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Diacritical Marks

Understanding Emphasis

Diacritical MarksUnderstanding Emphasis

Defining Diacritical

A diacritical mark looks like an apostrophe and is used to mark stressed syllables in a word, phrase, or sentence.


We use these marks to separate stressed syllables from unstressed syllables.


The first step in identifying the stressed syllable is to say the word out loud.


Is a certain part of the word louder or higher pitched? Place a diacritical mark after the stressed syllable in that word. There many be several depending on the length of the word!


Let's look at these examples


MAR' KER

WA' TER MEL' ON

AN' ES THE' SIA

We can also use them to mark stress in sentences or phrases.


The CAN' was KICKED' aCROSS' the STREET'


Some languages like Spanish, French, and Arabic use diacritical marks everyday to show emphasis.