In Greek language, words get an accent
only on one of the last 3 syllables.
The ultimate,
the penultimate and
the ante-penultimate.
In the table we have in front of us
we see all the possible positions of long & short
within the 3 last syllables
in combination with the 3 accents of Greek:
the acute,
the circumflex
and the grave.
The symbols used on this table
but also in general, are :
the Long
the Short
the Acute
the Grave
the Circumflex.
the Long & Short are symbols of Quantity.
that is, of duration
showing if a sound takes more or less time.
In theory, a Long is twice the duration of a Short.
While an Acute heightens the tone of the voice,
(not louder, but higher)
a Grave normalizes the tone
usually making it Lower, but sometimes
getting Higher or staying on the same level,
And, Circumflex denotes a
"breaking around" of the voice.
viz. moving up & down within a syllable.
But sometimes also the other way around.
Greek language makes distinction of
long phonemes, such as
the long vowels
and all diphthongs.
Short phonemes,
which are symbolized by the "short" vowels (Εε / Οο)
And has the phonemes :
A - I - Y  (α - ι - υ)
which appear both Long and Short.
Let's now get to more practical stuff.
Beginning with pronunciation exercises.
The phoneme   A
written by letter alpha
can be Long (Ᾱᾱ) or Short (Ᾰᾰ)
and sounds as follows :
the Long one :
ᾱ
the Short :
ᾰ
The same way with Iota (I,ι)
the Long one :
Ῑ, ῑ
the Short :
Ῐ - ῐ
and the same with Y
the Long : Ῡ/ῡ
the Short :  Ῠ/ῠ
A couple of words about prosody.
we hear this word often, so it's good to know
what it is about.
Always in this practical way.
In general, with the term prosody, I mean
those elements of pronunciation, that
let speech carry a broader meaning, than
what the lexical meaning alone does.
These elements of pronunciation are :
rhythm,
speed,
speech accent,
but also the personal traits of the speaker
which, though, aren't written...
Likely, loudness.  It isn't written how loud
something has to sound;
whatever this something is; be it a word, sentence, syllable, accent etc.
Thus, the media that allow us to
express something in a certain style.
More like giving speech its emotional dimension.
Enriching the message with sentiments.
An ancient grammarian writes :
"Prosody is named relating with
"consonate", "sing in tune"
and "fit" with the underlying word."
But which is the "underlying word"?
He clearly doesn't mean the *written word
but, the act of speaking.
The "underlying word" is the whole meaning,
what one essentially wants to say.
We all know that this usually
is not only the lexical meaning
but the emotional element
carried by speech.
What we say
may show more of our temperament
to the listener
who often notices this, than the word itself.
"Prosody is named relating with
"consonate", "sing in tune"
and "fit" with the underlying word."
The fact that one speaks with a lilt
and what fits
that is, the way you speak must fit with
the deeper meaning of what you want to say.
This is his definition of prosody
and continues,
"otherwise, from εἴδω"
which means "I know"
and with the epitatic (intensifying) particle "a"
becomes:   ἀείδω
otherwise :   "I know (something) very well"
Thence, ἀοιδή
and by merging of  α+ο  producing  ω
(the "ι" remaining ascribed)
this is the ι - subscript of today,
ᾠδή  (Ode)
and after adding the preposition «πρός»
becomes «προσῳδία»  (prosody).
That is,
prosody can otherwise be defined by
«εἴδω», meaning "I know" and
by adding the intensifying "a", it becomes
becomes «ἀείδω», "I sing" as we say today.
That is, «ἀείδω» means "I know very well"
Thus, essentially «ἀείδω» doesn't mean just "sing"
but, "I know very well".
Which suggests that someone who "knows very well"
will usually speak like singing.
(Always according to this grammarian).
Whence comes the word «ἀοιδή», song
and by merging of "Α+Ο" → Ω
sounding like ao, ao... → "aw"
and by keeping the «I» ascribed,
(the "I" remained written because they, of course, did pronounce it
saying «ἀ-ο-ι-δή»
«ἀοιδή»
the A+O merged to omega,
the "I" remained as subscript
«ᾠδή»
and adding the preposition «πρός»
«προσῳδία».
Thus, the «ἀοιδή», this way of speaking
the expressive speech,
that is addressed to someone.
This is the 2nd definition of the grammarian
concerning "prosody".
Suggesting that speech of a person
with good knowlegde of her subject
is done in a certain way, that
is flexible and expressive.
And now that we got the "cutlery"
let's get to the "meal".
We'll use the symbols for syllable quantity
Long      &      Short
to graph the 3 ending syllables.
Here we see    3 Longs
For the exercise we'll use
the syllable   «τι»   for the ante-penultimate,
the syllable   «τα»   for the penultimate,
and the syllable   «το»   for the ultimate.
Those syllables, shall be variably Long & Short, as written.
In this case, we pronounce as we see,
3 Long syllables, without accents yet.
«τι, τα, τω»
You may repeat this scheme often,
especially if nobody can hear ;-)
but, try keeping them equally long.
Now getting further, we add an Acute.
of course there can be no Acute on the ante-penultimate when
the ultimate is Long,
thus, the 1st case is with
an Acute penultimate.
We again pronounce 3 Long syllables and
we accent the penultimate.
As said, the Acute heightens the syllable it's on.
Now the height is going to be arbitrary. It also doesn't matter for the exercise.
So, we say :
« τῑ  τά τω »
As an example, I've added one word
which shows this rhythm, of 3 Longs.
For the exercise, it doesn't matter if the syllable
is "naturally" Long, or "by position",
"Long by position" is a syllable consisting of a Short vowel,
followed by "double" consonants, or consonant groups.
Of course, because such a syllable
needs more time to be pronounced
it becomes (and counts as) Long.
This certain word, «συντάσσει»
in reconstructed pronounciation, would be :
«συν-τάσ-σει»
Well done, kids!
because you did it hundredfold and learned all,
Let's get further.
Now, we accent the ultimate.
Again, using the known syllables
« τῑ  τᾱ  τώ »
with acute ultimate :
« τῑ  τᾱ  τώ »
And the exemplary word :
« γεν-νη-θείς »
Case-3    of 3 Long syllables   is
with a Circumflexed ultimate.
« τῑ  τᾱ  τῶ »
and the exemplary word :
« εὐ-χω-λῆς »
4th & last case of 3 Long  syllables is
with a Grave on the ultimate (sic)
the Grave is written only on the ultimate !
Here we must remember that,
syllables without written accents
are considered "baritone", as
like carrying the Grave accent.
« τῑ τᾱ τὼ »
The exemplary word is :
« μει-ω-θεὶς »
Well done !
As you managed to arrive up to here,
you deserve admiration :-)
You either love learning, or are crazy...
Anyhow, you're very patient !
Let's get some rest and return for the second part.
