Q

The Semitic sound value of Qôp (perhaps originally qaw cord) was /q/ (voiceless uvular plosive). In Greek this sign as Qoppa ? probably came to represent several labialized velar plosives, among them /kʷ/ and /kʷʰ/. These sounds changed to /p/ and /pʰ/ respectively. Therefore, Qoppa was transformed into two letters: Qoppa, which stood for a number only, and Phi ? which stood for the aspirated sound /pʰ/ that came to be pronounced /f/ in Modern Greek. The Etruscans used Q only in conjunction with V, symbolizing thus a /kʷ/. Some scholars claim that Q and Phi are unrelated.

Related Topics:
Semitic - Qôp - Voiceless uvular plosive - Greek - Qoppa - Labialized velar - Plosive - Phi - Etruscans

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