The x-shaped diacritic has two different names:
Sikurun (K), Sikora (P), Sihorlu (S), siala, sihora (T), siala ulu (M)
In all Batak regions the anak ni surat has the shape of a cross. Almost universally, it represents the sound [o] except for Karo where it represents the sound [u].
Below are some words employing this diacritic:
Karo Simalungun Toba Mandailing
Bəru/Boru ‘anak perempuan’ ᯆᯧᯒᯬ ᯅᯬᯓᯮ ᯅᯬᯒᯮ ᯅᯬᯒᯮ
Təlu/Tolu ‘tiga’ ᯗᯧᯞᯬ ᯖᯬᯞᯮ ᯗᯬᯞᯮ ᯖᯬᯞᯮ ᯖᯬᯞᯮ
Exercises