(Classical) GREEK 
(Greece; Indo-European, Greek)		 For more information about metathesis in this language, click on the following links:
Summary:
a. Nasals, liquids and the glide 'w' metathesize with a following 
    segment 'y'.
b. A PIE tautomorphemic coronal and velar stop sequence 
    underwent metathesis in Greek.
Examples
Conditions
Motivation
Related processes
Comments
References
Examples:
(See Comments for key to special characters used.)
a. The glide 'w' metathesizes with 'y' regardless of of the quality of the preceding vowel.
 
*dawyo *daywo dai'o       [dayyo]  'kindle'
*ewrewya *ewreywa eure ia    [ewreyya] 'wide (f.)'

b. Nasals and liquids metathesize with 'y' only after 'a' and 'o'.
 
*morya moira  'lot'
*phanyo  phai'no  'show'

c. A PIE tautomorphemic coronal and velar stop sequence underwent metathesis into Greek.
 
PIE Greek
*titko:  [tikto:]  'beget' 
*tkey-  [ktizdo:]  'found'

Conditions:
No information currently available.
Motivation:
No information currently available.
Related processes:
No information currently available.
Comments:
Special Symbols:
V' = stressed vowel

 Last updated: 2/6/2002
References:
  • Kiparsky, P. 1967. Sonorant clusters in Greek. Lg. 43. vol. 3. 619-35.
  • McCall, Betsy. 1998. Restrictions on Stop-Stop Clusters in Ancient Greek: Implications for Alignment. Paper presented at the Mid-Continental Workshop on Phonology. University of Michigan.
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