Vowels.

Factual Questions
1

What’s the name for that funky ae symbol where the a and e look squished together?

2

Have you checked Wikipaedia?

3

I couldn’t figure out what to type in the search box. Sorry.

4

“Ash” aka “æsc”.

edit: I see the link provided above has this info.

5

Excellent.

And aesthetically plaesing.

6

In a Nero Wolfe story (author Rex Stout), the fat detective uses the clue of a dipthong to help identify the culprit.