Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics

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Dialectal Convergence
(2,468 words)

Abstract

Dialectal convergence is the gradual process of mutual accommodation and leveling as observed in the regional and social Greek dialects before the development of the new variety of Greek which was called ‘Koine’. Extralinguistic factors (geographic, political, economic, social and cultural) provided an impulse for this convergence in most cases. The mutual processes consist in the leveling of salient fe…

Cite this page
Sophie Minon, “Dialectal Convergence”, in: Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics, General Editor: Georgios K. Giannakis. Consulted online on 27 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2214-448X_eagll_COM_00000096>
First published online: 2013



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