Difference between revisions of "Greek alphabet"
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| − | The '''Greek alphabet''' is a set of [[alphabet|letters]] used to represent the written | + | The '''Greek alphabet''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Ελληνικό αλφάβητο'') is a set of [[alphabet|letters]] used to represent the written Greek language. Originating around the 9th century BC, it was based upon the Phoenician consonantal alphabet<ref name="physlink">[http://www.physlink.com/reference/GreekAlphabet.cfm Greek Alphabet], Physlink. Retrieved November 26, 2008.</ref> (which also gave rise to the [[Hebrew alphabet|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic alphabet]]s). The Greek alphabet was the first true alphabet, representing both consonants and vowels, each with their own individual symbol.<ref name="physlink" /> The [[Latin alphabet|Latin]] and [[Cyrillic alphabet]]s are largely based on Greek, with some modifications.<ref name="physlink" /> |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ==Main letters== | |
| − | + | The Greek alphabet and its corresponding modern and classical pronunciations in the [[IPA|International Phonetic Alphabet]] are as follow:<ref name="alexandro">[http://www.geocities.com/alexandrosworld/Greek/Phonology.html Phonology], MY SECRET LIFE OF LANGUAGES. Retrieved November 27, 2008.</ref><ref name="Smyth" /><ref>Modern pronunciations separated by a slash indicate a phonetic difference depending on the following vowel. On the left is the pronunciation before [e] and [i], on the right the pronunciation before [a], [o], or [u]. In the case of iota, the difference depends on if it is word initial before a vowel.</ref> | |
| − | + | <!--note: I culled this together from a myriad of sources (there's a lot of contradiction on the subject), so this is a rather BROAD set of transcriptions. If someone could direct me to a good, up-to-date pronunciation guide, I would be most obliged.--SY--> | |
| − | + | ||
{| align=center cellpadding=10 style="text-align:center;" | {| align=center cellpadding=10 style="text-align:center;" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |align="left"|''Name''<br />''Letter''||Alpha<br />Αα||Beta<br />Ββ||Gamma<br />Γγ||Delta<br />Δδ||Epsilon<br />Εε||Zeta<br />Ζζ||Eta<br />Ηη||Theta<br />Θθ|| | + | |align="left"|'''Name'''<br />'''Letter'''<br />'''Modern'''<br />'''Classical'''||[[Alpha]]<br />Αα<br />[a]<br />[a]||[[Beta]]<br />Ββ<br />[v]<br />[b]||[[Gamma]]<br />Γγ<br />[ʝ]/[ɣ]<br />[g]||[[Delta (letter)|Delta]]<br />Δδ<br />[ð]<br />[d]||Epsilon<br />Εε<br />[e]<br />[e]||Zeta<br />Ζζ<br />[z]<br />[zd]/[z]||Eta<br />Ηη<br />[i]<br />[ɛ]||Theta<br />Θθ<br />[θ]<br />[tʰ]|| |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |align="left"|''Name''<br />''Letter''||Iota<br />Ιι||Kappa<br />Κκ||Lambda<br />Λλ||Mu<br />Μμ||Nu<br />Νν||Xi<br />Ξξ||Omicron<br />Οο||Pi<br />Ππ|| | + | |align="left"|'''Name'''<br />'''Letter'''<br />'''Modern'''<br />'''Classical'''||Iota<br />Ιι<br />[i]/[j]<br />[i]||Kappa<br />Κκ<br />[c]/[k]<br />[k]||Lambda<br />Λλ<br />[l]<br />[l]||[[Mu (Greek letter)|Mu]]<br />Μμ<br />[m]<br />[m]||Nu<br />Νν<br />[n]<br />[n]||Xi<br />Ξξ<br />[ks]<br />[ks]||Omicron<br />Οο<br />[o]<br />[o]||[[Pi]]<br />Ππ<br />[p]<br />[p]|| |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |align="left"|''Name''<br />''Letter''||Rho<br />Ρρ||Sigma<br />Σσς||Tau<br />Ττ||Upsilon<br />Υυ||Phi<br />Φφ||Chi<br />Χχ||Psi<br />Ψψ||Omega<br />Ωω|| | + | |align="left"|'''Name'''<br />'''Letter'''<br />'''Modern'''<br />'''Classical'''||Rho<br />Ρρ<br />[ɾ]<br />[r]||Sigma<br />Σσς<br />[s]<br />[s]||Tau<br />Ττ<br />[t]<br />[t]||Upsilon<br />Υυ<br />[i]<br />[y]||Phi<br />Φφ<br />[f]<br />[pʰ]||Chi<br />Χχ<br />[ç]/[χ]<br />[kʰ]||Psi<br />Ψψ<br />[ps]<br />[ps]||[[Omega]]<br />Ωω<br />[o]<br />[ɔ]|| |
|} | |} | ||
| − | + | Originally Greek was only written with what are today considered capital letters. The lowercase letters are based on handwritten forms developed during the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine period]].<ref>[http://biblaridion.blogspot.com/2005/08/greek-miniscule-script.html Greek Miniscule Script], Biblaridion. Retrieved November 26, 2008.</ref> In the case of sigma, the lowercase form varies depending on if it occurs at the end of a word (ς). | |
