How do the two dots above a word change pronunciation?

You're referring to the umlaut (¨), which is a diacritical mark commonly used in German, Swedish, Finnish, Hungarian, and some other languages. It doesn't always change the pronunciation, but it can significantly impact it, depending on the letter it's placed over. Here's how it works:

1. It changes the vowel sound:

* a¨: In German, it usually represents the sound of the English "ay" in "day", but can also be close to the "eh" in "bed".

* e¨: It generally represents the sound of the English "e" in "bed", but can also sound like the "i" in "machine".

* i¨: The pronunciation changes from a short "i" sound to a long "ee" sound, similar to the "ee" in "see".

* o¨: The sound is usually similar to the "o" in "go", but can sometimes be closer to the "u" in "put".

* u¨: It changes from a short "u" sound to a long "oo" sound, similar to the "oo" in "moon".

2. It indicates a different letter:

* In some cases, the umlaut may indicate a completely different letter. For example, in German, "ä" is pronounced like the "a" in "father", while "ö" sounds like the "e" in "fern".

Examples:

* German:

* "Käse" (cheese) - "ä" is pronounced like the "a" in "father".

* "könnte" (could) - "ö" sounds like the "e" in "fern".

* "Blümchen" (little flower) - "ü" is pronounced like the "u" in "put".

* Swedish:

* "söta" (sweet) - "ö" sounds like the "u" in "put".

* Finnish:

* "pää" (head) - "ä" sounds like the "a" in "father".

Remember: The specific pronunciation of an umlaut can vary slightly depending on the dialect and language. It's best to consult a dictionary or pronunciation guide for the specific word you're interested in.