use utf8; my $string = "Queensr˙che"; no utf8; #### 81 Q Q 117 u u 101 e e 101 e e 110 n n 115 s s 114 r r 255 {ff} 99 c c 104 h h 101 e e - this is utf8 #### #use utf8; my $string = "Queensr˙che"; #no utf8; #### 81 Q Q 117 u u 101 e e 101 e e 110 n n 115 s s 114 r r 195 191 99 c c 104 h h 101 e e - this is NOT utf8