| Latin beta | |
|---|---|
| Ꞵ ꞵ | |
 | |
| Usage | |
| Writing system | Latin script |
| Type | alphabetic |
| Language of origin | Pinji,Benga,Barama,Galwa,Viya,Kande,Kaning'i,Lumbu,Myene,Ndumu,Ngom,Njebi,Vove,Punu,Sangu,Shira,Vumbu,Ndaʼndaʼ language (formerly) |
| Sound values | [β] |
| In Unicode | U+A7B4, U+A7B5 |
| History | |
| Development | Β β
|
| Sisters | B,Β |
| Other | |
| Writing direction | Left-to-Right |
| This article containsphonetic transcriptions in theInternational Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, seeHelp:IPA. For the distinction between[ ],/ / and ⟨ ⟩, seeIPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters. | |
Latin beta (uppercase:Ꞵ, lowercase:ꞵ), is a letter of theLatin script. Its shape, in uppercase and lowercase, is based on the lowercase shape of the letterbeta from theGreek alphabet (β). The letter is used in the various languages ofGabon and has been used inNdaʼndaʼ language inCameroon to represent the voiced bilabial fricative, a sound similar to "v" articulated with both lips.[1] It is not typographically and linguistically related to the similar looking lettereszett (ẞ, ß) used in writing German, which represents an/s/ sound when following long vowels or diphthongs.
In theIPA, it represents avoiced bilabial fricative, but the Greek beta can also be used.
The letter is used in thescientific alphabet of the languages of Gabon used forPinji,Benga,Barama,Galwa,Viya,Kande,Kaning'i,Lumbu,Myene,Ndumu,Ngom,Njebi,Vove,Punu,Sangu,Shira andVumbu languages.
Additionally, it has been used in 2013 in the alphabet made by Émile Gille Nguendjio for theNdaʼndaʼ language, for example in the wordkáꞵé ([ka˥βe˥]), which means "cover".[1] Nguendjio replaced it with the letter P in 2014.[2]
| Preview | Ꞵ | ꞵ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unicode name | LATIN CAPITAL LETTER BETA | LATIN SMALL LETTER BETA | ||
| Encodings | decimal | hex | dec | hex |
| Unicode | 42932 | U+A7B4 | 42933 | U+A7B5 |
| UTF-8 | 234 158 180 | EA 9E B4 | 234 158 181 | EA 9E B5 |
| Numeric character reference | Ꞵ | Ꞵ | ꞵ | ꞵ |