haček

Typographers�tend�to�use�the�term�caron, �while�linguists�prefer�the�Czech�word�h�ček. The�symbol�is�common�in�the�Baltic, �Slavic, �Finnic, �Samic�and�Berber�languages. Its�use�differs�according�to�the�orthographic�rules�of�a�language. �In�most�Slavic�and�other�European�languages�it�indicates�present�or�historical�palatalization� ( e�→�ě; �[e]�→�[ʲe] ) , �iotation, �or�postalveolar�articulation� ( c�→�č; �[ts]�→�[tʃ] ) . �In�Salishan�languages, �it�often�represents�a�uvular�consonant� ( x�→�x̌; �[x]�→�[χ] ) . �When�placed�over�vowel�symbols, �the�caron�can�indicate�a�contour�tone, �for�instance�the�falling�and�then�rising�tone�in�the�Pinyin�romanization�of�Mandarin�Chinese. �It�is�also�used�to�decorate�symbols�in�mathematics, �where�it�is�often�pronounced� ( "check" ) . The�caron�is�shaped�approximately�like�a�small�letter�"v". �For�serif�typefaces, �the�caron�generally�has�one�of�two�forms:�either�symmetrical, �essentially�identical�to�an�inverted�circumflex; �or�with�the�left�stroke�thicker�than�the�right, �like�the�usual�serif�form�of�the�letter�"v"� ( v, �but�without�serifs ) . �The�latter�form�is�often�preferred�by�Czech�designers�for�use�in�Czech, �while�for�other�uses�the�symmetrical�form�tends�to�predominate, �as�it�does�also�among�sans - serif�typefaces. The�caron�is�not�to�be�confused