English "night" vs. Greek "νύχτα" (nykhta):
* Sound Change: The "n" sound in English "night" is a remnant of a Proto-Indo-European sound that shifted to a "k" or "ch" sound in Greek. This sound change affected many words in the two languages.
* Vowel Shift: The "i" in English "night" corresponds to the "u" in Greek "nykhta." This is due to a complex set of vowel shifts that occurred in the history of both languages.
English "seven" vs. Greek "επτά" (epta):
* Sound Change: The initial "s" in English "seven" is lost in Greek "epta." This is a common phenomenon in the development of Greek, where initial "s" sounds often disappear.
* Vowel Shift: The "e" in Greek "epta" corresponds to the "e" in English "seven," but both are likely derived from a different vowel sound in Proto-Indo-European.
Other Indo-European Languages:
* Variations: The spellings and pronunciations of these words vary considerably across other Indo-European languages, reflecting the diverse sound changes that occurred over time.
* Examples:
* German: "Nacht" (night), "sieben" (seven)
* Spanish: "noche" (night), "siete" (seven)
* Latin: "nox" (night), "septem" (seven)
Key Takeaway:
The differences in spelling and pronunciation between English, Greek, and other Indo-European languages for words like "night" and "seven" are due to complex sound changes and vowel shifts that occurred over thousands of years. These changes highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of language.