[bksvol-discuss] stumped by an accent again
- From: "Estelnalissi" <airadil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 20:20:34 -0500
Dear Booksharian Friends,
Sun Dancing, a book about monks on a tiny, rocky, island off the coast of
Ireland in the sixth century has its share of accented words, most of which
I can handle like vowels with the acute accent.
But, there's a bird called a puifin that has me stumped because the f has an
acute accent. In word 2003 using Jaws I can put the acute on a vowel by
pressing the jaws insert key on the num pad with number 4, and then pressing
the vowel I want and then enter. Or, I can press control with the apostrophe
and then the vowel with the same result, the vowel with the acute. Insert 4
doesn't have f acute among its scroll of choices, and if I press control
apostrophe and f, I get nothing.
It won't be the end of the world if readers don't get to see the acute
accent on the f and I can put a note before the text begins advising readers
that the f in this bird's name is accented with the acute. I'm just checking
here in case anyone knows a way to tell the computer I'd like the letter f
with the acute over it in the same space.
While I wait to see if anyone has any ideas about this, I'm going to scoot
over and write that note to readers before I forget. This speck of an island
is the setting for most of the book so the Puifin is mentioned several
times.
This book has many words not found in an English dictionary which are
defying Google and the Irish dictionary when I look them up like schisty,
skeilic and leacht. Since I'm doing this for pleasure and not for a class,
guessing from context is working most of the time.
When this book which Amber W. scanned so well gets into the collection,
don't let these obscure words scare you off. The author's language as he
describes the spare yet biologically rich island, and the Monk's troubled or
blissful spiritual thoughts, is beautiful and the depiction of their
surviving on the most minimal of essentials is lyrical and evocative.
We've talked about clear, even inspiring descriptions of illustrations
lately. This book has no illustrations and doesn't need them because
Moorhouse uses words so masterfully that you'll feel the slope and poke of
rocks beneath your feet, the salt mist will cool your skin, and hear chants
and bird calls as you read.
I'm on page 75 with about 209 more pages to validate. With the latin and
Gaelic and all, it's a slow go and I want to get back to work.
Thank you in advance for your ideas.
Always with love,
Lissi
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