       LESSON 13:  FINAL LETTER CONTRACTIONS USING DOTS 4-6, 5-6, AND 6

SECTION I:  TWO-CELL FINAL-LETTER CONTRACTIONS
Part I:  Information

I  INTRODUCTION

In general final-letter contractions are formed by preceding the final letter
of the letter combination by dots 4-6, 5-6, or 6.

Final-letter contractions using dots 4-6:

           ound              ance              sion

           less               ount

II  Instances where these contractions should be used:

1.  Final-letter contractions should be used in the middle or at the end of a
    word or at the beginning of a line in a divided word.  They may never be-
    gin a word or be used as a whole word, nor should they be used when pre-
    ceded by the hyphen or the apsotrophe.  These contractions should be used
    in words like:

      (ab)(ound)              b(ound)(ar)ies               b(less)(ing)s
      deci(sion)              reces(sion)                  hope(less)
      c(ount)er               f(ount)a(in)                 happ(en)(st)(ance)

2.  Final-letter contractions should also be used when they occur at the be-
    ginning of a line in a divided word.

    EXAMPLES:    deliv(er)-            bottom-             preci-
             (ance)               (less)              (sion)

III  Instances where these final-letter contractions should NOT be used:

1.  The final-letter contractions should not be used to represent whole words
    as in "less", or "ally".

2.  They should not be used where they occur at the beginning of the word, as
    in the words "lessee", "ancestral", or "mentality".

3.  The final-letter contractions may not follow an apostrophe or a hyphen in
    a hyphenated word or in a syllabized word, as in the words "mo-ment",
    "bot-tom-less"

4.  Like other contractions, these contractions may not be used where a pre-
    fix or suffix is added to a base word and where using the contraction
    would change the usual braille form of the base word.  Therefore, the
    (less) sign should not be used in "unlessoned".

NOTE:    Using Two-Cell Contractions to Save Space

Although there is a general rule that a one-cell contraction must be given
preference over a two-cell contraction; the two-cell contraction should be
used if it would result in saving more space.

    EXAMPLE:    (en)h(ance)d    not    (en)hanc(ed)

NOTE:    Contractions in Proper Names

The rules stated above regarding the use of final-letter contractions also
apply to their use in proper names.

There exists a great variety of origins and sources of proper names, so rules
cannot be rigidly applied in all cases.


When you are ready, press Esc to begin the practice exercises.


Part II:  Print to Braille Exercises
1.  Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty boundless    
    substitute for life.
2.  Thinking is more interesting than knowing, but less interesting than
    looking.
3.  It's the entrance of light that dispells the dark, not just acknowledg-
    ing it.
4.  Romance may start the ember burning, but it's love that keeps the flame 
    hot.
5.  Many people moved to this country at the turn of the century in hopes
    of making better lives for themselves.
6.  The dance recital will take place around 7 p.m. (depending on the weath-
    er) on the tenth of March.
7.  The president felt that all the company officials needed to spend a
    weekend at a cozy mountain resort for comradery.
8.  We have been blessed with an abundance of vegetables from the garden and
    would like to give some away.
9.  If by chance you miss the lesson, you can count on me to fill you in.
10. It's imperative that we come to a decision today or we're bound to put
    it off indefinitely.
11. The children were always setting up imaginary boundaries in the back
    seat of the car.
12. Emma is not eager to trace her ancestry too far back in fear of what
    she might find.
13. Jordan's careless attitude toward the group project changed when he
    found out that his intersession grade depended on it.
14. Your geography question for the day is to name the two mountain ranges
    that border France to the south and southeast.
15. She had counted on winning a scholarship in dance so she could afford
    college in the fall.

Part III:  Braille to Print Exercises
1.  The tired child sat stone-still in the corner of the room as if in a
    trance.
2.  Joshua graduated from college tops in his class and acquired a highly      
    professional job as a finance analyst.
3.  She made a grand entrance resembling that of Cinderella at the ball.
4.  Mr. Goodwin rebounded quickly following his open-heart surgery last
    Fall.
5.  John Muir once said, "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
    Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees."
6.  The Boundary Waters region of northern Minnesota has become known for
    its excellent canoeing adventures.
7.  Both sets of parents gave them their blessings but refused to attend the
    wedding ceremony.
8.  Susan's daily encounters with the sarcastic, evil woman wore her nerves
    to a frazzle.
9.  Cinderella danced with the prince until the clock struck twelve mid-
    night.
10. The lessons often invade the dreams of those who practice braille.
11. The countdown of the rocket launch was quickly cancelled with the dis-
    covery of a fuel leak that could have caused an enormous explosion.
12. It doesn't matter what clothes you wear--if you are unprofessional
    during the interview you can bet you will be passed over.
13. With a little more self-reliance and a lot less complaining, the young
    campers will pull through this two week hike with flying colors.
14. The play was so bad that we made the decision to sneak out during the
    intermission.
15. Believing every word of the con artist's story, the countess fell
    helplessly into his web of deceit and betrayal.

