[B-Greek] PEI, FEI, XEI, KSI, PSI (was pee or pie)
Carl W. Conrad
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Mon Jul 10 14:46:19 EDT 2006
On Jul 10, 2006, at 1:40 PM, Curtis Hinson wrote:
> I would say it's an abberation to even think about learning a language
> but using another language's accent. I really don't see the point.
>
> Greek, in particular, is an euphonious language: so much about it's
> grammar and mechanics are the result of the way the language sounds
> spoken aloud and not the other way around. If you don't understand
> how
> Greek sounds, you don't understand Greek. So, if some folks in the
> 1880s were using an English accent, or an Erasmian one for that
> matter,
> they certainly aren't worthy of emulating. Erasmian is with us
> because
> of some rather stupid turns of history, but nothing should be done to
> propagate or attempt to justify it's use IMHO. Let it die quietly so
> study of the language can move on and flourish.
I'm reluctant to get involved in this, but I must say that I believe
it will
be as difficult to move NT Greek pedagogy off the dime of Erasmian
pronunciation as it is to move it away from many of the other outworn
elements. The teaching and learning of ancient Greek is subject to as
powerful conservative forces as exist anywhere in humankind. I think
we are likely to see the United States adopt the metric system for all
purposes sooner than that Erasmian pronunciation is abandoned by
the great majority of teachers of NT Greek. I am far from defending
the Erasmian pronunciation; I would urge Randall Buth's system as
the way to go for those who honestly care about how Greek was
pronounced in the NT era -- but some of the more desirable changes
in pedagogy could only be brought about by a political -- or at least
a cultural -- revolution. I'm not holding my breath.
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad2 at mac.com
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/
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