Greek Sound Change Rules - Tiarks Flashcards
The sound change rules of Attic Greek
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…)
