THE Gothic spelling and pronunciation of Greek proper names, and of loan-words generally, were intentionally excluded from the chapter on Gothic pronunciation, in order that what was necessary to be said on these points might be reserved for the Glossary of proper names. The following few remarks, which are mostly confined to the vowels in proper names, will be useful to the learner: ―
Greek α is regularly represented by a, as Ἀβιάθαρ, Abiaþar; Ἄννα, Anna; Βηθσφαγή, Bēþsfagei; Δημᾶς, Dēmas; Θωμᾶς, Þōmas; Ἰσαάκ, Isak.
Greek ε is regularly represented by aí, as Ἔφεσος, Aífaísō; λεγεών, Laígaíōn; Πέτρος, Paítrus; Βεελζεβούλ, Baíaílzaíbul; but Βηθλεέμ, Bēþlahaím. Cp. § 10.
Greek ι is represented by i or ei. No fixed rule can be laid down as to when it is represented by the one and when by the other. Examples of the former are: ― Δεκάπολις, Daíkapaúlis; Φιλητός, Filētus; Ἰδουμαία, Idumaia; Συρία, Syria; Ἰακώβ, Iakōb; Ἰησοῦς, Iēsus; Ἰωσήφ, Iōsēf; and of the latter: ― Ἰκόνιον, Eikaúniō; Γαλιλαία, Galeilaia; Τιμόθεος, Teimaúþaíus; Σιδών, Seidōn; Σίμων, Seimōn.
ι is represented by aí in Kyreinaíus, Κυρήνιος.
ι is sometimes represented by j before a following vowel, as Ἰάειρος, Jaeirus; Ἰαννῆς, Jannēs; Μαρία, Marja, beside Maria.
Greek ο is regularly represented by aú in other than final syllables, as Ὀνησιφόρος, Aúneiseifaúrus; Βοανεργές, Baúanaírgaís; Ἰόρδανος, Iaúrdanus; Σολομών, Saúlaúmōn. Cp. the beginning of § 11.
In final syllables it is regularly represented by u, as