| − | + | Most of the letters are named after their models in the Phoenician alphabet – compare Semitic alef, bet, gimel to Greek alpha, beta, gamma. Zeta seems to have been named to better fit with beta, eta, and theta. The origins of phi, chi, and psi are debated, but their names were simply patterned off the other -i letters. Epsilon, omicron, upsilon, and omega are the only letters with distinctly Greek names, all with origins in the Byzantine Empire. Epsilon and upsilon where given the [[affix]] -psilon (ψιλόν, "simple")<ref name="quin">[http://www.quinapalus.com/gr0.1.html Lesson 1: The Greek Alphabet (capitals)], Quinapalus. Retrieved November 27, 2008.</ref> in order to distinguish them, respectively, from the digraphs αι and οι, which by that time had come to be pronounced the same way.<ref name="Smyth">[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0007&layout=&query=toc&loc=1 Herbert Weir Smyth, ''A Greek Grammar for Colleges''], Perseus Digital Library. Retrieved November 27, 2008.</ref> Omicron ("small o") and omega ("great o")<ref name="quin" /> were named in order to distinguish them from each other, having also come to have the same pronunciation.<ref name="Smyth" /> | |
| − | == | + | ==Pronunciation== |
| − | [[ | + | In many cases, the modern phonetic values of the letters match the pronunciation of the initial letter (or letter clusters) of their names in English. However, some letters have shifted in pronunciation since ancient times, so this is not always the case. For example, in Ancient Greek, the letter beta was pronounced [b], but is now pronounced [v].<ref>[http://www.omniglot.com/writing/greek.htm Greek alphabet, pronunciation and language], Omniglot. Retrieved November 26, 2008.</ref> |
| − | In the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Bible]], the letters alpha and omega | + | |
| + | Digraphs are formed to signify sounds not covered by the main alphabet (e.g., ντ for [d], μπ for [b], or ου for [u]), or to represent diphthongs (e.g., αυ for [af] and [av]).<ref name="alexandro" /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Obsolete letters== | ||
| + | The original Greek alphabet included the letters digamma<ref>Earlier known as "wau" (ϝαυ)</ref> (Ϝϝ), san (Ϻϻ), and qoppa (Ϙϙ).<ref>[http://www.tlg.uci.edu/~opoudjis/unicode/nonattic.html Non-Attic Letters], Thesaurus Linguae Graecae. Retrieved November 26, 2008.</ref> Digamma was dropped due to the loss of the sound it represented in Greek ([w]), and san and qoppa were dropped in favor of sigma and kappa. Digamma and qoppa were preserved in certain Western dialects, and eventually evolved into the Latin letters F and Q.<ref>[http://www.fonts.com/AboutFonts/Articles/Letterseries/LetterQ.htm The Letter Q], fonts.com. Retrieved November 26, 2008.</ref> Qoppa is still used occasionally as a Greek numeral, albeit in a different form (Ϟϟ).<ref>[http://www.tlg.uci.edu/~opoudjis/unicode/numerals.html Numerals], Thesaurus Linguae Graecae. Retrieved November 26, 2008.</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Other uses== | ||
| + | In the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Bible]], the letters alpha and omega are used together as an appellation for [[God]], specifically in the phrase "I am the alpha and the omega" (Revelation 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Greek letters are also used in the names of fraternities and sororities, as well as [[Mathematical notation|mathematical symbols]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | + | {{reflist}} | |
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Greek alphabet| ]] | ||
[[Category:Greece]] | [[Category:Greece]] | ||
| − | |||
Revision as of 04:59, July 12, 2016
The Greek alphabet (Greek: Ελληνικό αλφάβητο) is a set of letters used to represent the written Greek language. Originating around the 9th century BC, it was based upon the Phoenician consonantal alphabet[1] (which also gave rise to the Hebrew and Arabic alphabets). The Greek alphabet was the first true alphabet, representing both consonants and vowels, each with their own individual symbol.[1] The Latin and Cyrillic alphabets are largely based on Greek, with some modifications.[1]
Main letters
