Pontú

Pontú is a term used in the study of orthography and typography to describe a class of marks whose defining feature is a central dot or dot-like anchor. The concept is used in theoretical discussions rather than as a formal orthographic standard. The etymology blends the Hungarian word pont, meaning dot, with the adjectival suffix -ú, reflecting its function as a descriptor rather than a specific letter.

In typographic theory, pontú marks are examined for how they interact with the base letter, how they align vertically, and how their presence affects readability at small sizes. The notion encompasses a range of diacritics and punctuation that share a dot-centered design, including certain dot-based accents and dot-like separators in display type. The term is commonly used in comparative discussions across scripts that employ dot-based notation, such as some extended Latin, Cyrillic, and non-Roman type systems.

In practical terms for designers, pontú emphasizes consistent dot alignment, predictable spacing, and clear hierarchy among base letters and diacritics. It informs font development, rendering algorithms, and accessibility considerations, especially for screen-reading and low-vision contexts where dot-based marks contribute to recognition cues.

The term Pontú remains mainly a scholarly reference rather than a widely adopted standard. It appears in descriptive essays, typography glossaries, and some experimental type design projects.

See also: diacritic, punctuation, typography, Unicode combining marks.