How Do You Spell ROUGH BREATHING?

Pronunciation: [ɹˈʌf bɹˈiːðɪŋ] (IPA)

In phonetics, 'rough breathing' refers to a modifier used in Greek language to indicate the absence of aspiration, a sound change of air flow from the throat. It is marked with the diacritical symbol '῾' (heta) placed over a vowel. In IPA transcription, it is represented as /h/ sound, which aspirates nearby vowels in various languages but is silent in Greek. Therefore, 'rough breathing' is a rare example of a diacritical mark that indicates the lack of a sound.

ROUGH BREATHING Meaning and Definition

1. Rough breathing is a linguistic term primarily used in Ancient Greek grammar to indicate the presence of an initial /h/ sound at the beginning of a word. It is symbolized by the smooth breathing mark (᾿) placed above the vowel letter in a Greek word.

   In terms of pronunciation, the rough breathing mark signifies a hushing or a slight exhalation of breath before the vowel sound. It is meant to be pronounced as a light, soft aspiration, giving the start of the word a breathy quality.

   The purpose of the rough breathing mark is to assist in correctly pronouncing and understanding Ancient Greek words, as it can often change the meaning of a word or help distinguish between homonyms. Many Greek words are spelled the same, but their meanings can differ depending on whether they are preceded by a rough breathing mark or not.

   For example, in the Greek word "ἄνθρωπος" (anthropos), meaning "man" or "human being," the rough breathing mark (᾿) above the alpha letter (ά) alerts the reader to pronounce it with the initial /h/ sound, differentiating it from the word "ἀνθρωπος" (anthropos) without the rough breathing mark.

   Overall, rough breathing is an essential component of understanding and correctly pronouncing Ancient Greek words, enhancing comprehension and communication within this classical language.

Etymology of ROUGH BREATHING

The term "rough breathing" refers to a diacritical mark used in written Greek to indicate the presence of an /h/ sound (aspirated voiceless glottal fricative) at the beginning of a word. It is called "rough" because it indicates the presence of a rough sound (h-sound).

Etymologically, the word "rough" can be traced back to the Old English word "ruh", which meant "hairy" or "shaggy". This word evolved from the Proto-Germanic root "hruskaz" meaning "coarse", "rough", or "bristly". It is related to other Germanic words such as German "rauh" and Dutch "ruig".

The term "breathing" in this context refers to the act of breathing, as the rough breathing mark indicates an audible breath or exhalation before producing the following sound.