The Umlaut?

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Eureka
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The Umlaut?

Post by Eureka »

I'm hoping someone can explain what this German symbol is doing on my Greek words. :P

i.e.
What do these two dots mean: ι5 ?

And what are they called?

Paul
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Post by Paul »

Hi Eureka,

The two dots over a vowel - called a diaeresis mark - mean that the vowel doesn't form a diphthong with the preceding vowel.

E.g., in the patronymic from Iliad 1.1 - πηληϊάδεω - the second eta and the following iota make two distinct sounds.

Cordially,

Paul

Eureka
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Post by Eureka »

Thanks, Paul.

For the metre's sake, it looks like ηϊ is still just one syllable.

Paul
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Post by Paul »

Hi,

I'm no expert in meter (or anything else for that matter) but I'm pretty sure that the second eta and subsequent iota (with diaeresis) are sounded as two distinct vowels.

But, by synizesis, the εω sequence at the end of the patroynmic makes a single vowel sound.

Cordially,

Paul

Bert
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Post by Bert »

Paul wrote:Hi,

I'm no expert in meter (or anything else for that matter)....
Uh... Don't believe everything he says.

Eureka
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Post by Eureka »

Paul wrote:But, by synizesis, the εω sequence at the end of the patroynmic makes a single vowel sound.

That is suprising. :shock:

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