Greek pronunciation

Edgar M. Krentz (emkrentz@mcs.com)
Fri, 31 Oct 1997 19:44:18 -0600

I do not want to enter into the debate about how to pronounce Greek in
teaching people to read the NT. I did that some months ago and it can be
checked out in the archives.

But for those who are interested I want to suggest some aids in determining
the pronunciation of Attic Greek, a pronunciation that many teachers of
Greek seed to use, since it does provide a separate sound for every
consonant, vowel and diphthong. The two standard works in English are
[neither discusses the pronunciation of Greek in the early Roman empire]:

E. H. Sturtevant, THE PRONUNCIATION OF GREEK AND LATIN. 2nd ed.
Philadelphia, 1940. Reprint: Chicago: Ares, 1975. ISBN: 0-89005-087-2.

W. Sidney Allen, VOX GRAECA: A GUIDE TO THE PRONUNCIATION OF CLASSICAL
GREEK. 3rd ed. Cambridge: at the University Press, 1987 (reprinted in
1994). ISBN 0-521-33555-8. This is the most recent discussion in English,
quite technical in terms of linguistics.

L. R. Palmer. THE GREEK LANGUAGE. Atlantic Highlands: Humanities Press,
1980. pp. 176-178 has a useful brief discussion of the changes in phonology
in post-classical Greek.

I also call attention to two audio aids:

Stephen G. Daitz, THE PRONUNCIATION AND READING OF ANCIENT GREEK: A
PRACTICAL GUIDE. 2nd ed. $34.95. Two casette tapes plan an accompanying
booklet.

Stephen G. Daitz, SELECTIONS FROM THE GREEK ORATORS. $39.95. Two casettes
and booklet with complete Greek text and facing English translation of the
texts he reads.

Both available from AUDIO-FORUM, 96 Broad Street, Guilford, CT, 06437.
[1-800-243-1234]

I have not heard these tapes; perhaps Carl Conrad has and can give us his
reaction. But a review in the Classical Journal praised them highly.

He also has recorded ancient Greek poetry, one Euripides tragedy, an
Aristophanes comedy, the complete Odyssey Plato'VVOX GRAECA Apology and
Crito, and Sophocles Electra.

Provided for information only.

*********************************************
* Edgar Krentz *
* Professor of New Testament *
* Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago *
* 1100 East 55th Street *
* Chicago, IL 60615 *
* e-mail: office, ekrentz@lstc.edu *
* home: emkrentz@mcs.com *
*Tel: 0ff.: 773-256-0752; home 773-947-8105 *
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