The letter ψ was pronounced like the final consonants in tops. The letter ξ was pronounced like the consonant in ax. The letter ζ was pronounced like the consonant in adze. Latin and thereupon English has maintained this order with modifications that are apparent from the different sounds of the letters and the different names. The rough breathing may also be used with initial rho: ῥ. The sound before a vowel is signalled by a rough breathing sign : ὁ and when there is no initial sound before vowels, the smooth breathing sign is ὀ. Note that there are two forms of the small letter sigma: the latter ( ς) is used where the letter appears last in the word everywhere else, the former is used. The symbols themselves, especially the small cursives, may also differ in form from those of Latin and English, but on the whole the differences may readily be recognized. This is true also of the Latin alphabet, which was based ultimately on the Greek alphabet the 3rd symbol, which represented as in its name gamma, had the sound of in Latin, as in words like car or the proper name Cato.
These were also used for the numerals, so that the order of the symbols was maintained, if changed at times in sound value. The Greek alphabet was taken over from the Semitic as used in the Phoenician area, which in turn was based on an Egyptian alphabet. It is essential, then, to learn the basic inflections of these parts of speech. Interpretation is also assisted by the use of articles which, like nouns, adjectives, pronouns and verbs, are inflected. The words of sentences are placed for their emphasis, rather than in accordance with a pattern like that of the English Subject-Verb-Object order knowledge of the inflections is therefore highly important. Furthermore, the sentence structure and number of forms require a great deal of attention. While today accented syllables are pronounced with stress rather than tones, the older accents are still written : ή for the οκσεῖα 'acute' accent or high pitch, ῆ for the περισπώμενον accent or high-low pitch, and ὴ for the βαρεῖα 'grave' or falling pitch. Moreover, accentuation varies in Greek words, and in early Greek was musical. The prominence of Greek for intellectual matters is evident in designations of subjects central to university study, such as philosophy 'love of wisdom', philology 'love of words or more generally study', theology 'study related to God', psychology 'study related to the soul or psyche', and so on.Ī difficulty with Greek that may put off learners is the maintenance of an older form of the alphabet than that used for Latin, English, and many other languages. In years past, Latin was introduced in the first year of High School, followed by Greek in the third year. Greek has been important in the intellectual life of western civilization, but not to the extent of Latin except for ecclesiastical matters.
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