Difference between revisions of "Omicron - omega"
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The [[Greek alphabet]] contains two letters which are both [[Transliterate|transliterate]]d into the Roman alphabet by 'o' ([[Upper and lower case|upper case]] 'O'). They differ in [[Long vowel - short vowel|vowel length]]. | The [[Greek alphabet]] contains two letters which are both [[Transliterate|transliterate]]d into the Roman alphabet by 'o' ([[Upper and lower case|upper case]] 'O'). They differ in [[Long vowel - short vowel|vowel length]]. | ||
| − | *'''Omicron''' (Greek ~ ''o mikron'', 'small o') gave the form of the letter 'o' to the | + | *'''Omicron''' (Greek ~ ''o mikron'', 'small o') gave the form of the letter 'o' to the Roman alphabet. The name in English is pronounced 'oh-MIKE-ron', {{IPA|əʊ'maɪkrɒn}} or 'O[''as in 'got<nowiki>'</nowiki>]''-mick-ron', {{IPA|'ɒmɪkrɒn}}. The Greek letter forms are Ο and ο. They were used to write the [[short '-o-']] sound. |
| − | *'''Omega''' (Greek ''o mega'', 'big o'), pronounced in English [[RP]] 'OH-mig-ah', {{IPA|'əʊmɪgə}} ''or'' oh-MEE-gah | + | *'''Omega''' (Greek ''o mega'', 'big o'), pronounced in English [[RP]] 'OH-mig-ah', {{IPA|'əʊmɪgə}} ''or'' oh-MEE-gah {{IPA|əʊ'miːgə}}; American English prefers 'oh-MAY-ga', {{IPA|əʊ'meɪga}}, which may be closer to the classical [[Greek]] pronunciation; although a realization recorded in the 1902 edition of ''[[OED]]'' may be closer still: 'oh-MEGG-a, {{IPA|əʊ'mɛga}}. The Greek letter forms are Ω and ω. They were used to represent the [[long -o-]] sound. '''Omega''' was the last letter in the Greek alphabet , equivalent to 'z' in the Roman version. (Its adoption came after the rest of the alphabet had been more or less finalized). |
::One common occurrence of '''omega''' in western Europe is as half of one of the titles of God in the Christian tradition: "alpha and omega", to mean 'the first and last', 'the A to Z', 'the [original] Creator and [final] Judge', or 'He who contains in Himself all things'. This [[metaphor]] is used in other, more secular, writing in the western European tradition. | ::One common occurrence of '''omega''' in western Europe is as half of one of the titles of God in the Christian tradition: "alpha and omega", to mean 'the first and last', 'the A to Z', 'the [original] Creator and [final] Judge', or 'He who contains in Himself all things'. This [[metaphor]] is used in other, more secular, writing in the western European tradition. | ||
Revision as of 21:03, 23 November 2014
The Greek alphabet contains two letters which are both transliterated into the Roman alphabet by 'o' (upper case 'O'). They differ in vowel length.
- Omicron (Greek ~ o mikron, 'small o') gave the form of the letter 'o' to the Roman alphabet. The name in English is pronounced 'oh-MIKE-ron', IPA: /əʊ'maɪkrɒn/ or 'O[as in 'got']-mick-ron', IPA: /'ɒmɪkrɒn/. The Greek letter forms are Ο and ο. They were used to write the short '-o-' sound.
- Omega (Greek o mega, 'big o'), pronounced in English RP 'OH-mig-ah', IPA: /'əʊmɪgə/ or oh-MEE-gah IPA: /əʊ'miːgə/; American English prefers 'oh-MAY-ga', IPA: /əʊ'meɪga/, which may be closer to the classical Greek pronunciation; although a realization recorded in the 1902 edition of OED may be closer still: 'oh-MEGG-a, IPA: /əʊ'mɛga/. The Greek letter forms are Ω and ω. They were used to represent the long -o- sound. Omega was the last letter in the Greek alphabet , equivalent to 'z' in the Roman version. (Its adoption came after the rest of the alphabet had been more or less finalized).
- One common occurrence of omega in western Europe is as half of one of the titles of God in the Christian tradition: "alpha and omega", to mean 'the first and last', 'the A to Z', 'the [original] Creator and [final] Judge', or 'He who contains in Himself all things'. This metaphor is used in other, more secular, writing in the western European tradition.
