Umlauted: meaning, definitions and examples
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umlauted
[ ˈʊm.lɔɪ.tɪd ]
linguistic terms
The term 'umlauted' refers to characters or vowels that have undergone the modification known as umlaut, indicating a change in pronunciation. This linguistic phenomenon occurs in several languages, particularly in German, where certain vowels are altered by the addition of two dots above them (¨). Umlaut can affect the meaning of a word and is an essential feature in the inflection of nouns and the conjugation of verbs. Understanding umlaut is crucial for proper pronunciation and comprehension in languages that utilize this modification.
Examples of usage
- ä in schön
- ö in hören
- ü in müde
Etymology
The word 'umlauted' is derived from the German term 'Umlaut', which itself originates from the Middle High German 'umult', meaning 'to change' or 'to transform'. The concept of umlaut dates back to the 8th century and is a result of phonetic changes in the Germanic languages. Historically, it was often used to indicate a vowel harmony system, whereby the articulation of a vowel is affected by surrounding sounds or influences. The use of umlaut in written language became standardized with the development of the German alphabet, and it has since influenced many other languages, particularly in the formation and conjugation of words. Today, umlaut remains a critical aspect of German phonetics and continues to be studied for its significance in language evolution.