Latin "r"

[Keesa]

I'm confused about the pronunciation of the Latin "r"-am I supposed to roll it, the way you do in French (bonjour, au revoir), or leave it short, the way you do in English (or, short), or does it matter? <br /><br />Keesa

[Skylax]

It doesn't really matter. Italian is maybe the nearest to Latin in pronouncing "r".

[klewlis]

[quote author=Skylax link=board=3;threadid=319;start=0#2170 date=1059485505]<br />It doesn't really matter. Italian is maybe the nearest to Latin in pronouncing "r".<br />[/quote]<br /><br />so then, how does italian do it?

[Skylax]

They roll it. Remember "Bona seRRa, SignoRRina..."

[klewlis]

that's unfortunate, since i am physically incapable of rolling my r's. (well, "physically incapable" may not be exactly true... but i remember trying and trying as a child and as a spanish student and being entirely unable to do it...).

[Skylax]

I don't roll the "r" either. I pronounce the "r" like in French. Pronounce it like it is pronounced in your native language. It doesn't matter.

[Episcopus]

[quote author=Skylax link=board=3;threadid=319;start=0#2183 date=1059492978]<br />I don't roll the "r" either. I pronounce the "r" like in French. Pronounce it like it is pronounced in your native language. It doesn't matter.<br />[/quote]<br /><br /> <br /><br />Your Latin is awesome...but how is it possible that "regina" is "chegina"?

[Skylax]

My Latin is a written language. But be sure that, from now, for your ears' sake, il will shout REGINA like a true Roman, and the walls will come tumbling down.<br /><br />Audisne vocem meam ?

[ingrid70]

puto te audivisse. But I'm a little closer to you I think <br /><br />Ingrid

[Episcopus]

audio. est magna et causa multae tristitiae in casã meã. <br />nunc gallinae meae tibi nõn favent quamquam lingua tua sit bona...cogito...nam ego semper Latinè dicere nõn possum, sed mox dicam...<br /><br />et mater et filius sunt infirmus eõ vir qui finitimum domiciliõ episcopi saepe vocãbat. eõ episcopõ ã Skylax nocèbãtur.<br /><br />(All that I can say = translate Skylax!!)

[Skylax]

Did I harm the bishop ? :-[

[Episcopus]

non laetus sum

[chad]

hi klewlis, if you can't roll the letter r now, it doesn't mean you can't learn. one of my friends went to live in indonesia for a year, where not being able to roll the r is considered a speech impediment. but she couldn't do it at all... after a month's practice on her own though, she got it perfectly.<br /><br />it's worth trying... cheers, chad.

[benissimus]

They definitely rolled it, but probably not to the degree of the Spanish double-r. The fact that the letter R's nickname was the littera canina for the sound it makes is evidence enough.