Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics

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Assibilation
(895 words)

Abstract

Assibilation refers to the change in which dental voiceless stops /t, tʰ/ become /s/ before /i/.

Assibilation is a change in which a sound becomes a fricative or sibilant. In Greek linguistics, it refers more specifically to the development of  voiceless dental stops /t, tʰ/ before /i/. The phenomenon is triggered by co-articulatory, aerodynamic and acoustic factors. The bursting release of a stop following total closure is significantly protracted due to the movement of the tongue towards th…

Cite this page
Alcorac Alonso Déniz, “Assibilation”, in: Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics, General Editor: Georgios K. Giannakis. Consulted online on 29 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2214-448X_eagll_SIM_000040>
First published online: 2013



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