Una curiosidad

[irmamar]

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?

[Cloudgazer]

Many write them without the accent. For instance, a lot of people will write resume for resumé.

[irmamar]

Wouldn't it be a spelling mistake?

[Elaina]

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!

[Cloudgazer]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Wouldn't it be a spelling mistake?

You'd think so, right? But from what I've seen, it is allowed.

[Elaina]

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.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Elaina

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.

Originally Posted by Cloudgazer

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.

[Cloudgazer]

Originally Posted by irmamar

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 + !).

Originally Posted by irmamar

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.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Cloudgazer

Many write them without the accent. For instance, a lot of people will write resume for resumé.

Originally Posted by irmamar

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.

[irmamar]

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").

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Logically, foreign words should be adapted to the English spelling.

Ah, but logic does not always apply. There is (or was) a snob value in using foreign words in speech and writing to highlight your own literacy. oi polloi don't do that.

[conejodescarado]

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

Being on a mac, I have to laugh when I see stuff like this... how on earth is any normal person supposed to remember unicode values, let alone make five keystrokes to type a single character?

For those on a Mac:

alt + e, then TYPE the letter = á, é, í, ó, ú (and even ý for Nordic languages)
alt + n, then type the letter = ñ (other letters also supported)
alt + ? = ¿
alt + 1 (!) = ¡

alt + u then TYPE the letter = ü / ö
alt + ` (backtick) then type the letter = à, è, ì, ò, ù (and ỳ)

And for anyone interested:

alt + (shift) + d = ð / (Ð) (Nordic eth)
alt + (shift) + t = þ / (Þ) (Nordic thorn)
alt + (shift) + ' (single quote) = æ / (Æ) (Nordic ae)
alt + (shift) + \ (backslash) = « / ( » ) .... for quotes
alt + 6 (^) then type the letter = â, ê, î, ô, û
alt + a then type the letter = ā, ē, ī, ō, ū
alt + shift + , (comma) = „ (Nordic/German open quote)
alt + shift + [ = ” (Nordic/German close quote)