[B-Greek] Pronunciation rules

Larry Heflin ljheflin at sbcglobal.net
Fri Oct 7 19:56:07 EDT 2005


Well this is discouraging to me. I have a simple goal of being able to read and pronounce the Greek Scriptures as living language rather than the "dead" language and cryptogram that I learned in college and soon forgot many years ago. To accomplish this, I've tried to get my hands on a reading of the entire NT rather than a few isolated passages, so that along with studying the necessary grammar etc, I could immerse myself in the sound and duplicate it as one normally does in learning any language that is not "dead."
 
A while back, I was very excited to finally locate what I thought was the only actual reading of the entire NT available (by Marilyn Phemister). Only recently have I become aware of how close Koine is to modern Greek and the whole issue discussed in this thread; Erasmian vs. Modern. vs. Phonemic, etc. Well, after settling on Modern as a listening and speaking form (due to the wealth of material available in spoken form and due also to some of the arguments advanced in this thread) I ran across Zodhiates' Koine reading. Now, after beginning to work with that, I'm finding out that he is using some sort of home-made "pig Latin/Greek" with a rumored real Greek version to come later! Is this true? Somebody please slap me!
 
Dr. Buth's Phonemic approach is convincing, but there appears to be a dearth of supplemental material using that approach and he doesn't have the NT recorded in Phonemic Greek (my immediate desire). Also, I think it would be easier for me to make any necessary adjustment from Modern to Phonemic than the other way around.

 
If I can get a hold of a Modern Greek recording of the NT (an actual language, not dead, not an academic fabrication, not a dramatic simulation) I believe I can handle the rest. Do I seek in vain?
 
I'm all ears: Should I keep/burn Zodhiates? Go to Israel and study under Dr. Buth? Call Greek a dead language and learn to read and speak the Spanish NT instead? 
 
Appreciatively, 
 
Larry
 
 


Curtis Hinson <curtis at curtishinson.com> wrote:
In a word, it would be better. :-D

I have not listened to every bit of Zodhiates' recording but what I have 
heard struck me as almost as strange as an Erasmian recording. He uses 
a modern pronunciation, but he doesn't seem to be speaking with the 
natural...rythm...of...the...l-a-n-g-u-a-g-e. A couple of people I know 
came to the same conclusion on their own before hearing my opinion. I 
do not understand why he reads in this fasion, and one of my friends 
owns the entire recording and says what I heard is no exception. Also 
the voice acting isn't done very well. I think there is room for a 
better recording and maybe we'll get one!

I heard a rumour that Zodhiates has a second set of recordings designed 
for native speakers, as though the set you usually hear about is 
designed for ZENOI, but I hadn't been able to confirm that or get my 
hands on this other set.

Bless the Name
Curtis Hinson

Larry Heflin wrote the following on 10/7/2005 12:40 PM:

>How would this differ from what is already available with Spiros Zodhiates recording? 
>(a recent purchase of mine with which I am pleased)
> 
>Larry
> 
> 
>
>Curtis Hinson wrote:
>
>
>P.S. The word on the street is that Greeks for Christ is working on a 
>new audio reading of the GNT by native Greek speakers!
>
>
> 
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