In The d, k, m, n and p Rows you learned the d, k, m, n and p rows. The rest of the grid holds seven more consonants: j, q, r, s, t, w and z. Three of them need explaining, and several rows have gaps.
Key idea
j and w are glides (y and w sounds); q writes the old Greek labiovelars kʷ, gʷ and kʷʰ, which later became p, b, t or d; r writes both r and l; z writes a sound like dz. The j, q, w and z rows have empty cells.
| Row | a | e | i | o | u |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| j- | 𐀊 ja | 𐀋 je | · | 𐀍 jo | 𐀎 ju? |
| q- | 𐀣 qa | 𐀤 qe | 𐀥 qi | 𐀦 qo | · |
| r- | 𐀨 ra | 𐀩 re | 𐀪 ri | 𐀫 ro | 𐀬 ru |
| s- | 𐀭 sa | 𐀮 se | 𐀯 si | 𐀰 so | 𐀱 su |
| t- | 𐀲 ta | 𐀳 te | 𐀴 ti | 𐀵 to | 𐀶 tu |
| w- | 𐀷 wa | 𐀸 we | 𐀹 wi | 𐀺 wo | · |
| z- | 𐀼 za | 𐀽 ze | · | 𐀿 zo | · |
Three rows to understand
- r writes r and l. Greek had both sounds, but Linear B had one set of signs for them. So pa-ra-jo is palaios, old, and me-ri is meli, honey.
- q writes a k or g sound made with rounded lips, kʷ or gʷ (and kʷʰ). Early Greek had these sounds; later Greek turned them into p, b, t or d. So qa-si-re-u is later basileus, and qe-to-ro-we begins with the kʷ of "four", like Latin quattuor.
- z writes a sound like dz or zd, later written ζ. It appears in to-pe-za (table) and me-zo (larger).
The j row is a y sound, as in "yes", and the w row a w sound. Both are often glides between vowels (Diphthongs and Glides). Greek later lost w altogether, which is why wo-no (woinos, wine) became oinos.
Why it works
Why are there gaps? A script keeps the signs its writers need. Syllables like ji, wu and qu were rare or impossible in Mycenaean Greek, so no sign for them was needed or kept. That the gaps fall in sensible places is one more sign that the values are right.
Common mistake
Reading q as English "kw" spelled with a q, and thinking it shows a strange, non-Greek sound. In Linear B, q stands for the old Greek labiovelars kʷ, gʷ and kʷʰ, which later became p, b, t or d depending on the vowel and the dialect. Check: qa-si-re-u → basileus (q became b); te-qa → Thebai, Thebes (q became b); qe-to-ro-we has the q of "four" (later τετρα-, with t).
Worked example: Read with r for l
Read 𐀕𐀪 and give the Greek word.
- me, then ri.
- r writes l too: me-ri can be meli.
Answer: me-ri = meli, honey
Worked example: Which row?
In which row is the first sign of 𐀵𐀟𐀼, and in which row the last?
- to is in the t row.
- za is in the z row.
Answer: The t row and the z row.