noun a sign (¨) placed over a vowel, indicating that it is sounded separately from the preceding vowel
In linguistics, diaeresis is used to indicate that two adjacent vowels are pronounced separately rather than as a diphthong.
In poetry, diaeresis is used to denote a break in a word where a syllable ends and the next begins, often for metrical reasons.
In phonetics, diaeresis is used to show that a vowel is pronounced separately from the preceding vowel, indicating a hiatus.
In orthography, diaeresis is used to show that two adjacent vowels are to be pronounced as separate syllables, particularly in words borrowed from other languages.
In literature, a diaeresis may be used to indicate that two adjacent vowels are pronounced separately rather than forming a diphthong. For example, the word 'cooperate' may be spelled as 'co-operate' to show that each 'o' is pronounced separately.
In psychology, a diaeresis may be used in the context of mental health assessments to indicate a break or pause in speech or thought patterns. It can be a tool for therapists to help clients become more aware of their thought processes.
Linguists may use diaeresis to analyze and study phonetic and phonological patterns in languages. It can help in understanding how sounds are produced and perceived by native speakers of different languages.