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Diacritic: meaning, definitions and examples

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diacritic

 

[daɪəˈkrɪtɪk ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

linguistic

A diacritic is a mark added to a letter to indicate a special phonetic value, stress, or tone. Diacritics are commonly used in many languages to modify the sound or meaning of a letter or word.

Synonyms

accent mark, diacritical mark.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
diacritic

Used in a technical or academic context when discussing linguistic features in various languages. It includes all marks added to letters to change their sound values.

  • The letter 'é' in French uses a diacritic to indicate a specific pronunciation.
  • Diacritics are essential in many non-Latin scripts to convey correct meanings.
accent mark

Commonly used in everyday conversation or non-technical contexts to refer to marks placed above or below letters to indicate stress or pronunciation changes.

  • You need to add an accent mark to the 'e' in 'résumé' for correct spelling.
  • In Spanish, the accent mark in 'habló' indicates past tense.

Examples of usage

  • The diacritic on the letter 'ñ' in Spanish changes the pronunciation to 'ny' sound.
  • In French, the diacritic 'é' indicates an accented 'e'.
  • The diacritic above the letter 'ş' in Turkish changes its pronunciation.
Context #2 | Noun

computing

In computing, a diacritic is a symbol added to a letter to represent a different character or sound. Diacritics are used in programming languages, databases, and text processing systems.

Synonyms

accented character, special character.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
diacritic

This term is typically used in linguistics and language studies to refer to any symbol added to a letter to alter its pronunciation or distinguish between similar words.

  • In French, the acute accent is a diacritic that changes the pronunciation of the letter 'e'
special character

This term is broader and includes any character that is not a standard letter or number, which can include diacritics, punctuation marks, symbols, etc. It is commonly used when discussing computer input or programming.

  • Passwords often require at least one special character, such as an exclamation mark or an at symbol
accented character

This term is used when referring to letters that have specific accents (like acute, grave, or umlaut) added to them, often in everyday language or casual conversation.

  • The word 'résumé' contains two accented characters that influence its pronunciation

Examples of usage

  • The diacritic 'ç' is used in programming to represent a specific character.
  • In HTML, diacritics are important for displaying characters correctly on web pages.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The term 'diacritic' comes from the Greek word 'diakritikos,' which means 'able to distinguish,' showcasing its role in clarifying sounds.
  • Diacritics have been used since ancient times, appearing in early Greek and Latin texts to provide proper pronunciation.
  • The practice of using these marks evolved as languages adapted to various cultures and sounds, spreading through the influence of colonialism.

Linguistics

  • Diacritics are often used in languages like French and Spanish; for instance, the accent aigu (é) alters the vowel sound.
  • In Arabic, diacritics include dots and lines that indicate vowel sounds, which are essential for pronunciation and meaning.
  • They can transform a single letter's pronunciation drastically; for example, in Czech, the letter 'c' changes sound with a háček (č).

Technology

  • Modern text-based interfaces, like mobile keyboards, include diacritics to help users enter text in multiple languages seamlessly.
  • The use of Unicode in digital systems ensures that diacritics are represented consistently across different devices and platforms.
  • Voice recognition software incorporates information about diacritics to improve accuracy in understanding and transcribing spoken language.

Literature

  • Diacritics can change the meaning of words in poetry or song lyrics, adding layers of interpretation and enhancing the rhythm.
  • Authors have purposefully used diacritics in their work to create a certain aesthetic or to evoke cultural identity.
  • The presence of diacritics can also affect the character count in typography and publishing, influencing design choices.

Cultural Significance

  • Diacritics play a crucial role in preserving a language's unique identity, especially in languages with rich oral traditions.
  • They can indicate geographic or cultural variations, as seen in regional dialects, showing how language evolves in different contexts.
  • In globalization, the use of diacritics is essential for maintaining the correct pronunciation and meaning of borrowed foreign terms.

Translations

Translations of the word "diacritic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 diacrítico

🇮🇳 स्वराघात चिन्ह

🇩🇪 Diakritikum

🇮🇩 diakritik

🇺🇦 діакритичний знак

🇵🇱 znak diakrytyczny

🇯🇵 ダイアクリティカルマーク

🇫🇷 diacritique

🇪🇸 signo diacrítico

🇹🇷 diakritik işareti

🇰🇷 발음 구별 기호

🇸🇦 علامة تشكيل

🇨🇿 diakritické znaménko

🇸🇰 diakritické znamienko

🇨🇳 变音符号

🇸🇮 diakritični znak

🇮🇸 díakrítískt tákn

🇰🇿 диакритикалық белгі

🇬🇪 დიაკრიტიკული ნიშანი

🇦🇿 diakritik işarəsi

🇲🇽 signo diacrítico

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,922, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.