Greek Sound Change Rules - Tiarks

Question 1

Division of the nine mute consonants

Answer 1

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

Question 2

When a P or K sound comes before a T sound….

Answer 2

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

Question 3

One T sound before another is …..

Answer 3

Commonly changed into -σ: -ἐκειθθυν -> ἐκεισθυν; -πέφραδται -> πέφρασται

Question 4

When two aspirates stand along in two consecutive syllables …

Answer 4

The former is changed into a tenuis:-φεφίληκα -> πεφίληκα(Note to be added later)

Question 5

When the second of two aspirates in two succeeding syllables, which has changed the first into a tenuis, disappears ….

Answer 5

The tenuis changes back into the aspirate.- θάφος into πάφος but then θάπτω

Question 6

When a P sound comes before σ …

Answer 6

The two are contracted into ψ.

Question 7

When a K sound comes before σ …

Answer 7

The two are contracted into ξ.

Question 8

When a T sound comes before σ …

Answer 8

It is thrown away.

Question 9

When a P sound comes before μ …

Answer 9

It is changed into μ.- τέτυπμαι -> τέτυμμαι

Question 10

When a K sound comes before μ …

Answer 10

It is changed into γ.- πέπλεκμαι -> πέπλεγμαι- βέθρεχμαι -> βέθπεγμαι

Question 11

When a T sound comes before μ …

Answer 11

It is changed into σ.- ἤνυτμαι -> ἤνυσμαι- πέπειθμαι -> πέπεισμαι

Question 12

The letter ν (Nu) before a P sound (including ψ) …

Answer 12

Is changed into μ.- λενπάνω -> λεμπάνω- λανθάνω -> λαμθάνω

Question 13

The letter ν (Nu) before a K sound (including ξ) …

Answer 13

Is changed into γ and pronounced ‘ng’ as in ‘sing’.- ἔνκειμαι -> ἔγκειμαι- φυνγάνω -> φυγγάνω

Question 14

The letter ν (Nu) before a T sound …

Answer 14

Remains unchanged.

Question 15

The letter ν (Nu) before another liquid (λ, μ, ρ) …

Answer 15

Is changed into the same. - ἐνμένω -> ἐμμένω

Question 16

The letter ν (Nu) before σ (including ζ) ….

Answer 16

Is generally thrown out. - δαίμονσι -> δαίμοσι

Question 17

The letter ν (Nu) between two consonants ….

Answer 17

Is generally thrown out.- τέτυπνται -> τέτυπται

Question 18

When σ comes between two consonants …

Answer 18

It is thrown out.- λελεγσθωσαν -> λελεγθωσαν

Question 19

When a singe T sound, or ν by itself, is thrown out before σ …

Answer 19

The vowel which precedes the dropped letter is unchanged. - ἔλπιδσι -> ἔλπισι

Question 20

When a T sound and ν (Nu) are thrown out before σ …

Answer 20

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

Question 21

A long syllable is shortened by …

Answer 21

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…)