io Frederic E. Clements 



GENERAL PHONETIC PRINCIPLES 



Aspirates 



In composition, aspirates (x (kh), $ (ph), 6 (th) ) arise when a 

 surd (K, v, T), usually by elision of the final vowel of the 

 stem of the first term, comes in contact with an initial as- 

 pirated vowel of the second term. 

 8eK(a)-i/ju,/3a. = Sex//Aepo?, ten-day 

 r(O -e8pa = t<f>e?>pos, seated upon 

 dvT(i)-opos = av0o/>os, an opposite limit 

 Very rarely, this influence is exerted through an interposing 



consonant. 

 TcVp(a)-r7riros = T^/ot7r7ros, with four horses abreast 



Accumulation of Consonants 



As a rule, groups of consonants are modified to prevent harsh- 

 ness. Generally, three successive consonants, or a con- 

 sonant and a double consonant, are avoided, or one letter 

 is dropped, unless the first or last is a liquid (A., p., v, p), 

 or y before a palatal (K, y, x, ) 

 TTC/ATTTOS, fifth; (TKA^ds, hard; o-a\7riy, trumpet 

 In composition, final K or o- of the first term may stand before tw.o 



other consonants. 



eK<TTpo<f>y, dislocation; eK<}>0ip<o, to destroy utterly 

 The concurrence of two consonants, when it produces harsh- 

 ness, is avoided in several ways. 



(i) When, by the transposition or loss of a letter, p. or v 

 stands immediately before A or p, the corresponding son- 

 ant (/3, 8) is inserted.. 



/Hs(o?)-i7/>iepa /xo-T7/z(c)pa = fico-^/A/Jpui, midday 

 avrfp, genitive, *av()pos = d^pds, -=dv8/)os, man 

 (2) A consonant is sometimes transposed to a more con- 

 venient position. 

 irvKi/ds, genitive, 7rvu, nominative, meeting place 



Assimilation. 



Two explosives can occur together only when the latter is a 

 dental (T, 8, 0). In such a group a palatal or labial must 

 be of the same order, and another dental is changed to <r; 



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