Part IV:  Proof Reading Exercises
1.  Make the child's first braille books interesting for him to explore.  On   
    occasion, make the pages a different shape (round, triangular, animal shaped, 
    etc.).  The shape may give the child a [clue] as to what the book is about.


SECTION II:  FINAL-LETTER CONTRACTIONS USING DOTS 5-6
Part I:  Information

I  INTRODUCTION

        ence              ong              ful              tion

        ness              ment             ity

II  Instances where these contractions SHOULD be used:

1.  The final-letter contractions should be used in the middle or at the end 
    of a word.

   EXAMPLES:    (th)(ence)          mo(tion)          b(ea)uti(ful)
                use(ful)(ness)      wr(ong)           ela(st)ic(ity)

2.  They should be used when they appear at the beginning of line in a divided
    word.

    EXAMPLES:      annu-               monu-                   use-
               (ity)            (ment)al             (ful)(ness)

III  Instances where these contractions SHOULD NOT be used:

1.  The final-letter contractions should not be used to represent whole words,
    (eg. ally).

2.  These contractions should not be used where they appear at the beginning 
    of a word, (eg. ancestral).

3.  These contractions should never follow an apostrophe, nor a hyphen in a 
    hyphenated word or in a syllabized word, (eg. mon-u-ment).

4.  Like other contractions, these contractions should not be used where a 
    prefix or suffix is added to a base word and using the contraction would 
    change the usual braille form of the base word.

5.  These contractions should not be used where part of the letters fall 
    into a prefix.

    Although the general rule states that contractions must not be used where
    part of the letters fall into a suffix, an exception is made where the
    feminine ending `ess' is added to words ending in `n', such as "baroness",
    "lioness", and "governess", in which case the (ness) sign should be used.
    However, where the base word ends in a contraction, that contraction must
    be retained and the (ness) sign must not be used.

    EXAMPLES:    (ch)iefta(in)ess          citiz(en)ess

6.  A contractions must never be used where it would disturb the pronunciaton
    of a digraph or a trigraph.

7.  The (ation) sign, (to be studied in the next section), should be used in
    preference to the `a' and (tion) sign, (eg. ration, and complication),
    because it saves more space.  If these words must be divided between
    lines, and the `a' can be placed on the first line, then the `a' and
    (tion) sign should be used.

    Exception to the Rule of Giving Preference to One-Cell Contractions
An exception the rule giving preference to one-cell contractions over two-cell
contractions where the same amount of space would be saved occurs where the 
letters `ence' are followed by the letters `d' or `r'; in which case the 
(ence) sign should be used in preference to the alternative one-cell con-
tractions.

    EXAMPLES:    (com)m(ence)d        Sp(ence)er

III  Contractions in Proper Names

In general, these same rules apply to the use of contraction in proper names.
However, there exists a great variety of origins and sources of proper names,
so rules cannot be rigidly applied in all cases.

This concludes the information section.  When you are ready, press Esc to begin
practice exercises.


Part II:  Print to Braille Exercises
1.  The internal affairs department discovered that the commissioner was
    involved in some rather shady business transactions.
2.  I cannot force myself to go to the dog pound because I hate the thought
    of choosing just one dog and leaving all the others behind.
3.  Counting on Terrence to mow the lawn is like believing that you will win
    the lottery this week!
4.  Isn't it a pity that people are afraid to walk alone at night in the
    city?
5.  Unless you are absolutely certain that his response is wrong, it would
    be best to keep quiet.
6.  Lawrence Fullerton got a second chance to break the world record for the
    long distance run.
7.  The children were careful not to make a sound when they thought they
    heard strangers outside their door.
8.  We sat motionless as we gazed in awe at the seemingly countless, and
    beautiful stars.
9.  The disarmament of nuclear weapons by all nations would be one step clo-
    ser toward ensuring a future for our children.
10. College tuition continues to rise, while government aid for students
    appears less abundant.
11. My hometown was founded in the early 1800s by settlers from Kentucky
    and Tennessee.
12. Robert claims to be able to read one's mind through mental telepathy.
13. Which dessert do you find to have a more fruity flavor, the apple pie
    or the peach cobbler?
14. Constance went to the dentist to have a cavity fixed and the dentist
    filled the wrong tooth.
15. Upon hearing the news of his disappearance we all sat motionless, as if
    waiting for someone to say it was all a joke.

