Chapter I: The Alphabet

1. In learning a new alphabet attention need be paid only to such letters as are not already know. Of the Greek alphabet only twelve characters are unfamiliar:

A, Β, Γ, Δ, Ε, Ζ, Η, Θ, Ι, Κ, Λ, Μ, α, β, γ, δ, ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ, a, b, g, d, ĕ, z, ē, th, i, k, l, m,

Ν, Ξ, Ο, Π, Ρ, Σ, Τ, Υ, Φ, Χ, Ψ, Ω, ν, ξ, ο, π, ρ, σ(ς), τ, υ, φ, χ, ψ, ω, n, ks, ŏ, p, r, s, t, u, ph, ch, ps, ō,

Note.—The small letters, most used, should be learned. The capital letters may be learned as they occur.

2. ε, ο are always short; η, ω, always long; α, ι, υ, sometimes long, sometimes short.

ā as "a" in father. ī as "i" in machine. ă as "a" in papa. ĭ as "i" in pin. η as "e" in fete. ω as "o" in note. ε as "e" in met. ο as "o" in obey. υ equals approximately "eu" in feud or the French u.

Note 1.—In diphthongs with a long vowel ι is subscribed.

Note 2.—As in music, the difference between long and short is one of time, as musical notes image A difference in quality actually appears in pronunciation.

Note 3.—A diphthong is counted long. But in determining accent final –αι– and –οι– are counted short except in the optative mode and in a few words, οἴμοι, οἴκοι. Bt. 3-4; Gl. 5; Gn. 5; H.A. 9-11.

3. The consonants are classified:

(1) Mutes— Smooth Middle Rough With s Labial, π β φ ψ Palatal, κ γ χ ξ Lingual, τ δ θ ζ

(2) Liquids— λ, μ, ν, ρ, as in English, σ(ς) is a sibilant.

(3) ζ, ξ, ψ are called double consonants. Bt. 12; Gl. 38; Gn. 18-22.

SYLLABLES

1. There are as many syllables in a word as there are separate vowels and diphthongs.

2. Consonants are pronounced with succeeding vowels: λό-γος, πο-λί-της, ἐ-λέ-γε-το. Where two consonants occur together, they are not separated at the beginning of a word or in the case of combinations that do occur at the beginning of the words. G. 97; H.A. 91.