WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: <strong> vs <em>

for

From: Penny Roberts
Date: Feb 15, 2007 9:50AM

<EMAIL REMOVED> wrote:
> I agree Joshue that most speech users are not going to take the time to get
> in out of modes just to see if text is labeled for any type of emphasis be
> it bold or italitics expressed with i or em or b or strong. I somewhat
> wondering why the focus is just on speech (specifically JAWS users).
>
> The way we use codes to display visual material effects other folks as well.

Indeed, the use of emphasis and strong convey important visual
information but it is a shame that speech reader users don't hear it,
particularly emphasis, because it is there for a reason: it conveys
meaning that simple context does not.
If I say "do not use the lift" it means "you shouldn't use the lift".
If I say "*do not* use the lift" it means "only an idiot with a death
wish would use the lift". If I were reading it aloud (as part of a set
of verbal instructions for instance) I wouldn't speak the words "do not"
in an ordinary voice because that would not convey the intended meaning.

Penny