[B-Greek] What we can live with

Kevin Riley klriley at alphalink.com.au
Mon Apr 13 02:27:12 EDT 2009


It sounds like you are already living with far more than anyone should :) 
Maybe you need to listen to British erasmians - at least the classicists I
know of would never confuse all the things you mention below.  Except OU and
U - everyone seems to do that.  Only Americans confuse A and O.  I think we
should treat Koine or Classical Greek like any other foreign language - if
the natives confused sounds, we don't have to worry about not confusing them
 if no native ever did, then we shouldn't.  A point made by many language
teachers needs to be remembered - it takes no more effort to learn the
language with the right sounds than it does to learn with the wrong sounds. 
Even the aspirated stops of the classical language.  Greek teachers accept
they are impossible for English speakers.  Sanskrit teachers don't, and
their students learn to pronounce both voiced and voiceless aspirated stops.
 Modern Indian language teachers don't.  Gaelic teachers don't - and even
insist that pre-aspiration is easy once you try.  I wonder if it is fear or
simply lack of motivation to try.  If Greek teachers failed those who failed
to acquire something close to Greek sounds - as many other foreign language
teachers would - perhaps we would find the motivation to learn.  All we need
is Greek teachers who know and can teach spoken Greek.  

Kevin Riley
 
-------Original Message------- 
 
From: Mark Lightman 
Date: 13/04/2009 12:31:33 PM 

 
 
My original point is that your originial point is on point. We CAN live 
With more we think. Erasmians live with more than we think. We conflate 
Not only alpha and omicron but OU and U and EU and even kappa and 
XI. 
 
So why aren't I ready to make the switch, to enter the promised land? 
Fear, I guess. Fear of Cannanite Giants. I'm just afraid that if I give up
my 
Aspirants and pronounce KAI like ke and ERRWSO like erroesoe my 
Greek will suffer. I just need another 40 years. 
 
Mark L. 
 
 



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