Re: zeta, ksi etc (was: THEORY Ideal system of writing)

> > Also the Greek Zeta, according to one textbook - /dz/
>
> No - 'tis the Semitic 'zai' (Hebrew 'zayin'). /dz/ is an widespread
> convention in reading ancient Greek. The evidence, however, is that it
> varied in the different dialects between [dd] ~ [zd] ~ [zz], with the
> latter becoming the norm in the Hellenistic period.
I believe we've discussed this before in the years we've both
been on the list, but what about <Zeus>, whose <z> comes from a
palatalized PIE */dy/ in *dyeus? This is not to deny the other
pronunciations were licit in various dialects, but it seems hard
not to admit this pronunciation at, at least, a very early,
perhaps prehistoric, period.

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Thomas Wier	       "I find it useful to meet my subjects personally,
Dept. of Linguistics    because our secret police don't get it right
University of Chicago   half the time." -- octogenarian Sheikh Zayed of
1010 E. 59th Street     Abu Dhabi, to a French reporter.
Chicago, IL 60637

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