What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to evaluate a proposed sound change in Greek involving the transformation of initial sequences before labial consonants.

May 16, 2026

Monophthongization of -Vu- before labial in Greek

Key Points

The aim is to evaluate a proposed sound change in Greek involving the transformation of initial sequences before labial consonants.
Critical investigation of claims by Hyllested and Cohen (2007) regarding sound changes.
Examination of specific Greek lexemes and forms, particularly κῡφός and ὑφαίνω.
Collection and analysis of additional examples of the proposed sound rule.
Evidence supports the proposed sound change *Vu̯ > ū /C_C[+lab].
Findings confirm that no Greek lexeme follows the pattern εὐ-, αὐ-, οὐ- before labials.
The analysis shows that the proposed phonological rule does not have counterevidence.

Abstract

As observed by Hyllested and Cohen (2007), no inherited Greek lexeme contains an initial sequence εὐ-, αὐ-, οὐ- followed by a labial consonant; this leads the authors to propose a sound change which operated in the early stages of Greek: *Vu̯ > ŭ /#C+lab, which explains forms such as ὑφαίνω ‘weave’ for expected †αὐφαίνω ū /CC+lab. After this, I gather additional possible examples of this rule and discuss each instance in detail. The evidence is found to strongly support the proposed rule.

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Monophthongization of -Vu- before labial in Greek

Key Points

Abstract

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