Part III:  Braille to Print Exercises
1.  Jeong longed to have confidence in his abilities, but he could not wipe his
    failures from his mind.
2.  It is the chiefest point of happiness that a man is willing to be what
    he is.
3.  Patience--a minor form of despair disguised as virtue.
4.  The things that are wrong with the country today are the sum total of
    all the things that are wrong with us as individuals.
5.  It is an absolute perfection ... to know how ... to get the very most
    out of one's own individuality.  Montaigne.
6.  The true perfection of man lies not in what man has, but in what man is.
7.  Blondie's goal of owning her own business would fulfill her need for in-
    dependence.
8.  The city government had a long history of spending more than local taxes
    collected.
9.  Beef tongue is a popular dish in our household and is only served at
    prominent occasions.
10. [The Heart of Darkness] is a book written by Joseph Conrad about a trip
    up the Congo River.
11. One can't straddle the fence and expect to have friends on both sides.
12. "Any moment providence will intercede and the city will be saved from
    destruction!" the confused man cried.
13. That old dog always waits faithfully by the mailbox until its owner returns 
    home from work.
14. The image of her long, beautiful hair would cause him many sleepless
    nights, tormented by a shyness that prevented him from asking her out.
15. Her political commentary, at first thought to be so witty, soon
    turned into distasteful sarcasm and made many in the audience uncomfortable.

Part IV:  Proof Reading Exercises
1.  While I enjoy modern art, my true passion is the French Impressionist period.
2.  Please pay very close attention to my instructions, because I know how     
    forgetful you can be.
3.  Ellen gave her mother the "silent treatment" for 2 days after she was refused 
    permission to go to the slumber party.
4.  The popular outdoor musical production was cancelled on account of a       
    threatening thunder storm.
5.  Although art project didn't win a ribbon, she did receive honorable mention 
    for creative design.


SECTION III:  FINAL-LETTER CONTRACTIONS USING DOT 6
Part I:  Information

                   ation                   ally

I   Instances where these contractions SHOULD be used:

1.  They should be used in the middle or at the end of a word.

    EXAMPLES:    m(en)t(ally)        tot(ally)        (com)plic(ation)

2.  They should be used when they appear at the beginning of a line in a di-
    vided word.

    EXAMPLES:            physic-               declar-
                    (ally)               (ation)

II  Instances where these contractions SHOULD NOT be used:

1.  The final-letter contraction (ally) should not be used to represent the 
    whole word "ally".

2.  They should not be used when the letters they represent occur at the be-
    ginning of a word.

3.  They should never follow the apostrophe, nor the hyphen in a hyphenated 
    word or in a syllabized word.

4.  Like other contractions, these final-letter contractions should not be
    used where a prefix or suffix is added to a base word and using the con-
    traction whould change the usual braille form of the base word.

5.  These contractions should not be used where they would disturb the pro-
    nunciation of a digraph or a trigraph.

6.  The (ation) sign should be used in preference to the `a' and (tion) sign
    because it saves more space.  If these words must be divided between
    lines, and the `a' can be placed on the first line, then the `a' and the
    (tion) sign should be used.

NOTE:    Using two-cell contractions to save space

    Although there is a general rule that a one-cell contraction must be
    given preference over a two-cell contraction; the two-cell contraction
    should be used if it would result in saving more space.    

III  Contraction in Proper Names

In general, these same rules apply to the use of contractions in proper names.
This completes the information in this section.  When you are ready, press
Esc to begin the practice exercises.


Part II:  Print to Braille Exercises
1.  Without forgiveness life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment
    and retaliation.
2.  If the two warring parties are ever going to see peace, there will have
    to be a lot more cooperation on both sides.
3.  The situation has really deteriorated since the new regime has taken of-
    fice.
4.  A delegation from the local racing club attended the stock car rally at
    Dane County Raceway in Florida last March.
5.  Sally will need to talk to Meejin about orchestration of the club's Spring
    Ball.
6.  Usually one can expect only 1 invitation per contributor to the gover-
    nor's inauguration party.
7.  Historically the westward movement of the Anglo-Saxon civilization was
    driven by the need for land.
8.  It was through his constant questioning and experimentation that Velcro
    came to be.
9.  The young woman looked exceptionally beautiful in the blue sequin dress
    and cape.
10. I would be eternally grateful if you would cancel our dinner reserva-
    tion, for I have a splitting headache.
11. I continue hearing that we are in the age of the information highway,
    but I have yet to see many road signs to guide us.
12. One of the benefits of living in a large city is that the population is
    much more racially diverse.
13. After having her finger bit, Gretchen learned her lesson not to tease
    an alley cat with food.
14. When Charla lost the gymnastics competition by one point she was the
    first to offer congratulations to the winner.
15. The Pullman Valley football team was the first in its conference to ex-
    periment with the I-formation.
Part III:  Braille to Print Exercises
1.  The creation of the Bill of Rights safeguarded many of our personal lib-
    erties.
2.  In the still of the night we heard the haunting sounds of a screech owl.
3.  Because of the foul weather and poor attendance, the pep rally was can-
    celled.
4.  Every child, upon entering public school, is required to receive vacci-
    nations for certain contagious diseases.
5.  During the beginning stages of interpretive reading, it is important
    that the teacher probe for elaboration.
6.  Students may read braille slowly because they scrub vertically up and
    down the braille dots.
7.  When print can no longer be read with maximum magnification or it be-
    comes too fatiguing, braille should be considered.
8.  A universal identification card used to be available to all legally
    blind or partially sighted persons through A.F.B.
9.  We should rewrite the question so that it refers to [child]hood rather 
    than [boy]hood memories.
10. The Dolch Word List is a commercially available list of sight words.
11. "It really doesn't matter whether you win or lose--it's how you play
    the game that counts," advised her coach.
12. Julio is undecided which he should major in:  business law or public
    administration.
13. Wally the weatherman forecasted squally conditions throughout the night
    and into the morning.
14. The re-integration of the timber wolf into the Yellowstone Park was
    met with serious criticism by ranchers in the area.
15. Wanting to make it easier to purchase organically grown foods, Hoihun
    began organizing a locally supported food cooperative.

