Hello everyone,
this is my first post here. I’m interested in Latin, but basically with no skills at all - so please excuse my basic question. I understand that there are no hard rules in pronouncing latin, but still: I’d like to know if there are different views on how to pronounce “amor mortifera”? I’d put the emphasis on the [e] - looking forward to your expertise.
Thank you!
Normally first posts are on the open board in which you tell us something about yourself and your interest in classical studies. You may want to make a post there.
I am not sure why you think there are “no hard rules in pronouncing latin”. You might like to look at this thread for a discussion: http://discourse.textkit.com/t/classical-or-ecclesiastical/11279/1
Basically you have a choice between ecclesiastical and restored classical pronunciation. Most of us here would use the latter.
But I think you are asking more about where the accent lies rather than how to pronounce the word. The rules for word accent are fairly clear. I think the accent would be on ti (mor-ti-fer-a) on the second syllable of a polysyllabic word.
The scansion (ie whether the syllables are long/short or heavy/light) is mortĭfĕra.
I am sure the experts on this will be able to add or correct this post.
@Mirakulix
You can try online service Collatinus:
Fortunately for me, as a native Spanish speaker, there are many words in Latin that are accented the same as in Spanish … however I always check, and in this case I was able to verify in Collatinus that “mortifera” is accentuated the same as in Spanish: " mortífera"…
Thanks a lot for your detailled replies - very helpful! Also I haven’t been aware of Collatinus - a great tool, thanks for the hint.
By the way, it should be amor mortifer, since amor is masculine.
indeed, thanks @bedwere!