[B-Greek] Vowel rules for Erasmian pronunciation

Katb4now at aol.com Katb4now at aol.com
Thu Jan 8 19:43:10 EST 2004


Yes, I came across this too!

People mean VERY different things when referring to long vowels.

I was referring to the  iota in pit vs machine though. What would be the 
proper term to decribe this difference, if not long and short?

Kathleen Borsari
Homeschool mom

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In a message dated 1/8/2004 7:29:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
babc2 at comcast.net writes:
> There are a LOT of Greek grammars that say there are long and short 
> alphas and iotas. Others just give one sound for each of the 
vowels. > Some even give a long and short upsilon.

In languages other than English, vowel-length pertains not to the 
pronunciation of the vowel but to how long it's held.  There are 
differences in vowel length in English, of course, but they have no 
phonemic value and so we pay no attention to them, and most English 
speakers are unconscious of them.  But listen carefully to the 
difference between the vowel in pack or pat and that in pad or pan.



Barbara D. Colt, mailto:babc2 at comcast.net
St John the Evangelist, San Francisco
>From envy, hatred, and malice and all uncharitableness
Good Lord, deliver us.

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