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Rhotacism
(234 words)

[German version]

(ῥωτακισμός/rhotakismós), technical term used by Greek grammarians and referring to the (frequent) use of the sound [r] represented by the letter referred to as ῥῶ/rhō; coined in analogy with ἰωτακισμός/iōtakismós, Itacism). Rhotacism involves the change of a voiced dental or alveolar consonant in an intervocalic position into the liquid [r], or more precisely its replacement by [r]. Rhotacism sometimes leads to the alternation of /s/ and /r/ observed in inflexion and/or word formation.

The typical and most frequent case is ([s] >) [z] > [r]: Latin *eset > ezet (ESED…

Cite this page
Haebler, Claus (Münster), “Rhotacism”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e1023030>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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