The Umlaut?

Greek Learning Greek
1

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

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

And what are they called?

2

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

3

Thanks, Paul.

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

4

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

5

Uh… Don’t believe everything he says.

6

That is suprising. :open_mouth: