[B-Greek] Changing Pronunciation

Paul D. Nitz paul.d.nitz at gmail.com
Wed Mar 16 13:45:37 EDT 2011


Thanks to all for their universally useful replies regarding changing pronunciation. I'm convinced.  

 

SYSTEM NAME

I'm thoroughly confused by the web sources.  What's the standard name for Randall Buth's system... the one I want to learn.  Imperial Koine?  Historical Greek Pron?  Koine Profora?  

 

ROUGH = GLOTTAL STOP?

I learned more about Buth's system from the links you all sent.  Rough and smooth breathing marks have become moot I see.  Hmmm.... or should I say, mmm.  Just musing, but could the rough breathing mark actually have originally been a glottal stop rather than an "h"? 

 

ASPIRATION / UNASPIRATION 

Π / Φ was distinguished by aspiration.  Interesting.   My Bantu students would handle the distinction easily.  But, I suppose to keep closer to what other people are doing, we'll go from Puff (Π)  to Fluff (Φ) to maintain a distinction.  It will be easier on me, too.  Mis-hearing an aspirated consonant once caused me to sink my car in a hole... at dusk... in a game park full of dangerous animals, but I digress.  

 

THERE SEEM TO BE FEW ONLINE RESOURCES TO LEARN BUTH'S SYSTEM 

I received many interesting links from B-Greekers.  I was primarily interested in Buth's system, so I'll just comment on those links that teach that system.  There are few sites, as far as I can find.  The most useful for me would be other samples of Biblical texts being read with a good Living Koine pronunciation.   Any recommendations?

 

NAME: Institute of Biblical Greek

LINK: http://www.biblicalgreek.org/grammar/athenaze/introduction2.php

DESCRIPTION: Very good.  Audio file each letter and a sample word.  Video

explaining basics of pronunciation and accents.  Not enough alone to learn

the pronunciation system.

 

NAME: Let's Read Greek

LINK: http://www.letsreadgreek.com/songs/

http://www.letsreadgreek.com/resources/greekntaudio.htm#sorenson

DESCRIPTION:  Songs sung in Koine.  The second link is Louis Sorenson reading Mark with Living Koine pronunciation.  This looks promising.  By listening and following along, it would seem possible to pick up Sorenson's pronunciation.  But, a wider sample of Living Koine speakers would be useful for comparison.  

 

 

NAME: Essay excerpt - "Notes on the pronunciation system of Koine Greek" by

R. Buth.

LINK: http://www.biblicalgreek.org/grammar/images/PRONSYS1%25202005.pdf

DESCRIPTION: Explanation of the reason for pronunciation choices.  Very interesting, but less

practical value for learning to speak the changes.

 

NAME: Biblical Language Center

LINK: http://www.biblicallanguagecenter.com/

DESCRIPTION: Randall Buth's site.  Living Koine materials sold.  Course

descriptions and schedules available.  I didn't find any free online sources.  Some links on this site that point to promising material about pronunciation seem to be broken (or it may be unavailable from certain areas).  Try, http://www.biblicalulpan.org/pages/Common/Greek%20Pronunciation%20(2008).pdf

 

Paul D. Nitz

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Schwandt 
  To: Paul D. Nitz 
  Cc: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org 
  Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2011 11:28 PM
  Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Changing Pronunciation


  Hi Paul,

  I began with the Erasmian pronunciation, and then switched to the Modern System, then switched back the Erasmian system (even recorded the entire NT for the German Bible Society in it) and finally ended up using the Historical Koine System.  I have been teaching with it and internalizing it for a few years and then it is well worth it.  It has made internalizing it easier (distinguishing EI from H is key).

  A far as advice goes, I found making my own recordings and improving them with mutliple takes really helps make the switch.  Also listening to it (with understanding) really helps.  So listen to your own recordings.


  I'm sorry about your trouble finding what you were looking for at biblicalgreek.org, but it is there.  Here is the precise link.  http://www.biblicalgreek.org/grammar/athenaze/introduction2.php

  This page is devote solely to the Historical Koine System (Buth's system).  There are plenty of audio examples without the confusion of comparing other systems.  I even have a video at the bottom of the page.
  http://www.biblicalgreek.org/grammar/athenaze/introduction2.php

  Blessings,
  John Schwandt







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