ABSTRACT
Contractions constitute the most notable orthographic difference between English braille and print. Mandatory contractions pose a number of practical and theoretical questions which relate specifically to braille reading and spelling. But they also have wider implications. They are potentially an extremely useful tool for probing the relation between reading, spelling and speech output processes during development and acquisition. But we know far too little about the effects of contractions as yet. The present chapter explores some of these issues.
