Thank you, Jeidsath, for entering the public fray with your audio. Even though the Anabasis is the standard second year text, as far as I know, your recording is the first one offered publically (outside of Roberto's audio of the simplified text; more on this below.) You have done us, therefore, a fine service. And I happen to think you are on the right track in recognizing the importance of audio in increasing reading fluency.
I would second Paul's comments. Your pronunciation scheme seems consistent. The main problem I have with your audio, as a resource that would potentially help me, is that the pace is too slow. Now, this might not be a problem for everyone; Different people, no doubt, benefit differently from different resources. But for me, the pace of an audio has to be just right. Many audios (particularly those done by native Greek speakers) are way too fast. But if the audio is too slow, I cannot internalize it. Actually, as Paul says, the key is to vary the pace according to comprehension, pausing at the right places and speaking fast, maybe, the portions of the audio that are easily understood, and then slowing down for less familiar vocab and syntax. Paul himself is really good at this in his audios.
The root problem is that, for me, anyway, for an audio to be useful, it must be 90% plus comprehensible. And most unadapted Ancient Greek texts, at least the way they are read on-line, are simply not comprehensible enough. A startling comparison, I think, is between your audio and Roberto's audio of the Phillpotts/Jerram adapted text:
https://archive.org/details/EsafxRoberto's audio, which I have been listening to almost daily (while walking to work I alternate between this and sports talk radio,) is for me virtually 100% comprehensible and therefore supremely useful. It is much more comprehensible than your audio, of course, for two reasons. In the simplified text, the sentences are all short, the syntax is all simple, and the vocab is restricted. But also, Roberto reads the text as if (and I assume that he does) he understands it. He raises his voice at questions, pauses at the right moments, reads with emphasis and emotion. (I'm really looking forward to what he does with the θάλαττα! θάλαττα!) He reads at just the right pace. Also, while Roberto by no means follows precisely the tones and pitches, his reading has a basic tonal/musical quality that makes it very pleasant. Monotony, literally, is a problem that tends to affect readers of Ancient Greek (of sinners I am chief) and Roberto avoids this nicely.
It goes without saying, that I highly recommend that you listen to his audio. Your προφορά is close enough to his that I think you would benefit greatly.
But we also, I think, need good (better) recordings of the unadapted text, so I would follow Paul's advice and try to re-record it with more emphasis, better pacing, make sure that you understand what you are reading and read it in a way that WE can understand it. Correct the few misplaced accents. I agree with Paul that you have potential as a Greek reader, and we really need you. Greek audio is the only thing that there's just too little of.
Also, I would like to see Paul, who, again, is an outstanding reader of Ancient Greek take a stab or two at a few pages of the unadapted text. I would like to see how much of the comprehension issues are a result of the level of the text versus the way it is read. (I suspect it is more, the former.) Paul, if you do take on this project, maybe you should start by reading the simplified text, as it would be good to have a version of this with a Buthian/Modern pronunciation.
by jeidsath » Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:42 am 
