Greek in a Nutshell by James Strong
page 5 of 61 (08%)
page 5 of 61 (08%)
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§ 5. The _grave_ accent (`) is only written in place of the acute on the last syllable when not before a pause, or when unemphatic. It is understood to belong to all other syllables. § 6. The _circumflex_ (~) is placed on a syllable formed by the combination of two, the first of which had an acute and the second a grave; hence only on the last, or next to the last syllable, and only on a long vowel or a diphthong. When the last syllable has a short vowel, such a penult, if accented, takes the circumflex. 3. BREATHINGS, VOWELS, DIPHTHONGS, ETC. § 7. A vowel beginning a word takes either the _rough breathing_, (῾), which is pronounced like _h_, or else, to show the absence of that, _the smooth breathing_, (᾿), which has no appreciable sound. Initial Ï and Ï always take the rough breathing; and double Ï in the middle of a word takes the smooth breathing on the first, and the rough on the second. § 8. The vowels are short, (ε and ο,) long, (η and Ï,) or doubtful, (α, ι, and Ï ,) which last, although naturally short, are sometimes lengthened by derivation. § 9. The diphthongs are as follows:-- Proper. With Iota Subscript. Improper. |
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