An example of polytonic text with Ekphonetic neumes in red ink from a Byzantine manuscript, of 1020 AD, displaying the beginning of the Gospel of Luke (1:3–6)

Ekphonetic notation consists of symbols added to certain sacred texts, especially lectionary readings of Biblical texts, as a mnemonic device to assist in their cantillation. Ekphonetic notation can take a number of forms, and has been used in several Jewish and Christian plainchant traditions, but is most commonly associated with Byzantine chant.[citation needed]

Joseph Huzaya introduced ekphonetic notation into Syriac in the early 6th century.[citation needed]

Ekphonetic notation ceased to be used about the fourteenth century. In many cases, the original meaning of ekphonetic neumes is obscure, and must be reconstructed by comparison with later notation.[citation needed]

See also