Diaeresis (prosody)
Encyclopedia
In poetic
meter, diaeresis (d or d, also spelled diæresis or dieresis) has two meanings: the separate pronunciation of the two vowel
s in a diphthong
for the sake of meter
, and a division between feet
that corresponds to the division between words.
Synaeresis
, the pronunciation of two vowels as a diphthong, is the opposite of the first definition.
noun diaíresis (διαίρεσις) "taking apart" or "division" (also "distinction"), from the verb diairéō (διαιρέω) "take apart", a compound
of the verb airéō (αἱρέω) "take" and the preposition diá (διά) "through" (in compounds, "apart").
.
In this example, diaereses are in bold. The vowels in each diaeresis are placed in separate syllables when the line is scanned
:
Dactylic hexameter
depends on the sequence of long and short (or heavy and light
) syllables. It is composed of six feet
, five of which are in two basic patterns: long–short–short (dactyl
) or long–long (spondee
).
In the scansion of the line above, long syllables are uppercase, short syllables are lowercase, and feet are divided by a vertical line. All feet in the line conform to one of the two patterns of dactylic hexameter.
If the pairs of vowels are contracted into diphthongs by synaeresis
(i.e., Ὀδυσῇ δαίφρονι) and the diphthongs are placed in one syllable each, one foot (in ) no longer follows the patterns, no matter how the line is scanned:
beginning with ἐύ- (also spelled ἐΰ-, with a diaeresis or trema) frequently contain two separate vowels (diaeresis). In later Greek, the two vowels form a diphthong (synaeresis).
The word comes from εὖ "well", the adverb
ial use of the neuter accusative
singular of the adjective ἐύς "good".
The form with diaeresis is the original form, since the word comes from Proto-Indo-European
(e-grade of ablaut
), which is cognate
with Sanskrit
su- (zero-grade). In Proto-Greek
, s between vowels became h (debuccalization
), and later was lost.
, the letters ie are normally pronounced [je] or [jɛ], except after Cr or Cl, in which case they indicate two syllables, [ije] or [ijɛ]. In some French dialects, however, diaeresis is the norm, with the two-syllable pronunciation found after any consonant, and in Standard French the pronunciation of hier 'yesterday' varies between the two, [jɛʁ] or [ijɛʁ], depending on context.
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
meter, diaeresis (d or d, also spelled diæresis or dieresis) has two meanings: the separate pronunciation of the two vowel
Vowel
In phonetics, a vowel is a sound in spoken language, such as English ah! or oh! , pronounced with an open vocal tract so that there is no build-up of air pressure at any point above the glottis. This contrasts with consonants, such as English sh! , where there is a constriction or closure at some...
s in a diphthong
Diphthong
A diphthong , also known as a gliding vowel, refers to two adjacent vowel sounds occurring within the same syllable. Technically, a diphthong is a vowel with two different targets: That is, the tongue moves during the pronunciation of the vowel...
for the sake of meter
Meter (poetry)
In poetry, metre is the basic rhythmic structure of a verse or lines in verse. Many traditional verse forms prescribe a specific verse metre, or a certain set of metres alternating in a particular order. The study of metres and forms of versification is known as prosody...
, and a division between feet
Foot (prosody)
The foot is the basic metrical unit that generates a line of verse in most Western traditions of poetry, including English accentual-syllabic verse and the quantitative meter of classical ancient Greek and Latin poetry. The unit is composed of syllables, the number of which is limited, with a few...
that corresponds to the division between words.
Synaeresis
Synaeresis
In linguistics, synaeresis or syneresis is a sound change by which two vowels are pronounced together rather than separately...
, the pronunciation of two vowels as a diphthong, is the opposite of the first definition.
Etymology
Diaeresis comes from from the Ancient GreekAncient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
noun diaíresis (διαίρεσις) "taking apart" or "division" (also "distinction"), from the verb diairéō (διαιρέω) "take apart", a compound
Compound (linguistics)
In linguistics, a compound is a lexeme that consists of more than one stem. Compounding or composition is the word formation that creates compound lexemes...
of the verb airéō (αἱρέω) "take" and the preposition diá (διά) "through" (in compounds, "apart").
Separation of a diphthong
Diaeresis as separate pronunciation of vowels in a diphthong was first named where it occurred in the poetry of HomerHomer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
.
Example
- ἀλλά μοι ἀμφ᾿ Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι δαίεται ῆτορ...
But my soul is torn about Odysseus the fiery-hearted...
In this example, diaereses are in bold. The vowels in each diaeresis are placed in separate syllables when the line is scanned
Scansion
Scansion is the act of determining and graphically representing the metrical character of a line of verse.-Overview:Systems of scansion, and the assumptions that underlie them, are so numerous and contradictory that it is often difficult to tell whether differences in scansion indicate opposed...
