[B-Greek] Koine Greek pronunciation

Gary A. Staszak sowersoftheseed at verizon.net
Sat Apr 12 14:39:36 EDT 2008


Dear Jim:

The disparity in pronunciation is most likely due to the difference  
in the vowel sounds (omicron and omega) in Academic (Erasmian) versus  
Attic, NT, and Modern Greek.

Professor Francis T. Gignac, S.J., of Catholic University has made a  
careful study of pronunciation in Classical, Hellenistic papyri, NT  
manuscripts, and Modern Greek (see An Introductory New Testament  
Greek Course, Loyola University Press, 1973, 7). In Academic Greek,  
the omicron is traditionally pronounced short, as in "law." In the  
other  types of Greek, Frank posits the pronunciation was long as in  
"home" or like an omega.

Frank's other work is A Grammar of the Greek Papyri of the Roman and  
Byzantine Periods. Volume I: Phonology; Volume II: Morphology.

Hope this helps.

Gary A. Staszak
Graduate Student
Amridge University

On Apr 12, 2008, at 10:55 AM, JMonte2000 at aol.com wrote:

> I'm taking a course with someone and they pronounce an omicron as a  
> long O
> like an Omega. He didn't know why we pronounce the omicron  
> differently, does
> anyone know why this is? I'm pronouncing how Bill Mounce does on  
> his  Lecture's
> CD's. They are using Machen's book for 1st year. I'm doing the  
> last  few
> chapters with them, his exercises are very hard, much harder then  
> Mounce's.  Then
> we'll start on syntax using Dana and Mantey.
>
> Grace and  peace
> Jim Montesano
>
>
>
>
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