Greek Sound Change Rules - Tiarks Flashcards
The sound change rules of Attic Greek (21 cards)
Division of the nine mute consonants
Is into three sounds, with these three sounds forming three classes according to their aspiration:
tenues mediae aspiratae
1. P sound - π β φ
2. K sound - κ γ χ
3. T sound - τ δ θ
When a P or K sound comes before a T sound….
The P or K sound must belong (change) to the same class as the T sound belongs. Note: ἐκ, out of, makes an exception in compound words: ἐκ-δίδωμι, ἐκ-θέω
One T sound before another is …..
Commonly changed into -σ: -ἐκειθθυν -> ἐκεισθυν; -πέφραδται -> πέφρασται
When two aspirates stand along in two consecutive syllables …
The former is changed into a tenuis:-φεφίληκα -> πεφίληκα(Note to be added later)
When the second of two aspirates in two succeeding syllables, which has changed the first into a tenuis, disappears ….
The tenuis changes back into the aspirate.- θάφος into πάφος but then θάπτω
When a P sound comes before σ …
The two are contracted into ψ.
When a K sound comes before σ …
The two are contracted into ξ.
When a T sound comes before σ …
It is thrown away.
When a P sound comes before μ …
It is changed into μ.- τέτυπμαι -> τέτυμμαι
When a K sound comes before μ …
It is changed into γ.- πέπλεκμαι -> πέπλεγμαι- βέθρεχμαι -> βέθπεγμαι
When a T sound comes before μ …
It is changed into σ.- ἤνυτμαι -> ἤνυσμαι- πέπειθμαι -> πέπεισμαι
The letter ν (Nu) before a P sound (including ψ) …
Is changed into μ.- λενπάνω -> λεμπάνω- λανθάνω -> λαμθάνω
The letter ν (Nu) before a K sound (including ξ) …
Is changed into γ and pronounced ‘ng’ as in ‘sing’.- ἔνκειμαι -> ἔγκειμαι- φυνγάνω -> φυγγάνω
The letter ν (Nu) before a T sound …
Remains unchanged.
The letter ν (Nu) before another liquid (λ, μ, ρ) …
Is changed into the same. - ἐνμένω -> ἐμμένω
The letter ν (Nu) before σ (including ζ) ….
Is generally thrown out. - δαίμονσι -> δαίμοσι
The letter ν (Nu) between two consonants ….
Is generally thrown out.- τέτυπνται -> τέτυπται
When σ comes between two consonants …
It is thrown out.- λελεγσθωσαν -> λελεγθωσαν
When a singe T sound, or ν by itself, is thrown out before σ …
The vowel which precedes the dropped letter is unchanged. - ἔλπιδσι -> ἔλπισι
When a T sound and ν (Nu) are thrown out before σ …
The vowel which precedes the dropped letters is made long.- ε -> ει- ο -> ου- short α -> long α- short υ -> long υ - η and ω remain unchanged
A long syllable is shortened by …
Reducing its double or long vowel, or its doubled consonant, to its original single or short. If η has arisen out of α then α reappears when shortened.In other cases:- of double letters the last is thrown away- of ζ (ie σδ), ει before a mute, and ευ the first is thrown away(add notes, especially for the dipthongs…)
