How to Read the Braille Alphabet
If you are reading this then you probably don't need to read braille. Nonetheless, it is a fascinating special alphabet that millions of people use everyday.
Braille was invented in the 1800s by Louis Braille, a blind science and music teacher.
Braille letters are groups of little bumps, or dots, on the surface of a heavy paper. Braille is arranged in symbols called cells. Each cell can hold up to six dots. A "full" braille cell uses all six dots (see picture for example). A braille reader reads by running his or her fingers over the bumps.
A cell can show the sign for one letter of the alphabet, for part of a word (such as -ed), or for a number, depending on the position of the dots. Other dot signs stand for punctuation marks. An experienced reader can read about 80-90 braille words a minute.
Here we are looking at the 26 letter alphabet.
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Instructions
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1
The letter "A" is represented by one dot in the top left of the six positions.
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2
The letter "B" is represented by dots in the top left and the middle left of the six positions.
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3
The letter "C" is represented by dots in the top left and the top right of the six positions.
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4
The letter "D" is represented by dots in the top left, top right and middle right of the six positions.
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5
The letter "E" is represented by dots in the top left and middle right of the six positions.
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6
The letter "F" is represented by dots in the top left, top right and middle left of the six positions.
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7
The letter "G" is represented by dots in the top left, top right, middle left and middle right of the six positions.
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8
The letter "H" is represented by dots in the top left, middle left and middle right of the six positions.
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9
The letter "I" is represented by dots in the top right and the middle left of the six positions.
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10
The letter "J" is represented by dots in the top right, middle left and middle right of the six positions.
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11
The letter "K" is represented by dots in the top left and bottom left of the six positions.
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12
The letter "L" is represented by dots in the top left, middle left and bottom left of the six positions.
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13
The letter "M" is represented by dots in the top left, top right and bottom left of the six positions.
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14
The letter "N" is represented by dots in the top left, top right, middle right and bottom left of the six positions.
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15
The letter "O" is represented by dots in the top left, middle right and bottom left of the six positions.
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16
The letter "P" is represented by dots in the top left, top right, middle left and bottom left of the six positions.
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17
The letter "Q" is represented by dots in the top left, top right, middle left, middle right and bottom left of the six positions.
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18
The letter "R" is represented by dots in the top left, middle left, middle right and bottom left of the six positions.
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19
The letter "S" is represented by dots in the top right, middle left and bottom left of the six positions.
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20
The letter "T" is represented by dots in the top right, middle left, middle right and bottom left of the six positions.
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21
The letter "U" is represented by dots in the top left, bottom left and bottom right of the six positions.
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22
The letter "V" is represented by dots in the top left, middle left, bottom left and bottom right of the six positions.
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23
The letter "W" is represented by dots in the top right, middle left, middle right and bottom right of the six positions.
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24
The letter "X" is represented by dots in the top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right of the six positions.
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25
The letter "Y" is represented by dots in the top left, top right, middle right, bottom left and bottom right of the six positions.
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26
The letter "Z" is represented by dots in the top left, middle right, bottom left and bottom right of the six positions.
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1
Tips & Warnings
The braille cells for the numbers 1-9 are the same as the cells for the letters A-I.
Resources
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Comments
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e-Rambler
Jan 20, 2009
This is fun. I discovered something new today. Now I'll try to memorize the chart! Someday I might try this at an ATM or at the post office.
