After reading through the Latin alphabet, and the correct pronunciation thereof, I came across the letter “V.” Now, in that text, it explains, that “v” is to be pronounced as, “w” (as in _w_ine, not “v”, as in “_v_ine”).
After pondering on this matter, I realized that whenever I say the prayer, “Ave Maria..”, I pronounce the “v” as in “_v_ine”, not “w” as in “_w_ine.”
All the songs I have of this prayer pronounce it as I do. Does that mean that one should pronounce it as, “Awe Maria”? Or is there an entirely different - correct - manner of saying the “Ave” correctly?
This, in itself, is quite interesting. But, on the other hand, one feels quite silly to have been pronouncing the word (V) incorrectly.
Classical pronounciation demands v’s to be pronounced as w, and are often written as u’s in texts of latin literature.
The Ave Maria and other christian hymns are of a completely different tradition, that of the Roman Catholic church. The usual pronounciation of christian latin is basically the same as Italian. That is also why c and g are weakened to tj and dj (in the pronounciation) before e and i, and why diphtongs are often pronounced like single wovels (e.g. Dies Iræ, where the ae becomes a long, open e) - when sung in churches.
Summarised, in classical literature, you should always pronounce v as w, but in liturgical texts, such as the Ave Maria, there shouldn’t be a need to break the thousand-year old tradition of pronounciation, which I outlined (in no way thoroughly) above.
Danica, as the previous poster explained there are two different systems used for pronunciation. Most people here use what is called the “restored classical pronounciation”. There are other learners however who continue to use the received ecclesiastical pronounciation which is also what the Roman primate uses. This is not an important issue so far as learning the vocabularly and the grammar are concerned. For instance, I think several posters have recommended Lingua Latina to you. That course is available with recordings. As I understand it, there are two different sets of recordings available depending on the student’s interests.
Since you are working a Christmas list, kindly visit this page:
Once you are on the page, press the button “venalia” (things for sale). Then when you are on the venalia page, press the button that says “editiones anglice”. You will see that this organization offers a course in spoken latin - I am 99% percent sure that the pronounciation used is of the ecclesiastical or church variety.
Remember though - pronounciation is secondary - if you learn classical pronounciation now you can always switch later and vice versa. And don’t think that all Catholics need somehow to use just the ecclesiastical pronounciaiton. For instance a leading latin scholar recently died in Switzerland by the name of Father Caelestis Eichenseer. Although very Catholic, he strongly advocated the classical pronounciation. Good luck and do please keep up your enthusiasm. The course studies you are embarking upon now very well may change the course of your life.
Finally, do you mind saying what country you live in?
Thank you so very much for all that important info! Good thing I scrolled up after my previous post, or I wouldn’t have seen yours.
Well, as usual, I will print everything that you all tell me here on the forum, and read it through, again and again. I agree with what you say; there’s no need to change my pronunciation if even the Church, for hymns and such, does not.
I’m from South Africa. We look like London, England, basically. In case you were trying to picture my city.
I will definitely go to that website. Now, second question: how do you buy something online?
I’ll definitely take the required time, and hopefully the money, to buy these items. I’m extremely excited to learn Latin.
I’ve come this far, and I’m not going to stop now!
And to learn how to pronounce the three most basic catholic prayers with this system: http://romaaeterna.jp/rosario/index.html [although there are a few mistakes here (!) ]
Also, if all you want is Latin to pray or to follow the Tridentine Mass, I would suggest you don’t worry about the classical pronunciation, at least not for now, as there is a lot of controversy surrounding it.
I agree with what you say; there’s no need to change my pronunciation if even the Church, for hymns and such, does not.
