Hebrew Braille

Hebrew Braille is the system of Braille used by Hebrew readers and speakers. The International Hebrew Braille Code in wide usage throughout the world was devised in the 1930s and completed in 1944. It is based on the standard Braille system, with additional letters devised to accommodate differences between the English and Hebrew alphabets. Unlike Hebrew, but in keeping with Braille, Hebrew Braille is read from left to right.

History

Prior to the 1930s, there were several regional variations of Hebrew Braille, but no universal system. In 1936, the Jewish Braille Institute of America assembled an international panel to attempt to produce a unified code. Among the greater challenges faced by the panel was the accommodation of the Hebrew vowel points. The panel completed its first iteration of the International Hebrew Braille Code in 1936, the same year in which the first Hebrew Braille book was published with sponsorship from the Library of Congress: a volume of excerpts from the Talmud and other sources. The code underwent further refinements for the better part of a decade until its completion in 1944.

Letters

• The letters in the table are read from left to right.

• 

  Alef (א), is either "silent", or that of its vowel underneath it. Same as "a" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Vet (ב), the "v" sound, like in "vote". Same as "v" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Bet (בּ), the "b" sound, like in "bike". Same as "b" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Gimmel (ג), the "g" sound, like it "great". Same as "g" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Daled (ד), the "d" sound, like in "dome". Same as "d" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Hay (ה), the "h" sound, like in "house". Same as "h" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Vav (ו), the "v" sound, like in "vote". Same as "w" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Vav (וּ) (as a shuruk), the "oo" sound, like in "ruse", "food". Same as "u" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Vav (וֹ) (as a cholom), the "oh" sound, like in "rope". Same as "o" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Zayin (ז), the "z" sound, like in "zoo". Same as "z" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Chet (ח), similar to the "ch" sound in German and Scottish (IPA: /x/), like in "loch". Same as "x" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Tet (ט), the "t" sound, like in "tomorrow". Same as "t" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Yud (י), the "y" sound (IPA: /j/), like in "you". Same as "j" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Yud (יִ), (as a chiriq), the "ee" sound, like in "ski", "see", "tea", "city". Same as "i" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Chaf (כ ך), the "ch" sound found in German, like in "loch". Same as "ch" in standard English (Grade 2) Braille.

• 

  Kaf (כּ), the "k" sound, like in "kite" and "quite". Same as "k" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Lamed (ל), the "l" sound, like in "loop". Same as "l" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Mem (מ ם), the "m sound, like in "might". Same as "m" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Nun (נ ן), the "n" sound, like in "now". Same as "n" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Samech (ס), the "s" sound, like in "some". Same as "s" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Ayin (ע), a small stop in air, such as in between "uh oh", or a voiced pharyngeal fricative.

• 

  Fei (פ ף), the "f" sound, like in "found". Same as "f" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Pei (פּ), the "p" sound, like in "pull". Same as "p" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Tzadik (צ ץ), the "tz" (or "ts") sound, like in "tsunami" or "pizza".

• 

  Kuf (ק), the "k" sound, like in "quite" and "kite". Same as "q" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Resh (ר), the "r" sound, like in "run". Same as "r" in standard English Braille.

• 

  Shin (שׁ), the "sh" sound, like in "shop". Same as "sh" in standard English (Grade 2) Braille.

• 

  Sin (שׂ), the "s" sound, like in "sight".

• 

  Tav (ת), the "t" sound, like in "tell". Same as "th" in standard English (Grade 2) Braille. (Note that taf without a dagesh was articulated as [θ] in ancient and dialectal varieties of Hebrew.)

External links

• Yiddish Braille code [1]
• Braille script (כתב ברייל)
• Hebrew Visions.org