Accents are only used for <e> and <o>. Thus they distinguish <é> from <è> ("fwé" = "cool" from "fwè" = "brother"), and <o> from <ò> ("mo" = 'word' vs "mò" = 'dead'). This contrast between <é> and <è>, etc., is only in syllables that end in those vowel sounds, in open syllables (open syllables end in vowels, closed syllables end in consonants).
The two-letter combinations <en> and <ou> are digraphs, and the <n> is functioning as a sort of letter "accent", signalling that the <e> is nasalised. The <o> functions as a helping letter for the <u>: this combination is useful for English speakers as we already have words like "soup" (from French, of course), so we wouldn't pronounce it "sup" and the French wouldn't pronounce it "syup".
And we can note that Patois refuses silent (redundant/useless) letters - all letters are useful and pronounced.
Other systems, like in Martinique and Haiti, leave out some accents. In Haiti, <e> is always <é>, just like Spanish. In Martinique, in syllables that are closed or ending with a consonant <e> is always <è>, so they leave it out (bet, bef, fwet, fet, because there are no bét, béf, fwét, fét). The contrast between <é> and <è>, etc., is only in syllables that end in those sounds, or in open syllables.
And we can note that Patois refuses silent (redundant/useless) letters - all letters are useful and pronounced.
Other systems, like in Martinique and Haiti, leave out some accents. In Haiti, <e> is always <é>, just like Spanish. In Martinique, in syllables that are closed or ending with a consonant <e> is always <è>, so they leave it out (bet, bef, fwet, fet, because there are no bét, béf, fwét, fét). The contrast between <é> and <è>, etc., is only in syllables that end in those sounds, or in open syllables.
For more information on the writing system used in Trinidad French Creole, please click on the link below.
Information provided by Jo-Anne S. Ferreira (Blog moderator)
