Cedilla

Visigothic Z-C cedille

Modernist Ç

Cedilla (French: cédille, [seˈdij]) is a diacritical mark used in many modern written languages, particularly in the Latin alphabet. It is shaped like a tiny hook (¸) placed underneath certain letters to indicate a change in their pronunciation. The most common use of the cedilla is under the letter "c," forming "ç," to signal that the "c" is pronounced as an /s/ sound (as in the English word "face") rather than a /k/ sound (as in the English word "cat"). This usage is prevalent in languages such as French, Portuguese, and Catalan, among others.

History

The cedilla originated in the Middle Ages, evolving from the Visigothic script's form of the letter "z." Its purpose was to signify a soft "c" sound before the letters "a," "o," and "u," where "c" would typically be pronounced as /k/. The mark was initially placed above the letter and resembled a small "z" or a diminutive of the Latin word "zeta." Over time, it migrated below the letter and took on its modern hook-like shape.

Usage

The primary function of the cedilla is to indicate a soft "c" pronunciation. However, its application varies by language:

• In French, "ç" appears before "a," "o," "u," where "c" would otherwise be pronounced as /k/. For example, "façade" (pronounced as /fasad/).
• In Portuguese, it is also used to denote an /s/ sound before "a," "o," and "u," such as in "açaí" (/aˈsai/).
• Catalan employs the cedilla in the same manner as French and Portuguese.
• In Turkish, the cedilla is used under "s" (ş) and "c" (ç) to represent /ʃ/ (sh) and /tʃ/ (ch) sounds, respectively.

Typography

In typography, the cedilla is considered a separate character from the letter it modifies. It is carefully positioned to ensure readability and aesthetic balance. The design of the cedilla may vary depending on the typeface, with some designs more pronounced and others more subtle.

Keyboard Layouts

The method of typing a cedilla character depends on the keyboard layout and operating system. In many cases, special key combinations or alt codes are used to generate the character. For example, on a standard QWERTY keyboard layout used in the United States, pressing 'Alt' + '0231' on the numeric keypad produces "ç."

In Other Scripts

While most commonly associated with the Latin alphabet, similar diacritical marks to indicate specific pronunciations are found in other writing systems. However, the term "cedilla" is specifically used for the diacritical mark in the context of Latin-based scripts.

See Also

• Diacritic
• Acute accent
• Grave accent
• Circumflex

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