Homeric language

One calls language or Homeric dialect the language employed in Iliade and the Odyssey of Homère.

This epic language , already antiquated at eighth century BC, is primarily founded on the dialects Ionian and wind. It alternates antiquated and traditional forms. Already under Antiquity, these characteristics were explained by the needs for the metric Greek. The scholiastes and the grammairiens, like Eustathe de Thessalonique, speak thus about the “constraint of the meter” (ἀνάγκη τοῦ μέτρου), in the species the dactylic Hexamètre.

The Modern ones carried out a second analysis this, showing that this constraint governs the safeguarding of antiquated forms, the introduction of news or even the creation of artificial forms. For Milman Parry, the existence of such a language, artificial and adapted to the specific needs of the poet, proves that this language traditional and is employed by all the Aède S of the Homeric time. This postulate formed the base of its thesis of orality and its explanations on the Homeric epithet .

Phonetics

Vowels

In a general way, long alpha (ᾱ) of the Ionian-attic (Greek traditional) is replaced into Ionian by an eta (η). Thus, ἡμέρα/ will hêméra (the day) becomes ἡμέρη/ hêmérê , Ἣρα/ Hèra (the goddess Héra) becomes Ἣρη/ Hếrê . The preserved ᾱ are explained by a compensatory lengthening, a eolism (for example θεά/ theá , “goddess”) or a lengthening of short alpha (ᾰ) for the needs for the Métrique. This metric lengthening is also found in the passage of ε with ει or ο with ου.

Homère often employs, by archaism, of the forms not contract. Thus, it uses ἄλγεα/ álgea for ἄλγη/ álgê (the pain). Certain forms contract are irregular. In the same way, the finales do not undergo a Métathèse (permutation) of quantity: βασιλῆος/ basilễos and not βασιλέως/ basiléôs .

There exist forms which undergo a Distension, i.e. long accentuated can be born short: εἰσοράασθαι < εἰσοράσθαι.

The Apocope is automatic for certain prepositions such as παρά, κατά or ἀνά, but touches also many of other words. It is generally associated with a phenomenon of Assimilation.

Consonants

Homère preserves the double sigma (σσ) of Ionian and the old attic, where the Ionian-attic writes a double tau (ττ). It also alternates forms with simple or double sigma, for reasons of scansion.

Although the Digamma (Ϝ) disappeared as of II, it is still employed for reasons of Scansion. Thus worms 108 of song I of Iliade :

ἐσθλὸν δ' οὔτέ τί πω εἶπες έπος οὔτ' ἐτέλεσσας
“and never nothing good could leave your words”

Initial, the digamma makes it possible to prevent the Hiatus; inside a word, it prevents the contraction. It can also lengthen a vowel by its fall. One finds for example κούρη in the place of κόρη.

The Homeric dialect is partially a dialect with Psilose (Amuïssement of the sound and thus disappearance of the aspiration): ἥλιος/ hếlios (sun) becomes ἠέλιος/ êélios .

Morphology

Variation

Certain adverbial terminations are used in the variation: - θεν for the genitive and - φι for the dative.

First variation

Certain masculines, employed in Homeric epithet , have a Nominatif in short alpha: thus, Homère uses ἱππότᾰ/ hippotă instead of traditional the ἱππότης/ hippótês (riding).

The male Génitif is in - εω (ex: Πηληιάδεω Ἀχιλῆος, “Achilles wire of Shovelful”, first towards Iliade ). Some antiquated forms in - ᾱο remains (ex: Ἀτρείδαο or Αἰακίδαο).

With the plural genitive, the form not contracts in - αων (ex: θεῶν → θεάων) is of origin dorienne.

Second variation

The singular genitive can be as well the antiquated one - οιο as traditional the ου. In the same way, plural dative in - οισι alternates with the traditional one - οις.

Third variation

The plural dative can be a form in - εσσι. The πόλις type makes its genitive in - ιος and its dative in - ι. Sometimes the βασιλεύς type sees appearing a η.

Conjugation

The verb being

One will note the presence of many irregular forms:

ἔσσι = εἶ
ἔσσεαι = ἔσει
ἔσσεται = ἔσται
ἔην/ἦεν = ἦν
ἔσαν = ἦσαν

See too

epithet Homeric
Greek Dialects.

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