Ancient Greek has words that have either rough or smooth breathing diacritical marks at the beginning of the word. This mark is also used with the "
r" character "
rho" as "
ρ".
This aspiration was used only for a short time in Attic (classical) Greek and had disappeared by the time of Koine Greek in the
GNT (Greek New Testament). Nevertheless, these markings have been retained as part of the (cumbersome) historical notation for ancient Greek.
This disappearance leads to some interesting play on words for words that, according to aspiration, were not as close sounding as they were in practice.
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Words: ιωτα=1
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ᾳ = α + ͅ = ᾳ = ᾳ
ῃ = η + ͅ = ῃ = ῃ
ῳ = ω + ͅ = ῳ = ῳ
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At one time in ancient Greek, the letter "
ι" as English
"iota", when following the Greek letters "
α" (alpha), "
η" (eta), and "
ω" (omega), had a distinguishable sound.
Eventually, the sound difference disappeared but the iota was still written. Once learned, academics (scribes)
never give up the complexity.
Sometimes this
iota subscript analogy is used by pastors but this iota subscript did
not exist in
GNT or
LXX (Septuagint) times.
In ancient Greek, the "
χ" or "
chi" sound was more like a hard "
kh" sound but
not the "
k" sound used by pastors or those who have learned the Middle Age pronunciation system invented by the Dutchman Erasmus (and pronounced differently in different parts of the world). This pronunciation system used by pastors is sometimes called "
cowboy Greek".
In modern Greek, the "
χ" or "
chi" sound in the middle of a word is like a softened but still somewhat hard "
kh" sound. However, the "
χ" or "
chi" at the beginning of a word is like an English "
h" sound. If that aspiration were to disappear, that "
χ" or "
chi" at the beginning of a word would become silent.
The Dutchman Erasmus (1466-1536) developed a way to pronounce Biblical (and Classical) Greek in the Middle Ages (about 1500 A.D.). This pronunciation is used by many traditional scholars of Biblical Greek such pastors (cowboy Greek, dead language).
The Greek prefix «ευ» meaning "good" is said as "you" by pastors, but as "ev" by people living in Greece.
The Greek word «χαρη» meaning "favor" (not "joy") is said as "carry" by pastors, but as "harry" by people living in Greece.
Thus, "
thank you" as pronounced by pastor cowboy Greek is "
you-carry-toe". This is the basis, through Latin, of the English word
"eucharist" or "
thank you".
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. [kjv]
το λοιπον αδελφοι οσα εστιν αληθη οσα σεμνα οσα δικαια οσα αγνα οσα προσφιλη οσα ευφημα ει τις αρετη και ει τις επαινος ταυτα λογιζεσθε [gnt]
