Topic
Synizesis
About: Synizesis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5 publications have been published within this topic receiving 41 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that ιω (< /eo/) in the Heraclean Tables and in literary texts is another instance of quantitative metathesis in Ionic-Attic.
Abstract: Quantitative metathesis (QM) in Ionic-Attic (e. g. νηός > νηώς) is usually conceived of as a phonetic process, typologically uncommon, which merely involves a transfer of length from one vowel to another. This traditional doctrine suffers from serious shortcomings. A more fruitful approach favoured by Schwyzer and other scholars views QM as resulting from synizesis (syllabicity loss) of a long vowel with simultaneous compensatory lengthening of the following vowel: e. g. νηός > νeώς. This scenario is superior to the standard explanation on different counts: (a) it presents us with an internally coherent change, parallels for which may be easily found in languages other than Greek; (b) it accounts both for the systematic co-occurrence of synizesis and quantitative metathesis, and is consistent with the different behaviour of monosyllables vs. polysyllables as regards QM in Homeric epics; (c) it makes sense out of some apparent anomalies in accentuation.
The second part of the paper deals with the outcome ιω (< /eo/) in the Heraclean Tables and in literary texts, which turns out to be another instance of QM. The lengthening of /o/ compensates for the loss of a mora caused by the synizesis of /e/ in an open syllable. Synizesis followed by the absorption of yod into /s/ explains the controversial 3rd pl. future forms in -σοντι, -σονται which al first glance look «non-Doric».
40 citations
TL;DR: The authors found that speakers still have an awareness of the connection between hiatus and formality and that this awareness may play a role in favoring hiatus not predicted by declensional class for less frequent items, consistent with Petrounias' (1987) predictions.
Abstract: The factors controlling synizesis and hiatus in Modern Greek have long been debated. Some accounts, e.g., Kazazis (1968, 1992), suggest that a speaker’s knowledge of a word’s origin (or alternatively, its appropriateness in a formal setting) plays a role. Other accounts, e.g., Nyman (1981), discount this factor. Petrounias (1987) cites word frequency as a factor, claiming that “rarer words follow [the synizesis rule] less frequently” especially if the words seem more formal. To test the influence of frequency and perceived formality of {-ια} words on their pronunciation, two experiments were conducted, in which ten native speakers of Modern Greek heard 40 words pronounced with hiatus (e.g., σχέδια / sxeðia / “plans”) and synizesis (e.g., πόδια / poðja / “feet”). They rated these words on (1) word familiarity, (2) appropriateness of the word in informal conversation, and (3) appropriateness of the word in formal proceedings. In the first experiment, they heard the canonical pronunciations of each word. In the second they also heard non-canonical pronunciations, e.g., [sxe.ðja] and [po.ði.a]. In a third experiment, speakers produced the words in question in a sentence-reading task. The results of these experiments suggest that speakers still have an awareness of the connection between hiatus and formality ( contra Nyman 1981), and that this awareness may play a role in favoring hiatus not predicted by declensional class for less frequent items, consistent with Petrounias’ (1987) predictions.
13 citations
Book•
26 Mar 2007
TL;DR: Part 1 Treatment of Word Shapes in Composition and the Use of Prosodic Variation; and Hyperbata of the Form Modifier-Verb-Noun or the Reverse.
Abstract: Part 1 Treatment of Word Shapes in Composition and the Use of Prosodic Variation Chapter 2 Definition of Word Shapes Chapter 3 Metrical Lengthening of Short Final Vowels Chapter 4 Correptio Attica vs Metrical Lengthening Chapter 5 Synizesis Chapter 6 Elision and Lengthening of Words Shaped Part 7 The Use of Hyperbation in Composition and its Interpretation Chapter 8 Marked Forms of Word Order for Prepositional Phrases Chapter 9 Metrical and Prosodic Variations at Mid-Line Chapter 10 Hyperbata of the Form Modifier-Verb-Noun or the Reverse Chapter 11 Distribution of Word Shapes
6 citations
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1978 | 1 |