Diacritical Marks

Diacritical marks are small signs or symbols added to letters in many writing systems to indicate a change in pronunciation from the basic letter form.

These marks can alter how a vowel or consonant sounds or distinguish different tones in a language.

Diacritical marks are essential for conveying accurate pronunciation and are used across various languages, including French, Spanish, Vietnamese, and more.

For example:
– In French, the accent mark over the letter “e” as in “é” (acute accent) changes the sound from a flat “e” to a more pronounced “ay” sound.
– In Spanish, the tilde over “n” as in “ñ” creates a new sound, differentiating “ano” (year) from “año” (anus).
– In German, the umlaut over a vowel, such as “ö,” modifies the vowel’s pronunciation, influencing both the meaning and the sound of words.

These marks not only aid in pronunciation but also in differentiating meanings between similarly spelled words, making them crucial for clarity in written communication.