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Erasmian, Ecclesiastical?

Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:57 pm
by usqueadmortem
Greetings all,
This is my first post here. I took two years of Koine Greek and learned I am not satisfied with "erasmian" pronunciation. Can someone please help me learn the Ecclesiatical pronunciation? I.E. The pronunciation the Eastern Orthodox Churches use.
Thanks!

Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:05 am
by ThomasGR
The "Ecclesiastical" pronunciation is the same as modern Greek. The same goes for Koine with minor differences like "y" that is pronounced as German "y", but most people will simple use modern Greek "i".

May I ask why are you not satisfied with Erasmian pronunciation?

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:36 am
by calvinist
If I'm not mistaken, the Erasmian pronunciation is supposed to be closest to the original pronunciation, I don't know why you would want to pronounce it any differently. I don't know about the ecclesiastical pronunciation, but it would make sense that it's just the modern pronunciation. In that case just look up any Modern Greek book and see what it says.

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 7:31 am
by ThomasGR
calvinist wrote:the Erasmian pronunciation is supposed to be closest to the original pronunciation
Only inside their sick perverted minds :wink: :lol:

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:37 pm
by Bert
Apparently in the early 16 th century the pronunciation used for ancient Greek was not considered correct. Erasmus came up with a new pronunciation that was thought to be more correct. (Whether or not it was I don't know.) Erasmus supposedly did not use his own system but continued to use what was standard at that time.
As a result of a great amount of research since that time a more correct way has been developed.
I have read that for koine, you are better of using Modern than Erasmian.

...

Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:21 pm
by usqueadmortem
If you talk to devout Eastern Orthodox or Greek Catholics, Erasmian pronunciation is something of an abomination. Since the Greek language has continually been in use in the East, what with the continual tradition of the Byzantine and Russian Empires, I trust Eastern clerics with the language much more than Erasmus or any other more recent scholar.

If one listens to Ecclesiastical Greek, it is much more natural and flowing, whereas Erasmian Greek is awkward, and very 'un-Greek'.

Us western Catholics are very precise about our Latin pronunication; be it Roman, German et al. Greek Catholics are no less precise with their Greek. Our languages are immesurably important to us.

I am not saying Erasmian pronunciation has no merits whatsoever though.

Thanks for your responses!