (Continued)
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  MEDIAL GROUPSIGNS
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  EA
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  BB
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  CC
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  DD
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  FF
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  GG
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  INITIAL, MEDIAL AND TERMINAL GROUPSIGNS
  
  
  
  
  EN
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  IN
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
    COMPOSITE WORDSIGNS
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  
  
  Christ
  
  
  T 4
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  day
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  ever
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  father
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  God
  
  
  T 4
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  here
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  Jesus
  
  
  T 4
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  know
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  lord
  
  
  T 4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  mother
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  name
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  one
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  part
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  question
   
   
   
   
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  right
  
  
  T 4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  some
  
  
  T 4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  time
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  under
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  work
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  young
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  there
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  character
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  through
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
    COMPOSITE WORDSIGNS (Continued)
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  
  
  where
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  ought
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  upon
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  word
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  these
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  those
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  whose
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  cannot
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  had
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  many
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  spirit
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  unto
   
   
  4
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  world
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  their
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
    COMPOSITE GROUPSIGNS
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  
  
  OUND
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  ANCE
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  SION
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  LESS
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  OUNT
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ENCE
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  SELF
  4
  4
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  ONG
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  FUL
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  TION
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  NESS
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  MENT
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  ITY
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ATION
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  
  
  ALLY
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
    SHORTFORMS (ABBREVIATED WORDS)
  Contractions are indicated by capital letters.
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  ab
  about
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  abv
  above
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  ac
  according
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  acr
  across
   
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  af
  after
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  afn
  afternoon
   
   
   
   
  4
  4
  
  
  afw
  afterward
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  afws
  afterwards
   
   
   
   
  4
   
  
  
  ag
  again
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  agST
  against
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  alm
  almost
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  alr
  already
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  al
  also
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  alTH
  although
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  alt
  altogether
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  alw
  always
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  BEc
  because
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  BEf
  before
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  BEh
  behind
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  BEl
  below
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  BEn
  beneath
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
    SHORTFORMS (ABBREVIATED WORDS) (Continued)
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  BEs
  beside
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  BEss
  besides
   
   
   
   
  4
   
  
  
  BEt
  between
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  BEy
  beyond
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  bl
  blind
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  brl
  braille
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  CHn
  children
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  CONc
  conceive
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  CONcv
  conceiving
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  cd
  could
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  dcv
  deceive
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  dcvg
  deceiving
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  dcl
  declare
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  dcld
  declared
   
  4
   
   
   
   
  
  
  ei
  either
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  fTH
  faith
   
  4
  4
   
   
   
  
  
  fTHful
  faithful
   
  4
   
   
   
   
  
  
  fST
  first
   
   
   
   
  4
  4
  
  
  fr
  friend
   
   
   
   
  4
  4
  
  
  gl
  glory
   
   
  4
   
   
   
  
  
  gd
  good
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  gr
  grace
   
   
  4
   
   
   
  
  
    SHORTFORMS (ABBREVIATED WORDS) (Continued)
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  grt
  great
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  hERf
  herself
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  hm
  him
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  hmf
  himself
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  hl
  holy
   
   
  4
   
   
   
  
  
  imm
  immediate
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  xs
  its
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  xf
  itself
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  lr
  letter
   
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  ll
  little
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  mCH
  much
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  mST
  must
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  myf
  myself
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  nec
  necessary
   
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  nei
  neither
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  o'c
  o'clock
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  ONEf
  oneself
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  OUrvs
  ourselves
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  pd
  paid
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  pERcv
  perceive
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  pERcvg
  perceiving
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  pERh
  perhaps
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  qk
  quick
   
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  
  
    SHORTFORMS (ABBREVIATED WORDS) (Continued)
  
  
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  rcv
  receive
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  rcvd
  received
   
  4
   
   
   
   
  
  
  rcvg
  receiving
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  rjc
  rejoice
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  rjcd
  rejoiced
   
  4
   
   
   
   
  
  
  rjcg
  rejoicing
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  sd
  said
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  sTH
  saith
   
   
  4
   
   
   
  
  
  SHd
  should
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  sCH
  such
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  THEmvs
  themselves
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  THyf
  thyself
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  t-d
  today
   
   
  4
  4
   
   
  
  
  td
  today
   
   
   
   
  4
  4
  
  
  tgr
  together
   
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  t-m
  tomorrow
   
   
  4
  4
   
   
  
  
  tm
  tomorrow
   
   
   
   
  4
  4
  
  
  t-n
  tonight
   
   
  4
  4
   
   
  
  
  tn
  tonight
   
   
   
   
  4
  4
  
  
  wd
  would
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  yr
  your
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  yrf
  yourself
   
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
  yrvs
  yourselves
   
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  
  
    SUMMARY
  
  Total number of contractions contained in the British literary braille
  code, Grade 2, in c 1870, 1895, 1905, 1932, 1960, and 1990
  respectively.
  
  
  
  c1870
  1895
  1905
  1932
  1960
  1990
  
  
  Simple Upper Wordsigns
  Simple Upper Groupsigns
  Lower Signs
  Composite Wordsigns
  Composite Groupsigns
  Shortforms
  
  27
  12
  14
  9
  11
  0
  27
  12
  14
  9
  11
  24
  34
  13
  19
  36
  14
  73
  34
  13
  19
  32
  14
  73
  34
  13
  19
  33
  14
  78
  34
  13
  19
  33
  14
  76
  
  
  Totals
  73
  97
  189
  185
  191
  189
  
  
  Where a sign can represent both a word and a part-word, it is only
  counted once.
  