Many western languages contain words with letters whose sound is determined by these accents and diacritical marks. The effects are different depending on the language; here are the names and examples of the more common marks and non-standard characters. Usage of these accents and marks is not restricted to the letters shown in the examples.
I am indebted to the highly resourceful Tony Franks for providing me with the html code for the macron, háček, and crescent.
If you need other accents or marks not shown here, they may well be on Tony's excellent non-standard characters page, which includes the non-standard character html and meta tag code required to produce them.
Here also is a wonderful free resource for foreign language letters, diacritical marks and accents, for Word, Wordperfect, and HTML applications, with at-a-glance foreign character codes here, and HTML special character codes here, all provided by Irene Starr.
See also:
acronyms - amusing, memorable clever - for teaching, training, public speaking, etc
amusing and fascinating origins of words, expressions and cliches
money slang and money history (UK)
word-play puzzles and games for quizzes and exercises
Greek alphabet - surprisingly relevant to all sorts of things
cockney rhyming slang - amusing, and fascinating
amusing and inspirational stories and analogies for training, public-speaking and writing
funny quotes allegedly from letters to Islington Council's Housing Department
real funny Weakest Link answers
real funny Family Fortunes Answers
and the various free amusing, educational and inspirational resources on the main businessballs website, if you are not already there.
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