Aeolic Greek

The Aeolic ( Aeolian ) is an ancient Greek dialect, which was spoken by the tribe of the Aeolians. The distribution area of the dialect comprised Boeotia, Thessaly, Asia Minor west coast and the island of Lesbos. In Boeotia and Thessaly, the Aeolic was heavily influenced by the neighboring western Greek dialects. From the ancient Greek dialects is the Aeolic the most ancient.

Literary significance is the Aeolic by the seals of Sappho and Alcaeus. Even for the most part based on the Ionian language of Homer contains Aeolic elements.

Characteristics

The main differences between the Aiolischen and the Attic, the classic form of ancient Greek:

• Originally ᾱ long ( ā ) is always maintained. Example: aiolisch μάτηρ ( Mater ) against Attic μήτηρ (meters)
• Preservation of the w- Loud ( digamma ) Example: aiolisch Fοῖκος ( woíkos ) against Attic οἶκος ( oikos )
• Aspiration is omitted ( Hauchpsilose ) Examples: aiolisch ἀέλιος ( Aelios ) against Attic ἥλιος ( Helios )
• The proto- Greek labiovelar / kw / is continuous at π ( p) instead of τ (t ) Example: aiolisch πίς ( pis ) against Attic τίς ( tis )
• At the follow - νς ( ns ) compensatory lengthening on οι and αι (oi and ai) instead ου and ᾱ (ou and ā ) Example: aiolisch λύοισι ( lýoisi ) and παῖσα ( Paisa ) from Attic λύουσι ( lýousi ) and πᾶσα ( PASA ). Originated from * πάνσα (* Pansa ) and λύονσι * (* lýonsi ).
• Doubling of the letter instead of compensatory lengthening Example: aiolisch ἐμμί ( EMMI ) against Attic εἰμί ( eimi ). Both of ἐσμί * (* Esmi ).
• Avoiding the Endbetonung Example: aiolisch πόταμος ( Potamos ) against Attic ποταμός ( Potamós )
• The athematic conjugation (on - μι ) is more widespread. Example: aiolisch φίλημι ( phílēmi ) against Attic φιλέω ( phileo )
• Infinitive on - μεν take - ειν Example: aiolisch ἀγέμεν ( agémen ) against Attic ἄγειν ( agein )