[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
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail.
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list