Page:Compendious Syriac Grammar.djvu/58

Rh the Greek π, § 15). is made the equivalent of the Greek β,  that of δ,  of χ  of φ;  generally that of γ. Thus for instance ,  ,  ,  , &c. ξ has to be , e. g.  ; yet  appears frequently, e. g. East-Syrian   (West-Syrian ) ). Generally speaking we find here too,—especially in words early introduced,—transformations, of a genuine Syrian type, e. g.,  ,  , &c.

Other foreign words too, in individual cases, vary from the rules, as regards R. and Q., e. g. "word" (Persian), where one would expect a hard.

§ 26. A. The of the Reflexive changes place, according to a common Semitic fashion, with the sibilant immediately following it (as first radical), and is altered into  with, and into  with , thus  (for ) "was thought", from  "thought";  "was taken prisoner", from ;  "was crucified", from ;  "was justified" from.

B. This is assimilated to a following  and, becoming hard in the process:  (pronounce eṭṭaššē) "was concealed";  (written also , ) ettabbar "was broken in pieces"; so too, before a  furnished with a full vowel, e. g.  neddakhrākh "remembers thee". A without a full vowel, on the other hand, here falls away in pronunciation, after the  that has likewise become hard:  ette̊khar "remembered". A like assimilation takes place, where an initial or  without a full vowel is pressed by a foregoing prefix upon a following,  or. The or  is then written hard;  "and who is like",  "to persons or things, however small";  "and thou dost skip";  and who abides";  "and repentest,  "and hidest": and the pronunciation must have been waddāmē, wattūṣ, etc.