Diacritics in the Czech Spelling System

Terms

Diacritic--Also called a Diacritical mark.  A mark, point, sign, added or attached to a letter or character, as to distinguish it from another of similar form, to give it a particular phonetic value, or to indicate stress.

Phonetic--of or pertaining to speech sounds, their production, or their transcription into written symbols.

Palatal--(Adjective) of a speech sound, especially a consonant articulated with the blade of the tongue held close to or touching the hard palate.  (Noun)  A palatal consonant , as the sound "y" in "yes."

Palatalize--to articulate (a consonant other than a palatal0 with the blade of the tongue raised toward the hard palate; change into a palatal sound.

Hard Palate--the anterior bony portion of the roof of the mouth.

Labial--(of a speech sound) articulated using one or both lips, such as the sounds of "p,"  "v," "m," and "w."  Also, a labial speech sound, especially a consonant.

Alveopalatal--of a speech sound, (especially a consonant) articulated with the  the tongue held close to or touching the Alveolar ridge behind the upper front teeth.

Sibilant--of or pertaining to a consonant sound in which air is channeled through a narrow groove along the the center of the tongue, producing a hissing sound.  (Noun) a sibilant consonant sound such as "s," "z," "sh," or "zh."

Vibrant--(of sounds) characterized by perceptible vibration, resonant.

The Háček and the Čárka--As explained by Eva Eckert, Professor of Russian and Eastern European Studies:

Diacritics form a indespensible part of the Czech spelling system and are used, for the most part, in agreement with phonetic pronunciation.  Czech diacritics fulfill two basic functions:  they indicate (1) length of vowels and    (2) palatal pronunciation of consonants. 

Long vowels are marked by a čárka diacritic.

The háček diacritic is placed over the vowel "e" and the consonants "s, z, c, r, d, t, n." 

When over "s," "z," and "c," it indicates alveopalatal consonants "š, "ž," and  "č."

When over "r,' a sibilant vibrant "ř,"

When over "d," "t,"  "n" pure palatals "dě" "tě" "ně" or "d´" "t´" "háček n."

Or when over "e" preceded by labials "p," "b," and "m" indicating palatalized labials.  "pě," "bě," and "mě."

Resources:

Czech Tombstone Inscriptions, by Eva Eckert, published in Markers XV, the Annual Journal of the Association for Gravestone Studies, Greenfield, Massachusetts, in 1998.

The Random House Webster's College Dictionary.

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