:
- ΑΛ λα μοι | ΑΜ φο δυ | ΣΗ ι δα | ΙΦ ρο νι | ΔΑΙ ε ται | Η ΤΟΡ
Dactylic hexameter
Dactylic hexameter
Dactylic hexameter is a form of meter in poetry or a rhythmic scheme. It is traditionally associated with the quantitative meter of classical epic poetry in both Greek and Latin, and was consequently considered to be the Grand Style of classical poetry...
depends on the sequence of long and short (or heavy and light
Syllable weight
In linguistics, syllable weight is the concept that syllables pattern together according to the number and/or duration of segments in the rime. In classical poetry, both Greek and Latin, distinctions of syllable weight were fundamental to the meter of the line....
) syllables. It is composed of six feet
Foot (prosody)
The foot is the basic metrical unit that generates a line of verse in most Western traditions of poetry, including English accentual-syllabic verse and the quantitative meter of classical ancient Greek and Latin poetry. The unit is composed of syllables, the number of which is limited, with a few...
, five of which are in two basic patterns: long–short–short (dactyl
Dactyl
Dactyl may refer to:* Dactyl , a creature in Greek mythology* Dactyl , a metrical foot consisting of one long syllable and two short* Dactyl , the small natural satellite orbiting the asteroid Ida...
) or long–long (spondee
Spondee
In poetry, a spondee is a metrical foot consisting of two long syllables, as determined by syllable weight in classical meters, or two stressed syllables, as determined by stress in modern meters...
).
In the scansion of the line above, long syllables are uppercase, short syllables are lowercase, and feet are divided by a vertical line. All feet in the line conform to one of the two patterns of dactylic hexameter.
If the pairs of vowels are contracted into diphthongs by synaeresis
Synaeresis
In linguistics, synaeresis or syneresis is a sound change by which two vowels are pronounced together rather than separately...
(i.e., Ὀδυσῇ δαίφρονι) and the diphthongs are placed in one syllable each, one foot (in ) no longer follows the patterns, no matter how the line is scanned:
- ΑΛ λα μοι | ΑΜ φο δυ | | ΔΑΙΦ ρο νι | ΔΑΙ ε ται | Η ΤΟΡ
- ΑΛ λα μοι | ΑΜ φο δυ | ΣΗΙ ΔΑΙΦ | | ΔΑΙ ε ται | Η ΤΟΡ
Εὖ
In Homer, compoundsCompound (linguistics)
In linguistics, a compound is a lexeme that consists of more than one stem. Compounding or composition is the word formation that creates compound lexemes...
beginning with ἐύ- (also spelled ἐΰ-, with a diaeresis or trema) frequently contain two separate vowels (diaeresis). In later Greek, the two vowels form a diphthong (synaeresis).
The word comes from εὖ "well", the adverb
Adverb
An adverb is a part of speech that modifies verbs or any part of speech other than a noun . Adverbs can modify verbs, adjectives , clauses, sentences, and other adverbs....
ial use of the neuter accusative
Accusative case
The accusative case of a noun is the grammatical case used to mark the direct object of a transitive verb. The same case is used in many languages for the objects of prepositions...
singular of the adjective ἐύς "good".
The form with diaeresis is the original form, since the word comes from Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European language
The Proto-Indo-European language is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European languages, spoken by the Proto-Indo-Europeans...
(e-grade of ablaut
Indo-European ablaut
In linguistics, ablaut is a system of apophony in Proto-Indo-European and its far-reaching consequences in all of the modern Indo-European languages...
), which is cognate
Cognate
In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...
with Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
su- (zero-grade). In Proto-Greek
Proto-Greek language
The Proto-Greek language is the assumed last common ancestor of all known varieties of Greek, including Mycenaean, the classical Greek dialects , and ultimately Koine, Byzantine and modern Greek...
, s between vowels became h (debuccalization
Debuccalization
Debuccalization is a sound change in which a consonant loses its original place of articulation and becomes or . The pronunciation of a consonant as is sometimes called aspiration, but in phonetics aspiration is the burst of air accompanying a plosive...
), and later was lost.
Diaeresis in French
In Standard FrenchFrench phonology
This article mainly discusses the phonological system of standard French based on the Parisian dialect. French is notable for its uvular r, nasal vowels, and three processes affecting word-final sounds: liaison, a certain type of sandhi, wherein word-final consonants are not pronounced unless...
, the letters ie are normally pronounced [je] or [jɛ], except after Cr or Cl, in which case they indicate two syllables, [ije] or [ijɛ]. In some French dialects, however, diaeresis is the norm, with the two-syllable pronunciation found after any consonant, and in Standard French the pronunciation of hier 'yesterday' varies between the two, [jɛʁ] or [ijɛʁ], depending on context.