Jorge StolfiMay 15, 2023

ISO-Latin-1 has a code for English "æ" but not for French "œ".

A French colleague claimed that it was a dumb French representative to ISO who insisted that "œ" is not a linguistic significant letter but merely a typographical ligature for "oe", like "fi" for "fi".

My colleague said that, on the contrary, "œ" and "oe" sound differently. Wikipedia seems to agree.

He even showed two words that are distinguished only by "œ"/"oe" spelling. But I can't remember which. Does anyone know, please?

Show threadJerry WhamMay 15, 2023
@JorgeStolfi œuf et phœnix.
Show threadJorge Stolfi

@jerry_wham

I mean, two distinct French words that are spelled "XœY" and "XoeY" for some X,Y.

"Phoenix" (city) and "Phœnix" (bird) would do, except that the first is not really French but English.

May 15, 2023 at 2:28pmWeb