Part IV:  Proof Reading Exercises
1.  For the duration of the trip we spent the days roaming around the village  
    meeting the local people.
2.  We really needed to take a vacation to the Rocky Mountains this spring.
3.  I totally agree with the findings which state that sleep is the best method 
    for relaxation.
4.  Her parents were down at the train station waiting for her to arrive.
5.  Periodically it would be nice to send a little note--or better yet--a letter 
    to your mother and father.


SECTION VII:  SELF-TEST
Part I:  Information

            Quality is never an accident; it is always the result
            of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction
            and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of
            many alternatives.
                                             Willa A. Foster


Part II:  Print to Braille Exercises
1.  The white-tailed deer is the only big game animal found in Illinois and
    is easily recognized by most people.
2.  Thus far, science has been powerless in finding a remedy for the common
    cold.
3.  If I had to choose a favorite actor it would be a toss-up between
    Humphrey Bogart and Spencer Tracey.
4.  The Humane Society works very hard to find quality homes for less fortu-
    nate animals.
5.  His dogged persistence and determination allowed him to qualify for the
    1994 Olympic speed skating team.
6.  "The less you say to the BOSS, the better chance you have of keeping your
    job," snapped the frightful-looking foreman.
7.  Without car insurance you are taking a huge gamble by driving in the
    city.
8.  Don't verbally attack one of Aunt Florence's children, or she will lash
    out like a lioness protecting her young.
9.  Dreams that go unfulfilled allow us to keep dreaming.
10. King Kong could be misperceived as being uncongenial.
11. The countdown of the rocket launch was quickly cancelled with the dis-
    covery of a fuel leak that could have caused an enormous explosion.
12. Emma is leery of tracing her ancestry too far back in fear of what she
    might find.
13. Robert claims to be able to read one's mind through mental telepathy.
14. The disarmament of nuclear weapons by all nations would be one step
    closer toward ensuring the health and sanity of future generations.
15. Which dessert do you find to have a more fruity flavor, the apple pie
    or the peach cobbler?

Part III:  Braille to Print Exercises
1.  I resent this self-evaluation form that we are required to fill out for our 
    yearly raises.
2.  Knowing how to handle one's money is a valuable lesson that parents
    should impart to their children.
3.  His passion for reading often made him forgetful to do other homework.
4.  The importance of belonging can influence youngsters during adolescence
    to take actions they normally wouldn't take.
5.  The DeLong family operates a grain business on the outskirts of the city
    of Monroe.
6.  We are all hopeful for a successful completion of the braille program.
7.  Susan suddenly came to the realization that she could no longer count on
    her wiles to get ahead.
8.  Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.
9.  Don't worry about avoiding temptation--as you grow older, it starts a-
    voiding you.
10. He found that tolerance was needed if he was ever going to live peace-
    fully in his neighborhood.
11. One can't straddle the fence and expect to have friends on both sides.
12. "At any moment providence will intercede and the city will be saved
    from destruction," the old man cried.
13. That old dog always waits faithfully by the mailbox until its owners
    return home from school.
14. The children were always setting up imaginary boundaries in the back
    seat of the car.
15. She had hoped to win a scholarship in dance so she could attend the u-
    niversity in the fall.

Part IV:  Proof Reading Exercises
1.  Professor Wong spent the entire class period discussing standard deviation 
    and it's statistical applications.
2.  The sound of two alley cats fighting in the middle of the night became such 
    a nuisance that I couldn't sleep a wink.
3.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
4.  It was his life-ong ambition to travel around the world to search for the  
    perfect location to build a small country estate.
5.  Your wait for a turn will not count unless you stand behind the line.

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