### Diacritics and Special Characters in World Writing Systems

Across the globe, writing systems vary significantly, incorporating unique features tailored to the phonetics and history of their respective languages. Special characters and diacritics are such features that play crucial roles in many of these systems. However, their usage and importance can differ drastically from language to language, affecting how text is written and read. This document explores the use of special characters and diacritics in various writing systems, focusing on languages that do not employ these elements and those that do. 

#### Definition and Purpose

**Special Characters:** These can include any non-alphanumeric symbols that provide additional meaning or function in the text. They can signify punctuation, mathematical operations, or other linguistic elements not covered by the standard alphabet or script.

**Diacritics:** These are marks added to letters that often alter pronunciation or distinguish between homographs. Common examples include the acute (´), grave (`), and cedilla (¸). They are prevalent in many alphabetic writing systems, particularly in languages with more vowel sounds than can be denoted by the standard alphabet.

#### Languages Without Diacritics or Special Characters

English is a primary example of a language largely devoid of diacritics in its standard form, particularly in American English. While British English occasionally employs diacritics (in loanwords like 'café' or 'naïve'), they are not considered integral to the language. The English alphabet, derived from Latin, adequately accommodates the phonological elements of the language without the necessity for additional marks. This simplicity in the writing system reflects a certain linguistic efficiency and a history of language standardization that eschews the use of diacritics.

Similarly, other languages such as Turkish, Indonesian, or Vietnamese, after certain script reforms, chose to abolish the use of diacritics or special characters. For instance, the Turkish language underwent a script reform in the 1920s, where it transitioned from the Arabic script to a modified Latin alphabet, which better suited the phonological aspects of the Turkish language and omitted most diacritic marks.

#### Languages with Diacritics or Special Characters

In contrast, many languages incorporate diacritics and special characters extensively. French, for example, uses several diacritic marks such as the cedilla in "façade", the acute accent in "été" (summer), and the grave accent in "à" (at) to denote different vowel sounds or grammatical aspects which are integral to the language.

Spanish uses the tilde over the 'n' to create a new letter 'ñ', which is a phoneme distinct from 'n' and is crucial in differentiating meaning—consider "año" (year) versus "ano" (anus). Additionally, vowels in Spanish can carry accents to indicate stress or to differentiate homographs, as in "sí" (yes) vs. "si" (if).

The Czech language shows an even greater use of diacritics, with characters such as "č", "š", "ř", "ž", "ý", "á", and "í", each marking specific pronunciations that are vital for the language’s clarity and function. 

#### Conclusion

The use and non-use of diacritics and special characters in writing systems reflect a combination of historical, linguistic, and cultural developments. While some languages have found ways to express their phonological variety without these marks, others find them indispensable for maintaining meaning and pronunciation integrity. Each system presents a tailored solution to the language it serves, showcasing the rich diversity found in human language and script systems. The decision to use or omit these features often stems from a balance between linguistic necessity and orthographic simplicity, influenced by both internal factors and external pressures such as colonization, globalization, and technological advances in communication.