contraction

Contraction is when two letters merge into a new combination; (BBG 17.5)  For consonants, consult the square of stops.  See a comprehensive chart of vowel contractions in MBG 2.1.

The rules for contracting an ε are:

ε + α = η
ε + ε = ει
ε + ει = ει
ε + ο = ου
ε + ου = ου
ε + ω = ω

The rules for contracting an α are:

α + ε = ᾱ
α + ει = ᾳ
α + ο = ω
α + ου = ω
α + ω = ω

The rules for contracting an ο are:

ο + ει = οι
ο + ω = ω
ο + ε = ου
ο + ο = ου
ο + ου = ου

cf. circumflex

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