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*'''''Phonetic spelling.''''' Some letters have a different sound in other languages. For example, the German '''''j''''' is pronounced like the English '''''y'''''; '''''j''''' in French is pronounced like '''''zhi''''' in English. | *'''''Phonetic spelling.''''' Some letters have a different sound in other languages. For example, the German '''''j''''' is pronounced like the English '''''y'''''; '''''j''''' in French is pronounced like '''''zhi''''' in English. | ||
*'''''Misreading.''''' Handwritten or gothic printed letters are easily misinterpreted. Be aware of this as you search handwritten records or indexes to handwritten records. For example, the German handwritten letter '''''w''''' can be confused with '''''m''''', and the letter '''''k''''' often looks like '''''r'''''. | *'''''Misreading.''''' Handwritten or gothic printed letters are easily misinterpreted. Be aware of this as you search handwritten records or indexes to handwritten records. For example, the German handwritten letter '''''w''''' can be confused with '''''m''''', and the letter '''''k''''' often looks like '''''r'''''. | ||
*'''''Special characters.''''' Many languages use special marks called ''diacritics'' that change the sound, and sometimes alphabetical order, of letters. These characters are sometimes eliminated or changed into another letter when written in another language. This is called "transliteration" and transliteration standards change over the years (e.g., '''''Beijing''''' was previously transliterated '''''Peking'''''. | *'''''Special characters.''''' Many languages use special marks called ''diacritics'' that change the sound, and sometimes alphabetical order, of letters. These characters are sometimes eliminated or changed into another letter when written in another language. This is called "transliteration" and transliteration standards change over the years (e.g., '''''Beijing''''' was previously transliterated '''''Peking'''''). The German '''''ä''''' often, but not always, becomes '''''ae''''' in English. The Czech '''''š''''' may become '''''sh''''' or '''''sch'''''. The Dutch '''''ij''''' is usually translated as '''''y'''''. | ||
Use comprehensive gazetteers to identify all possible towns that fit a spelling you have found. You should also be familiar with the spelling rules, phonetics, and handwriting of the immigrant's native language. The Family History Library and family history centers have word lists that explain such information for some major languages. You may also want to ask for help from another researcher who knows the culture, language, and history. | Use comprehensive gazetteers to identify all possible towns that fit a spelling you have found. You should also be familiar with the spelling rules, phonetics, and handwriting of the immigrant's native language. The Family History Library and family history centers have word lists that explain such information for some major languages. You may also want to ask for help from another researcher who knows the culture, language, and history. | ||