In the polytonic orthography of Ancient Greek, the rough breathing (Ancient Greek: δασὺ πνεῦμα dasỳ pneûma or δασεῖα daseîa: modern Greek δασεία dasía; Latin spīritus asper), is a diacritical mark used to indicate the presence of an /h/ sound before a vowel, diphthong, or rho. It remained in the polytonic orthography even after the Hellenistic period, when the sound disappeared from the Greek language. In modern monotonic orthography, that is after 1980, it has been dropped.
The absence of an /h/ sound is marked by the smooth breathing.
Read more about Rough Breathing: History, Usage, Technical Notes
Famous quotes containing the words rough and/or breathing:
“What we have found in this country, and maybe were more aware of it now, is one problem that weve had, even in the best of times, and that is the people who are sleeping on the grates, the homeless, you might say, by choice.
I am my brothers keeper, and hes sleeping pretty rough these days.”
—Derek, Archbishop Worlock (b. 1920)
“Of all the words mentioned in language, there is not one that I hate more than the word right. Is it your right that your field prospers? That you dont drop dead this very instant? Are living and breathing your right? As far as I can see, nothing but grace and blessing fill the universe, and these worms talk about right?”
—Franz Grillparzer (17911872)