[B-Greek] Pronunciation of Upsilon

Kevin Riley klriley at alphalink.com.au
Tue Oct 14 19:11:25 EDT 2008


The sound [y] is represented in different ways in different European
languages.  The French follow the Greeks and write it as "u", using "ou" for
[u].  The Germans - and others - use "ü" for the [y] sound - the two dots
actually indicate a front pronunciation, not centralisation as in IPA.  You
are not likely to hear this sound in most English dialects.

Kevin Riley
 
-------Original Message------- 
 
From: Charles Johnson 
Date: 15/10/2008 7:28:01 AM 
 
I've been trying out Randall Buth's Imperial Koine pronunciation, but I'm 
Stuck on the vowel upsilon as well as the omicron-iota diphthong. His guide 
Gives it in IPA as [y] which is the close front rounded vowel. I haven't 
Actually been able to find a sound file in a format, nor do the examples 
I've found seem particularly helpful. I'm guessing it's not something I'm 
Used to distinguishing in my General American dialect. 
 
I'm also confused because he sometimes refers to it as u (with two dots over

It.) I'm not sure if this is a different system, but in IPA the two dots 
Refer to centralization of the vowel, which would seem to contradict it 
Being the front vowel. 
 
Thanks, 
 
Charlie Johnson 
 



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