Caron

Caron

Caron symbol in Phoenician script

The caron (ˇ) is a diacritical mark used in various alphabets, including those of several Slavic and Baltic languages, as well as in some Uralic languages. It is also known as a "háček" or "wedge". The caron is placed above a letter to indicate a change in pronunciation, often to denote a palatalized or softened sound.

Usage in Languages

Slavic Languages

In Slavic languages such as Czech, Slovak, and Slovenian, the caron is used extensively. For example, in Czech, the letter "č" is pronounced as /tʃ/, similar to the "ch" in "chocolate". Other examples include "š" for /ʃ/ and "ž" for /ʒ/.

Baltic Languages

In the Latvian and Lithuanian alphabets, the caron is used to modify consonants. In Latvian, "č" is pronounced as /tʃ/, and "š" is pronounced as /ʃ/.

Uralic Languages

In some Uralic languages, such as Estonian, the caron is used to indicate a change in pronunciation. For example, "š" is used to represent the /ʃ/ sound.

Phonetic Transcription

In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the caron is used to indicate a rising tone in tone languages. It is placed above the vowel to show the tonal change.

Mathematical and Scientific Use

In mathematics and science, the caron is sometimes used to denote a vector or a specific type of transformation. It is less common in these fields compared to its linguistic applications.

Typographical Considerations

The caron is similar in appearance to the circumflex (ˆ) but is distinct in its function and usage. It is important to distinguish between these diacritics when typesetting text in languages that use the caron.

Related Pages

• Diacritic
• Czech language
• Slovak language
• Latvian language
• International Phonetic Alphabet