Diacritics on Vowels
The Diereses
The dieresis separates two vowels that would be pronounced together. The dieresis is placed on the second vowel to indicate the start of a new syllable.
naïf, mikroörganisme, beëindig
naif, mikroorganisme, beeindig
| beïndruk beëindig mikroöefening | mikroöes koeël vroeër | moeër boë reünie | geëet geëindig geëer |
The Circumflex
The circumflex is placed over any vowel that has an unusual pronunciation. It does not dictate the same sound change in every instance. Remember it like this; "Sorry, this vowel does not play by the rules. Please pardon the exception."
| se | sê |
| le | lê |
| nerens | nêrens |
| bere | bêre |
Typical examples:
| skêr skêre wêreld lê lêplek | sêgoed sê wig wîe wie | blêr êrens nêrens môre sôe |
The Acute Accent
The acute accent is used to place emphasis on any given word. This is done instead of bolding or underlining a word for emphasis. This diacritic can be used over any vowel, and also over "y." It is a great feature. I wish every langauge could use it-->it is véry useful!
| Dít is jou boek. Dit ís jou boek Dit is jóú boek. Dit is jou bóék. | Dit kán loop! Sy sál moet kom. Ons móét gaan! Ek wíl dit sien Ék is die een! Júlle sal betaal! | Wát wil hy doen? Wié is daar? Ek wil dit nóóit sien nie! Dié lepel is myne. Slaan hom dóód! Slaan hóm dood! |
The Grave Accent
The grave accent is used virtually exclusively on the following words:
nòg...nòg (no difference in pronunciation) [neither....nor]
òf.....òf (no difference in pronunciation) [whether....or whether]
appel (Accent on the first A) [apple]
appèl (Accent on the E) [appeal]
How to type diacritics on the computer (Windows machines).
Popular ones in Afrikaans are:
ê - Alt + 136 on the keypad
é - Alt + 130 on the keypad
ë - Alt + 137 on the keypad
ü - ALt + 129 on the keypad
ô - Alt + 147
ï - Alt + 139
To see more options, go to:
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci847800,00.html