How did the vowel systems of Luwian and Hittite differ?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Map of ancient Anatolia and northern Syria showing the geographic distribution of Anatolian languages, including Hittite, Hattian, Lydian, Phrygian, Palaic, Carian, Lycian, Pisidian, Hurrian, and Urartean. Major historical sites such as Hattusa, Kanesh, and Ugarit are marked, with the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea bordering the region. — Anatolian languages Distribution of the Anatolian languages.

The vowel systems of Hittite and Luwian differ primarily in the number of vowels they contain, as both languages reduced the original five-vowel system of Indo-European.1

Hittite: This language features a four-vowel system consisting of a, e, i, and u.1
Luwian: This language further reduces the system to three vowels: a, i, and u. This occurs because Luwian typically merges the inherited e vowel with a, though it may merge with i under specific conditions.1

Both languages maintain a contrast between short and long vowels. While Hittite preserves the vowel gradation known as "ablaut," this feature is less prominent in Luwian.1