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Afrikaans diacritics in Windows

Hold the ALT key down, and type the number on the keypad

ê - Alt + 136é - Alt + 130ë - Alt + 137
ü - Alt + 129ô - Alt + 147ï - Alt + 139

To see more options, go to:
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci847800,00.html

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 language 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]

The Diaereses

The diaeresis separates two vowels that would otherwise be pronounced together. It marks the start of a new syllable.

naïf<>naif 
mikroörganisme<>mikroorganisme 
beëindig<>beeindig 

 

Examples
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."

Compare:Examples:
se - sê
le - lê
nerens - nêrens
bere - bêre
skêr
skêre
wêreld

lêplek
sêgoed

blêr
êrens
nêrens
wig
wîe
wie
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!

Examples
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 falling in disuse. The best example left is:
appel (Accent on the A) [apple]
appèl (Accent on the E) [appeal]

It is rarely seen on the following words: (The acute accent is preferred)
nòg...nòg (no difference in pronunciation) [neither....nor]
òf.....òf (no difference in pronunciation) [whether....or whether]