[B-Greek] pronouncing PEILATOS = PILATOS
R Yochanan Bitan Buth
ybitan at mscc.huji.ac.il
Fri Aug 13 13:24:14 EDT 2004
XAIREIN
I just saw a discussion on PILATOS and was surprised that no one mentioned a
related historical problem. The 'great uncials' [B, C, D, A, W (p75, too)]
spelled Pilate's name as PEILATOS, which, if my memory serves me was the
spelling in Westcott-Hort, too.
Of course, that would not justify pronouncing I as IPA [ai],
nor would it justify IPA [e] (close to 'ey' without the 'y').
Why not?
In the Roman period (63 BCE -325CE) EI and I were pronounced identically, as
IPA [i] (as in English 'beat', 'fee').
Thus, PEILATOS is pronounced identically with PILATOS. IPA [pilatos].
The name could be correctly spelled in more than one way.
As for O MIKRON, it was [o] and not lower than W MEGA.
If someone wants a pre-Koine 'aw' sound, (please not 'ah', which is ALFA),
then they should reserve it for W MEGA, probably 'aw' back in the 5th
century BCE.
You may consult Allen on the 5th century BCE, or see the comparison chart on
last page of:
www.biblicalulpan.org/Sound_files/PRONSYS1_US.pdf
ERRWSQE
Randall Buth, PhD
Director, Biblical Language Center
www.biblicalulpan.org
and Director, Biblical Studies in Israel
Hebrew University, Rothberg International School
ybitan at mscc.huji.ac.il
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