Iota subscript

[faye]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone tell me what is the difference in pronunciation between simple omega and omega written with the iota subscript? And I ask the same question about eta and eta with the iota subscript added. Thanks, Faye.

[modus.irrealis]

Hi,

Originally the iota subscript indicated a diphthong so ῳ, ῃ, ᾳ are basically ω, η, (long) α + ι, like how οι is ο + ι. But pretty early on they stopped being diphthongs and were pronounced the same way as ω, η, α, and as far as I know, lots of people today use that pronunciation and the iota subscript is basically silent.