How do you get accent characters like é and è in bash and vi

[Darius.Clynes@cec.eu.int]

I am working with some sources that contain "international"
characters used in languages other than english, 
(typically french)

Vi  interprets sources from unix with accents like é and è 
strangely. Windiff and windows programs like notepad
see the same sources from unix with no problem.

What is happening? Is there a setting in bash or vi
that I need to make, keyboard or locale etc?

If so how do I do that? Anybody know? 

PS. é in expérience, shows up as expÚrience
      è in interprète, shows up as interprÞte 

here are few other examples:

Avez-vous dÚjÓ travaillÚ en tant qu'interprÞte
Quelle expÚrience professionnelle d'interprÞte avez-vous
PrÚcisez le nombre de jours d'interprÚtation prestÚs.
Avez-vous dÚjÓ participÚ Ó un test professionnel ou Ó un concours
SÚjours importants Ó l'Útranger ? Indiquez les pays visitÚs, l'annÚe

Bash won't even respond to the keyboard character é (under 2 as lower case).

Just beeps (belgian keyboard setting).


Darius Clynes 
Software Engineer
European Commission
Rue De Mot 24
Brussels, 1040 
Belgium

Office tel: +32 2   2962441
       fax: +32 2   2966025
Cell phone: +32 476 218850



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