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Old March 05, 2011, 12:06 PM
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Una curiosidad

While writing in English, I've found a word (I know that there are more than just one ) with an accent, communiqué. How do you write English words with a French origin with an accent if usually your keyboards don't have accents?
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Old March 05, 2011, 12:10 PM
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Many write them without the accent. For instance, a lot of people will write resume for resumé.
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Old March 05, 2011, 12:14 PM
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Wouldn't it be a spelling mistake?
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Old March 05, 2011, 12:17 PM
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Á = alt + 0193 á = alt + 0225
É = alt + 0201 é = alt + 0233
Í = alt + 0205 í = alt + 0237
Ó = alt + 0211 ó = alt + 0243
Ú = alt + 0218 ú = alt + 0250
Ü = alt +0220 ü = alt + 0252
Ñ = alt + 0209 ñ = alt + 0241
¿ = alt + 0191 ¡ = alt + 0161


I hope this helps you!
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Old March 05, 2011, 12:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
Wouldn't it be a spelling mistake?
You'd think so, right? But from what I've seen, it is allowed.
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Old March 05, 2011, 12:30 PM
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Not only a spelling mistake but also the meaning would change.... i.e.

expose =
-To subject or allow to be subjected to an action, influence, or condition
-to make visible

exposé (French) =
-
1. An exposure or a revelation of something discreditable.
2. A formal exposition of facts

1. the act or an instance of bringing a scandal, crime, etc., to public notice
2. (Communication Arts / Journalism & Publishing) an article, book, or statement that discloses a scandal, crime, etc.
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Old March 05, 2011, 12:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elaina View Post
Á = alt + 0193 á = alt + 0225
É = alt + 0201 é = alt + 0233
Í = alt + 0205 í = alt + 0237
Ó = alt + 0211 ó = alt + 0243
Ú = alt + 0218 ú = alt + 0250
Ü = alt +0220 ü = alt + 0252
Ñ = alt + 0209 ñ = alt + 0241
¿ = alt + 0191 ¡ = alt + 0161


I hope this helps you!
I have accents in my computer, but thanks.
So, you need to know the Ascii codes for a few words.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cloudgazer View Post
You'd think so, right? But from what I've seen, it is allowed.
In Spanish it would be a spelling mistake, penalized in an exam.

Edit: Elaina, I didn't see your last post. That's interesting to know. Cloud's example is another one, too.

Last edited by irmamar; March 05, 2011 at 12:34 PM.
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Old March 05, 2011, 06:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
I have accents in my computer, but thanks.
So, you need to know the Ascii codes for a few words.
I use what Windows calls an International keyboard layout. It allows one to type vowels with acute accents via the keystroke series (single quote + vowel). To get a vowel with a diaeresis, one types (double quote + vowel). To type just a single or double quote, use (quote + space). For ñ, (~ + n). For ¿, (Right ALT + ?); for ¡, (Right ALT + !).
Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
In Spanish it would be a spelling mistake, penalized in an exam.
As with Elaina's excellent example, it can definitely change the meaning, but context usually makes it clear with resumé. (Personally, I prefer seeing the accent, partly to keep the meaning clear, partly to celebrate the word's French heritage.)

Funny thing, I've had Hispanic penpals who never used accents, ever! It made it much harder to read their writing and sometimes nearly drove me crazy.

Last edited by Cloudgazer; March 05, 2011 at 06:54 PM. Reason: Added intl. keyboard punctuation keystrokes
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Old March 06, 2011, 02:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cloudgazer View Post
Many write them without the accent. For instance, a lot of people will write resume for resumé.
Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
Wouldn't it be a spelling mistake?
Yes, it would be a mistake in BrE, not so much in AmE. The problem is that these foreign words get absorbed and the accents get lost. It is impossible to say exactly when something is right or wrong. The word resumé is a good example. I don't think anybody would say that resumé is actually wrong, but in fact it should be résumé. The first accent was quickly lost because it doesn't really matter. But the second accent determines which syllable is stressed, and I think it is very bad to omit it.

There are lots of other examples. I learned to write papel in English as rôle but these days, the accent doesn't even appear in dictionaries.
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Old March 06, 2011, 03:03 AM
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Logically, foreign words should be adapted to the English spelling. That's what RAE does with foreign words (although sometimes it's difficult to change a rooted habit, such as "whisky" and "güisqui" -nobody writes "güisqui").
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