Session 4: Contractions Exercise

Directions:

The table below contains 25 words, with parentheses indicating where contractions are used. Your task is to decide if the contraction(s) used or omitted are correct or incorrect. The contractions that are possible are listed in the second column, with a note about what type of contraction it is -- part- or whole-word, initial or final letter, etc. If correct, check the "Correct" box and state why you believe the contraction(s) used is/are correct. If incorrect, click on the "Incorrect" box and state the reason or reasons why it is incorrect (you can simply state the rule from the summary, such as "Rule 12C2". The exercise is not to get the "correct" answer, but to make your case as to why or why not a particular contraction or series of contractions are used or Incorrectt used. This is an OPEN "SUMMARY OF RULES" activity! (meaning, you can refer to the summary of rules, you don't have to memorize them!) The purpose of this activity: How well can you read, understand, and interpret the rules of braille contractions?

NOTE! Some folks have suggested that this activity is confusing, and should come after the contractions have been learned. If you find it to be confusing, SKIP IT, go to Session 5, come back to it later. If I am successful in at least getting you to LOOK at the Summary of Rules, then I win (and so do you, you just don't know it yet!). What you need to learn: there exist a GENERAL SET OF RULES that guide the appropriate usage of braille contractions. The SOONER you can see general patterns, the easier life will be. I choose, in designing this course, to try to get you thinking about there rules EARLIER rather than LATER.

NOTE! In some of the words, some of the contractions may be correct, others may be incorrect. If this is the case, the word is not correct!

An example:

WordPossible ContractionsCorrect? Explanation
p(ound)ingound [part-word], ing [part-word] Incorrect This word has two possible contractions, "ound" and "ing", both parts of a word. This example is incorrect since the "ound" is used as is permitted, but the "ing" was left out. The correct transcription is "p(ound)(ing)"

Enter your full name here (not optional):

Enter your E-MAIL address here (not optional):

Use this filename to restore or save your file (optional if you plan on finishing whole exercise in one sitting):


WordPossible ContractionsCorrect? Explanation
adju(st)st [part-word]

anemone one [initial-letter]

(Ch)a(th)am ch, th [both part-word]

A(th)(en)s th, en [part-word], the [part/whole]

Jerusalem er [part-word],

rh(in)e(st)(one) in, st, one [part-whole],

(quick)ly qk [quick, short-form word]

prandial and [part/whole]

P(er)u er [part-word]

(can)'t can [initial-letter]

dedic(ation) ed, ation [part-word]

s(ou)(th)(er)n ou, th, er [part-word], the [whole-word]

under(paid) under, paid [whole-word]

un(question)a(ble) question [initial letter], ble [part-word]

wills will [initial letter]

Yi(dd)i(sh) dd,sh [part-word]

Pho(en)ix en [part-word],

po(st)ha(st)e st [part-word],

(ow)! ow [part-word]

mother-(of)-pe(ar)l mother (initial letter), of [whole word], ar [part-word]

(braille)r brl [short-form word]

G(er)many er [part-word], many [short-form word]

enamel en [part-word]

(st)(and)-(in) st [part-word], and [whole-word], in [part-word]

ebb-tide bb [part-word]