A diacritic mark is a small symbol added to a letter to change its pronunciation, meaning, or tone. These marks are common in many languages, helping to convey nuances that letters alone cannot express.

Purpose of Diacritic Marks

• Modify pronunciation: Indicate how a letter should be sounded.

• Distinguish words: Change the meaning of similar-looking words.

• Indicate tone or stress: Especially in tonal languages like Vietnamese.

Common Types of Diacritic Marks

1. Acute ( ´ ) – Shows stress or a higher pitch (e.g., café).

2. Grave ( ` ) – Can indicate a different vowel sound (e.g., père in French).

3. Circumflex ( ^ ) – Often marks a long vowel or historical spelling change (e.g., rôle).

4. Tilde ( ~ ) – Used for nasal sounds or specific letters (e.g., señor in Spanish).

5. Umlaut/Diaeresis ( ¨ ) – Changes vowel sound or separates vowels (e.g., naïve, über).

6. Cedilla ( ¸ ) – Alters the pronunciation of consonants (e.g., façade).

Interesting Facts

• Diacritic marks are essential in languages like French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Vietnamese.

• Some English words borrowed from other languages retain diacritics, but they are often omitted in casual writing.

• Digital communication sometimes struggles with diacritics, leading to misspellings or mispronunciations.

Why Diacritic Marks Matter

• They ensure correct pronunciation and prevent misunderstandings.

• They preserve the authenticity and meaning of words in different languages.

• They reflect the history and evolution of language, showing how sounds and letters have changed over time.

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