how to make syllables

Here you can discuss all things Latin. Use this board to ask questions about grammar, discuss learning strategies, get help with a difficult passage of Latin, and more.
Post Reply
inNout
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Oct 28, 2003 3:47 am
Contact:

how to make syllables

Post by inNout »

Hi, my first post!

I am trying to work out how to divde the word vias into syllables.
Does the vowel combination ia make a diphthong? Or is the i here regarded as i consonant? In which case I can't decide how to make the division.

Thanks,
inNout

edit:
Is it proper to regard diphthongs as a single vowel?

User avatar
benissimus
Global Moderator
Posts: 2733
Joined: Mon May 12, 2003 4:32 am
Location: Berkeley, California
Contact:

Post by benissimus »

"I" usually only functions as a consonant when it begins a word and is followed by a vowel or is wedged between two vowels. Therefore VIAS would be divided into VI-AS (thankfully... I would hate to try to pronounce that in one syllable). There are of course exceptions, but that is the basic rule.
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

tadwelessar
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2003 4:51 pm
Location: Italy, Sardinia, Sassari

Post by tadwelessar »

Yes, I agree with benissimus; the word is divided into 2 syllables: vi-as

inNout
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Oct 28, 2003 3:47 am
Contact:

Post by inNout »

Having a bit of trouble following your reasoning.
vias has neither a consonant between two vowels nor does I begin the word.
Can you please explain?

inNout

User avatar
benissimus
Global Moderator
Posts: 2733
Joined: Mon May 12, 2003 4:32 am
Location: Berkeley, California
Contact:

Post by benissimus »

Yes, since it is neither the first letter of a word and directly preceding a vowel, nor is it between two vowels, it is pronounced as a vowel. If it did fit either of those criteria then it would be a consonant or consonant/vowel.

It's the same thing as with V (U). Recall that both V and U are the same letter. Because VIAS begins with a V followed by a vowel, it is pronounced as a consonant. However, in the word AVDIVERAT, the first V is a vowel, but the second is a consonant because of its position between two vowels.
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

inNout
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Oct 28, 2003 3:47 am
Contact:

Post by inNout »

Makes sense, thanks.

Keesa
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1108
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2003 10:59 pm

Post by Keesa »

How can you tell that ia is two different vowels, and not a dipthong?

User avatar
klewlis
Global Moderator
Posts: 1668
Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2003 1:48 pm
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Contact:

Post by klewlis »

there is no ia diphthong.

au
ae
eu
ei
oe
ui

tadwelessar
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2003 4:51 pm
Location: Italy, Sardinia, Sassari

Post by tadwelessar »

Are you sure there are so many diphtongs? In my book there are only 4 ones:
au
eu
ae
oe
Where did you found the others?

User avatar
klewlis
Global Moderator
Posts: 1668
Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2003 1:48 pm
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Contact:

Post by klewlis »

all 6 are in wheelock. plus it just makes sense (to me).

User avatar
benissimus
Global Moderator
Posts: 2733
Joined: Mon May 12, 2003 4:32 am
Location: Berkeley, California
Contact:

Post by benissimus »

There are actually more, but they are rare and archaic...

AI = AE
OI = OE

I think I am forgetting some; you can find them all in Allen & Greenough's.
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

Emma_85
Global Moderator
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2003 8:01 pm
Location: London

Post by Emma_85 »

maybe the ai and oi are when they used some greek words?

User avatar
benissimus
Global Moderator
Posts: 2733
Joined: Mon May 12, 2003 4:32 am
Location: Berkeley, California
Contact:

Post by benissimus »

Actually I think they are just the original diphthongs. When they used Greek words they converted them into the Latin format...

e.g. δικαιοπολις=Dicaeopolis
κομοιδια=comoedia
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

Keesa
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1108
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2003 10:59 pm

Post by Keesa »

klewlis wrote:there is no ia diphthong.
:oops:

Why, so there isn't. My mistake. :D

Post Reply