Do you sometimes forget to put the accents on the letters in Creole?
Or, if you're like me, you can't figure out how to type an accented character on a Blackberry or an Android phone.
Nevertheless, a letter which is usually accented would be imperfect and naked if the accent is omitted.
It is like writing an undotted "i", or an uncrossed "t".
The accented letters in Haitian Creole, and I imagine in other languages too, are pronounced very differently than their non-accented counterparts. Check out these letters in the alphabet song and listen to the variance in sound:
Haitian Creole alphabet song.
Here are some links on how to create accented characters on your PC.
Windows ALT KEY codes
French accents codes
Making accent marks on your computer
Compare these twelve accented Haitian Creole words below and their non-accented counterparts. See how their definition is very different
1. bo → kiss (n.), kiss (v.)
1. bò → side, border, edge
2. fo → fake (n.)
2. fò → strong, skilled
3. klete → to lock (v.)
3. klète → clarity, brightness
4. me → the month of May
4. mè → mother, nun
5. ke → tail
5. kè → heart
6. te → tea
6. tè → earth, soil
7. po → skin (n.)
7. pò → port, dock (n.)
8. ne → knot
8. nè → nerves
9. manto → coat, cloak
9. mantò → liar
10. vole → to fly
10. vòlè → burglar
11. twaze → to look down on
11. twazè → 3 o'clock
12. pan → peacock
12. pàn → failure, mishap, trouble
