This text is part of:
Table of Contents:
[*] 20. Semivowels.—ι, υ, the liquids, nasals, and the spirant ς are often called semivowels. ([ιγλιδε] becoming ζ, and ϝ are also called spirants.) a. When ι and υ correspond to y and w (cp. minion, persuade) they are said to be unsyllabic; and, with a following vowel, make one syllable out of two. Semivocalic ι and υ are written [ιγλιδε] and [υγλιδε]. Initial [ιγλιδε] passed into ( (h), as in ἧπαρ liver, Lat. jecur; and into ζ in ζυγόν yoke, Lat. jugum (here it is often called the spirant yod). Initial [υγλιδε] was written ϝ (3). Medial [ιγλιδε], [υγλιδε] before vowels were often lost, as in τι_μά-（[ιγλιδε]) ω I honour, βο（[υγλιδε]）-ός, gen. of βοῦ-ς ox, cow (43). b. The form of many words is due to the fact that the liquids, nasals, and ς may fulfil the office of a vowel to form syllables (cp. bridle, even, pst). This is expressed by λ̣ο̣, μ̣ο̣, ν̣ο̣, ρ̣ο̣, σ̣ο̣, to be read ‘syllabic λ,’ etc., or ‘sonant λ’ (see 35 b, c).
American Book Company, 1920.
The National Endowment for the Humanities provided support for entering this text.
Purchase a copy of this text (not necessarily the same edition) from Amazon.com