ǃ

See also: ! [U+0021 EXCLAMATION MARK], ¡ [U+00A1 INVERTED EXCLAMATION MARK], and Ị [U+1ECA LATIN CAPITAL LETTER I WITH DOT BELOW]

ǃ U+01C3, ǃ LATIN LETTER RETROFLEX CLICK ← ǂ [U+01C2] Latin Extended-B DŽ → [U+01C4]

Character variations

ꜝ U+A71D, ꜝ MODIFIER LETTER RAISED EXCLAMATION MARK ← ꜜ [U+A71C] Modifier Tone Letters ꜞ → [U+A71E]

The original Lepsius lower-case cerebral (alveolar) click letter

Translingual

Alternative forms

• ʗ

Etymology

The pipe ⟨ǀ⟩ + subscript dot. Despite the visual similarity in most sources, this letter does not derive from the exclamation mark !.

Pronunciation

• IPA:

  (file)

Usage notes

• The Unicode-assigned name retroflex is obsolete. The true retroflex click is IPA ⟨ 𝼊 ⟩.

Symbol

ǃ

1. (IPA) the forward release of an alveolar click.
2. the tenuis velar or sometimes uvular alveolar click, [k͜ǃ] or [q͜ǃ]
3. (superscript ⟨ꜝ⟩, IPA) [ǃ]-coloring or a weak, fleeting or epenthetic [ǃ]-release.

Usage notes

Technically, ⟨ǃ⟩ is only the forward clicked release, not the entire consonant. It is adequate for click sounds without a rear release, such as the clip! clop! of imitating a trotting horse in English. A full transcription of a click consonant requires a second letter to specify whether the rear closure is velar or uvular, and whether the click is voiced or nasal:

	Velar	Uvular
Voiceless	k͜ǃ	q͜ǃ
Voiced	ɡ͜ǃ	ɢ͜ǃ
Nasal	ŋ͜ǃ	ɴ͜ǃ

The tie bar may be omitted, or the accompanying letter may be superscripted: ⟨ᵏǃ ᶢǃ ᵑǃ 𐞥ǃ 𐞒ǃ ᶰǃ⟩.

If the order is reversed, e.g. ⟨ǃ͜q⟩, that may imply that the velar or uvular release is audible (delayed release).

Derived terms

Sometimes the release of a ǃ-click may end with the underside of the tongue audibly slapping the bottom of the mouth. This percussive slap is transcribed ⟨¡⟩, and such a slapped click as ⟨ǃ¡⟩ (plus any accompanying letter, e.g. velar nasal [ŋ͜ǃ¡]).

Juǀ'hoan

Pronunciation

• The tenuis oral click IPA^(key): /ᵏǃ/

Letter

ǃ

1. A letter of the Juǀ'hoan alphabet, written in the Latin script.

Khoekhoe

Pronunciation

• The glottalized nasal click IPA^(key): /ᵑ̊ǃˀ/

Letter

ǃ

1. A letter of the Khoekhoe alphabet, written in the Latin script.