A question about koine pronunciation

Marilyn Phemister m_phemister at eudoramail.com
Thu Nov 9 17:54:17 EST 2000


At 03:01 PM 11/09/2000 -0600,
>I do have a somewhat irreverent and very pragmatic approach to this
>problem; the primary reason for vocalizing Ancient Greek is to add the
>aural reinforcement to the visual and intellectual recognition of words: to
>HEAR a word one is becoming intimately familiar with contributes immensely
>to making it a concrete experience of physical reality, not just the
>printed symbol on the page.

I agree.  However my reason for wanting it recorded is to preserve my 
access to the Greek New Testament in the event that I lose my central 
vision, which is a 40% possibility within the next 4-5 years.

>  But to endeavor to attain THE SINGLE RIGHT
>pronunciation of ancient Greek is of some questionable degree of value.

I agree.  The only reason I have pursued that is in the hope that I might 
be able to share my efforts with others in a similar situation.  If I don't 
share it, then naturally it doesn't really matter whether it's right or 
not, as long as I can understand it.

>but the phenomenon of "itacism" has reduced U, I, EI, H, OI to a
>scarcely-distinguishable vowel sound; I think that the reinforcement of
>sound in learning Greek is better enhanced by using even an arbitrary
>pronunciation that distinguishes the vowel sounds.

I think that's what I need.  I can read the GNT fluently when I can see 
it.  But when I listen to it with the modern Greek pronunciation, I am 
totally lost.

Thanks Carl, your message has been enlightening to me.

Marilyn Phemister




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