The Hawaiian okina, also known as the hamza or apostrophe, is a diacritical mark used in the Hawaiian language to indicate the glottal stop, a sound similar to the glottal stop in English. It is written as a small mark resembling an apostrophe, and is placed above the letter that it modifies. The okina is essential for distinguishing between words that would otherwise sound the same, such as “i” (with okina) and “ni” (without okina).
The ˉ Diacritical Mark: A Hawaiian Apostrophe
The Hawaiian ˉ diacritical mark, which resembles an apostrophe, plays a crucial role in the Hawaiian language by modifying vowel sounds. Here’s an in-depth explanation of its structure and usage:
Usage
- The ˉ mark is placed above a vowel to produce a glottal stop sound.
- It is used to distinguish words with different sounds by changing the pronunciation of the vowel.
- For example, “ka” (without the mark) means “the,” while “kā” (with the mark) means “hot.”
Placement
- The ˉ mark is always placed directly above the vowel it modifies.
- It should not be placed before or after the vowel.
Appearance
- The ˉ mark is a short, straight line extending horizontally above the vowel.
- It should not be curved or slanted.
Comparison with the Apostrophe
- The Hawaiian ˉ mark is distinct from the English apostrophe.
- The apostrophe is used to indicate possession, contraction, or elision.
- The ˉ mark modifies vowel sounds, not words.
Examples of Words with ˉ Mark
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ˉā | now |
| ēˉ | yeah |
| ˉi | fish |
| ōˉ | sugar |
| ˉu | rain |
Unicode
The ˉ mark has a dedicated Unicode code point: U+02CA.
Keyboard Input
On most keyboards, the ˉ mark can be input using a combination of keystrokes:
- Windows: Alt + 769
- Mac: Option + \ (backslash)
Question 1:
What is the Hawaiian diacritical mark that resembles an apostrophe?
Answer:
The Hawaiian diacritical mark that resembles an apostrophe is known as the okina. It is a glottal stop, representing a pause in speech.
Question 2:
Where is the okina typically placed in Hawaiian words?
Answer:
The okina is typically placed at the beginning of a word, but it can also be used in the middle or at the end of a word.
Question 3:
What is the purpose of using the okina in Hawaiian language?
Answer:
The okina is used in Hawaiian language to distinguish between homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings). It also helps to indicate pauses in speech, and to distinguish between certain words that otherwise would have the same spelling.
Thanks for sticking with me until the end of this short journey into the world of Hawaiian diacritical marks. I hope you found it interesting and informative. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out. In the meantime, stay tuned for more articles on Hawaiian language and culture. Mahalo for reading, and see you next time!