New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] It's a trema, not an umlaut
in reply to a message by Kit
The diacritic that looks like two little two dots are called a trema, not an umlaut. An umlaut is a specific usage of the trema, best known for its use in Germany. A trema mark can also be a diaeresis, which indicates that two letters are to be read separately. "Chloë" would be using a diaeresis.
Letters with tremas are also their own letters in some other languages (like in Finnish).
Letters with tremas are also their own letters in some other languages (like in Finnish).
This message was edited 6/24/2011, 11:18 AM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
So when is an umlaut used?
?
?
1
Here are some audio samples
Audio for German umlauts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTzZn6j0A4Y
Laconic: an umlaut marks a change in the sound of the original letter.
I don't speak German, though -- maybe a speaker here would like to go into detail?
Another video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbVxr6YgB0
Audio for German umlauts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTzZn6j0A4Y
Laconic: an umlaut marks a change in the sound of the original letter.
I don't speak German, though -- maybe a speaker here would like to go into detail?
Another video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbVxr6YgB0
This message was edited 6/24/2011, 11:27 AM
1
That's very interesting. Thank you. It didn't include the letter "e", so I wonder if umlauts just aren't used for "e" in general.
1
That's because German doesn't have an ë. It's not an umlaut.
It's used in other languages, though. Wiki is pretty clear on it's usage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8B
It's used in other languages, though. Wiki is pretty clear on it's usage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8B
1
Thanks! That clears it up!
1
That link says Wiki doesn't have an article about it.
1
You have to add a second ) to the URL. Or click on the first suggestion that page gives.
1
then google umlaut
1
I did. lol. I thought based on what I read that it was used to denote a different pronunciation of the vowel, but someone explained that was wrong so I was asking for clarification.
1