Some Thoughts of the Use and Disuse of Diacritics

Abstract

The diacritics discussed here are symbols that are a part of the official spelling of various languages such as ´ ` ^ ¨ ~, etc. The uncertainties and vagaries of their use or non-use in current American practice are illustrated with examples from reference works, style books and current periodical literature. Particular criticism is leveled at the inability of the printed media correctly to reproduce names from such languages as German, Czech and Polish, leaving even the cognoscenti in the dark as to proper pronunciation. Problems of information storage and retrieval as well as typewriter design are touched upon. A plea is finally made for better knowledge and international acceptance of diacritics, the alternative being a concerted international effort for their progressive abandonment.