[B-Greek] Pronunciation rules

Curtis Hinson curtis at curtishinson.com
Sat Oct 8 09:39:27 EDT 2005


Hi Larry and all,

Sorry I didn't get back to your first inquiry before the second, just 
got off work.  A couple of brief responses:

1.  I speak modern Greek although I don't claim to be an expert or 
anything of the sort.  I learned it from an old girlfriend, it was the 
language we used.  The others I mentioned also know the language.

2.  They have a saying, "Kypriots speak as though they sing".

3.  It's possible, yes, although my friends who heard the faster 
sections had the same impression I did.

4.  Zodhiates does do discernible "voice acting" as I put it, but it's 
not done well so it detracts from the reading.

5.  I rarely "burn" even books or resources I don't like, you never know 
what will be useful to you or someone else.  I would agree that 
Zodhiates on a bad day is better than any so-called Erasmian resource on 
the best of days.

6.  If it works for you, hang on to it, and it's not $70 spent badly.  I 
personally think there is a need for a better or different audio set 
than Zodhiates, but by no means would I say Zodhiates wasted his time or 
isn't helpful at all.  I also hope the upcoming resources are cheaper or 
entirely free.

Larry, I'll send you some information privately on where you can get 
another resource or two that might help you with this.

Bless the Name
Curtis Hinson

Larry Heflin wrote the following on 10/8/2005 2:58 AM:

>Okay Curtis and any others who may want to jump in, I've been thinking it over some since my last post and I've got to issue a bit of a friendly challenge on this one regarding Zodhiates and his Modern pronunciation of the Greek NT. A couple of observations and questions:
> 
>1. Has anybody who actually speaks modern Greek made this assessment? This is not a challenge to anybody's credentials. I think it is reasonable to ask where this doubt concerning  Zodhiates' pronunciation is coming from. Are you are giving expert evaluation or are passing on a casual impression or is it something that you have heard elsewhere. Since I don't have the expertise on this matter I have to rely on others. It's very important to me that I don't learn pronunciation like a Greek Pee Wee Herman. 
>Without something else to go on I have to lean toward the guy who actually is a Greek, who was born on the island of Cyprus, and has a lifetime of association with all things Greek. I'm from Texas and I can tell you that with a name like Spiros Zodhiates, that boy ain't from around here.
> 
>2. Compared to Marilyn Phemister's Erasmian reading (which is very articulate and seems flawless), Zodhiates Greek sounds almost like music to me.
> 
>3. It's been mentioned on this list that Zodhiates starts out reading slow and picks up the pace. I can confirm this. For instance 1 John chapter 1 is read sslloowwwly. Chapter 2 is quick. I can't keep up with his faster pace yet. Is it possible that you have heard only those portions where he deliberately slows his reading down?
> 
>4. I'm not sure what you mean by "voice acting." If he is doing a Greek Hamlet I am not able to discern it at this point. 
> 
>5. It's impossible that there could be anything wrong with Zodhiates' Greek because that would mean that I have wasted $70.00. Preposterous!
> 
>6. Until I have some solid information that Zodhiates is propagating "Modern/Koine Greek gone wild," I have to go with my initial impression, which is that the Greek he is speaking is something beautiful and is useful for learning Biblical pronunciation.
> 
>Speaking of pronunciation, I will pass on something that I think may be useful to some regarding the use of audio software with these Greek recordings. But, I'll do it in a new thread.
> 
> 
>Larry Heflin
>ljheflin at sbcglobal.net
> 
>All men are mortal. Socrates was a man. All men are Socrates.
> 
>
>
>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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>>
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>>
>
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