[B-Greek] Pronunciation of Kappa, Pi and Tau

Eric Weiss papaweiss1 at yahoo.com
Wed Sep 27 12:44:52 EDT 2006


Current pronunciations for these Greek letters are given as follows:
   
  C (chi) = kh as the "ch" in Bach
  K (kappa) = k as in kit
   
  F (phi) = ph as in philadelphia
  P (pi) = p as in pot
   
  Q (theta) = th (unvoiced) as in thin
  T (tau) = t as in top
   
  I understand that before Koine times, the letters were pronounced as follows:
   
  C = k as in kit
  K = soft k as in skit
   
  F = P as in pot
  P = soft p as in spot
   
  Q = T as in top
  T = soft t as in stop
   
  Now (i.e., since Koine times) that C, F, and Q have taken on their aspirated (?) 
  sounds - i.e., kh, ph, and th (unvoiced), respectively - should grammar books and 
  Koine Greek teachers say that K, P, and T be sounded as kit, pot and top (the current 
  practice) - or as skit, spot and stop? I.e., did K, P, and T become "harder", or did they 
  remain as their soft-sounding versions?
   


Eric S. Weiss


 		
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