Tactile communication is a form of communication that harnesses the sense of touch to convey information. One of the best known and used systems of tactile communication is Braille, specially designed for people with visual disabilities. This system was created by Louis Braille in the XNUMXth century and, since then, it has been of great help in allowing the participation and inclusion of blind people in different aspects of life, including education, culture and access to information. . In this article, we will focus specifically on the representation of numbers in braille and how to learn them.
Basic principles of braille
The braille system is based on a matrix of six dots arranged in two columns of three dots each. Each character in braille, whether it is a letter, a number, or a punctuation mark, is represented using a specific combination of these six dots. The raised dots are those that are felt when touching the paper and are the ones that carry the information. It is important to mention that the braille is not a language, but rather a character representation system that can be used in any language.
El braille alphabet it is formed by combinations of these six points, and is universal in all languages. However, the letters or specific characters, such as accents or the letters of a certain language, can vary depending on the language in which braille is used, so it is important to know the differences and particularities when using braille in different languages. To Spanish.
Braille numbers and their phonetics
As for the numbers, braille has a similar structure in all languages. The numbers 1 through 9 and 0 are represented by the same set of symbols as the letters "a" through "j." However, one uses additional symbol, called the "numerical indicator", to inform the reader that the following characters are to be interpreted as numbers rather than letters. This numeric indicator does not have any associated phonetics itself.
Below is a list of the braille numbers from 0 to 9, with their Spanish phonetics in parentheses:
- โ ผโ (one)
- โ ผโ (two)
- โ ผโ (three)
- โ ผโ (four)
- โ ผโ (five)
- โ ผโ (six)
- โ ผโ (seven)
- โ ผโ (eight)
- โ ผโ (nine)
- โ ผโ (zero)
Learn Numeric Braille
The first step in learning numerical braille is to become familiar with the basic symbols that represent the numbers. Studying and practicing the braille list of numbers mentioned above can be a good starting point.
Once you have a basic understanding of braille number symbols, the next step is to learn how to identify and use the number indicator. At first, it may be helpful to practice with simple examples, such as dates, phone numbers, or amounts, before moving on to more complex exercises.
Aids and resources for learning
There are several tools and resources available to help learn numerical braille. Some of them include:
- Manuals and courses: Courses and manuals can be found online or in printed formats (in ink or braille) with exercises and specific didactic material for learning numerical braille.
- Mobile apps and software: There are a number of apps and software that can make it easy to practice and learn numeric braille from a mobile device, computer, or even a touchscreen tablet.
- Reference cards and stencils: Cards or stencils showing the numbers in braille can be a great help in quickly reviewing the symbols and their correspondence in ink.
Benefits and practical applications
Learning numerical braille can be beneficial both in everyday situations and in professional or educational contexts. In addition to enhancing the accessibility and the inclusion For people with visual impairments, numerical braille can also enrich the experience of reading text and information in another language for those who are already familiar with alphabetic braille. Learning how to represent numbers in Braille is an essential component to taking full advantage of the possibilities offered by this tactile communication system.