Iota subscriptum

The iota subscriptum ( Latin ; "signed iota ", Greek Ἰῶτα ὑπογεγραμμένη [ iṓta hypogegramménē]) is a diacritical mark that emerged from a ligature in the polytonic spelling of the Greek script . It takes the form of the small letter iota ( ι ) placed under an alpha , eta, or omega :

ᾳ - ῃ - ῳ

In the case of capital letters, the iota subscriptum is avoided and the iota is usually used as an iota adscriptum next to the preceding vowel ( Αι , Ηι , Ωι ). Iota adscriptum can be recognized by the fact that accents and spirit are not on the iota, as in diphthongs, but in front of the first vowel (e.g. ῞Αιδης; to be distinguished from the uncontracted poetic form ᾿Αἰδης).

Originally, the ancient Greek language had the long diphthongs āi , ēi and ōi , which were written αι , ηι and ωι . The fact that the gesprochen was spoken in archaic times (up to the 7th century BC) and later as a diphthong can be seen from the fact that the Greek word τραγῳδία was adopted as tragoedia (from “ tragedy ”) in Latin . Between the 5th and 4th centuries, the second part of the diphthong fell silent and was also left out of the script. It was reintroduced in Byzantine times, but placed under the preceding letters to make it clear that the i is mute.

Today, the iota subscriptum is used in most text editions; the i is not spoken in the common school pronunciation of ancient Greek . It is not included in the alphabetical order (e.g. in dictionaries). It is usually left out when transcribing ancient Greek words (e.g. τραγῳδία , tragōdia instead of tragōidia ). Only in scientific transliteration is it represented by a j or a subordinate point.

In modern Greek , the iota subscriptum as well as the gravis accent was removed during the language reform of 1976, when the old Katharevousa was also replaced by the Dimotiki as the official language. The iota adscriptum was certainly not represented in modern Greek usage. The remaining tone and breath symbols Spiritus asper (rough breath) and Spiritus lenis (light breath) were abolished in the course of the reform of 1982 , except for the acute tone that is still in use today .