The Greek alphabet and its corresponding modern and classical pronunciations in the International Phonetic Alphabet are as follow:[2][3][4]
| Name Letter Modern Classical |
Alpha Αα [a] [a] |
Beta Ββ [v] [b] |
Gamma Γγ [ʝ]/[ɣ] [g] |
Delta Δδ [ð] [d] |
Epsilon Εε [e] [e] |
Zeta Ζζ [z] [zd]/[z] |
Eta Ηη [i] [ɛ] |
Theta Θθ [θ] [tʰ] |
|
| Name Letter Modern Classical |
Iota Ιι [i]/[j] [i] |
Kappa Κκ [c]/[k] [k] |
Lambda Λλ [l] [l] |
Mu Μμ [m] [m] |
Nu Νν [n] [n] |
Xi Ξξ [ks] [ks] |
Omicron Οο [o] [o] |
Pi Ππ [p] [p] |
|
| Name Letter Modern Classical |
Rho Ρρ [ɾ] [r] |
Sigma Σσς [s] [s] |
Tau Ττ [t] [t] |
Upsilon Υυ [i] [y] |
Phi Φφ [f] [pʰ] |
Chi Χχ [ç]/[χ] [kʰ] |
Psi Ψψ [ps] [ps] |
Omega Ωω [o] [ɔ] |
Originally Greek was only written with what are today considered capital letters. The lowercase letters are based on handwritten forms developed during the Byzantine period.[5] In the case of sigma, the lowercase form varies depending on if it occurs at the end of a word (ς).
Most of the letters are named after their models in the Phoenician alphabet – compare Semitic alef, bet, gimel to Greek alpha, beta, gamma. Zeta seems to have been named to better fit with beta, eta, and theta. The origins of phi, chi, and psi are debated, but their names were simply patterned off the other -i letters. Epsilon, omicron, upsilon, and omega are the only letters with distinctly Greek names, all with origins in the Byzantine Empire. Epsilon and upsilon where given the affix -psilon (ψιλόν, "simple")[6] in order to distinguish them, respectively, from the digraphs αι and οι, which by that time had come to be pronounced the same way.[3] Omicron ("small o") and omega ("great o")[6] were named in order to distinguish them from each other, having also come to have the same pronunciation.[3]
Pronunciation
In many cases, the modern phonetic values of the letters match the pronunciation of the initial letter (or letter clusters) of their names in English. However, some letters have shifted in pronunciation since ancient times, so this is not always the case. For example, in Ancient Greek, the letter beta was pronounced [b], but is now pronounced [v].[7]
Digraphs are formed to signify sounds not covered by the main alphabet (e.g., ντ for [d], μπ for [b], or ου for [u]), or to represent diphthongs (e.g., αυ for [af] and [av]).[2]
Obsolete letters
The original Greek alphabet included the letters digamma[8] (Ϝϝ), san (Ϻϻ), and qoppa (Ϙϙ).[9] Digamma was dropped due to the loss of the sound it represented in Greek ([w]), and san and qoppa were dropped in favor of sigma and kappa. Digamma and qoppa were preserved in certain Western dialects, and eventually evolved into the Latin letters F and Q.[10] Qoppa is still used occasionally as a Greek numeral, albeit in a different form (Ϟϟ).[11]
Other uses
In the Christian Bible, the letters alpha and omega are used together as an appellation for God, specifically in the phrase "I am the alpha and the omega" (Revelation 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13).
Greek letters are also used in the names of fraternities and sororities, as well as mathematical symbols.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Greek Alphabet, Physlink. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Phonology, MY SECRET LIFE OF LANGUAGES. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges, Perseus Digital Library. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
- ↑ Modern pronunciations separated by a slash indicate a phonetic difference depending on the following vowel. On the left is the pronunciation before [e] and [i], on the right the pronunciation before [a], [o], or [u]. In the case of iota, the difference depends on if it is word initial before a vowel.
- ↑ Greek Miniscule Script, Biblaridion. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lesson 1: The Greek Alphabet (capitals), Quinapalus. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
- ↑ Greek alphabet, pronunciation and language, Omniglot. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
- ↑ Earlier known as "wau" (ϝαυ)
- ↑ Non-Attic Letters, Thesaurus Linguae Graecae. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
- ↑ The Letter Q, fonts.com. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
- ↑ Numerals, Thesaurus Linguae Graecae. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
