i need help.
how do you pronounce the following:
equus -i
nauta -ae
inimicus -i
The best American English approximations I can do:
ECK-wuss
(ECK-whee)
NOW-tah
(NOW-tie)
in-a-ME-cuss
(in-a-ME-key)
This is how it’s done in American schools. How they were actually pronounced is a whole different can of worms.
Hi
Although I have not read Allen’s “Vox Latina”, I’d pronounce these words a little differently.
I’d try to get the double U out in eqUUs. So to conform with how adz000 puts it, I’d go: ECK-wu-uss
Furthermore, I would pronounce the AU in nautus more clearly as a diphthong. As in the German word for eye, for example: AUge.
Finally, the adjective for hostile: “inimicus” surely is a composite of “in” and “amicus”, but I’d avoid pronouncing that A. It is an I: “in-i-micus”.
Perhaps, the double SS should also be avoided: there is, as far as I can tell, a difference between pronouncing the S-sound in “us” (from the pronoun “we”) and “cuss” (swear). I think I’d go for a single S in these Latin words.
EQUUS:
I seem to recall that this is one of those words that has a lot of
variation.
equus looks like it should have three syllables (3 vowels. A+G §7)
but the u in ‘qu’ is consonant u (A+G § 5.N.2), so there are only
two, the ‘qu’ going to the second (§ 11.a):
e-quus
The first syllable is long by position (AY-kwus) but the vowel is
pronounced short because of the mute ‘qu’ (§ 11.b):
EH-kwus, EH-kwee
That short e on an accented syllable I think is the problem.
n.b. because there are only two syllables, a long i in the plural
has no effect on the accent. (§ 12)
NAUTA
Two syllables: nau-ta (NOW-tah, NOW-teye or NOW-tie)
I agree that the diphthong au should be distinct.
INIMICUS
Four syllables: in-i-mi-cus
how about this: in-ih-ME-koos
I agree that the ‘s’ should not be drawn out but is short.
Also, not like the American “cuss”; like the ‘ue’ in “glue”.
tim
thanks guys