I've decided to teach myself Greek, but I'm not entirely sure whether or not I should learn the Erasmian, or modern pronunciation. I'm leaning (quite heavily) towards the modern pronunciation, mainly because the Erasmian sounds artificial and "ugly" to my ears in comparison to the modern one, but I was wondering if there are any compelling reasons to choose the Erasmian over the modern pronunciation?
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This is not the section for debates between theists and atheists. While a theistic viewpoint is not required for discussion in this area, discussion does presuppose a respect for the integrity of the Biblical text (or the willingness to accept such a presupposition for discussion purposes) and a respect for the integrity of the faith of others and a lack of an agenda to undermine the faith of others.
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Erasmian or Modern Pronunciation
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The Erasmian would be best if you have the possibility of discussing the Greek text on a scholarly level. If you have any chance of discussing NT with others who have studied the Greek, then it would be best to have the same basis of pronunciation.
If not needed for theological discussion, then you might have some benefit learning the modern Greek sounds but mainly if you are interested in learning Modern Greek too. Neither option is thought to sound anything close to the original sound. And, of course, there is no benefit in learning the original sounds if no one else would recognize it.
I just do some minimal sounding of the words in my own way such that I can just read through a 'sentence' here or there ... or just to help see if the word is familiar. I may (have to) seek to familiarize myself with the Erasmian sounds as time goes on.
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Originally posted by mikewhitney View PostThe Erasmian would be best if you have the possibility of discussing the Greek text on a scholarly level. If you have any chance of discussing NT with others who have studied the Greek, then it would be best to have the same basis of pronunciation.
Originally posted by mikewhitney View PostIf not needed for theological discussion, then you might have some benefit learning the modern Greek sounds but mainly if you are interested in learning Modern Greek too. Neither option is thought to sound anything close to the original sound. And, of course, there is no benefit in learning the original sounds if no one else would recognize it.
Originally posted by mikewhitney View PostI just do some minimal sounding of the words in my own way such that I can just read through a 'sentence' here or there ... or just to help see if the word is familiar. I may (have to) seek to familiarize myself with the Erasmian sounds as time goes on.
ETA: I had way too many smilies in the text so I removed some of them.
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Originally posted by Chrawnus View PostBut if I'm chatting to myself it doesn't really matter which pronunciation I'm using, does it?The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
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Modern pronunciation tends to blur the pronunciation of vowel sounds but chasing after a single ancient pronunciation is futile. It is helpful to choose one system and stick to it, if only for the sake of building reading fluency. Erasmus was an interesting guy so you could do worse.βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι δι᾿ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον·
ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους, τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην.אָכֵ֕ן אַתָּ֖ה אֵ֣ל מִסְתַּתֵּ֑ר אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
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Originally posted by robrecht View PostModern pronunciation tends to blur the pronunciation of vowel sounds but chasing after a single ancient pronunciation is futile. It is helpful to choose one system and stick to it, if only for the sake of building reading fluency. Erasmus was an interesting guy so you could do worse.
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Originally posted by Chrawnus View PostYeah, but isn't it the case that the pronunciation that bears his name has changed so much that it doesn't even resemble the pronunciation that he initially constructed? I wouldn't be speaking Greek like Erasmus, I would be speaking Greek like someone who took Erasmus' system and mauled it beyond recognition.
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Originally posted by John Reece View PostAs American soldiers used to say in Germany in the mid-1950's when I was one of them: "max nix" for das macht nichts" = never mind, it does not matter.
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Originally posted by Chrawnus View PostYeah, but isn't it the case that the pronunciation that bears his name has changed so much that it doesn't even resemble the pronunciation that he initially constructed? I wouldn't be speaking Greek like Erasmus, I would be speaking Greek like someone who took Erasmus' system and mauled it beyond recognition.βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι δι᾿ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον·
ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους, τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην.אָכֵ֕ן אַתָּ֖ה אֵ֣ל מִסְתַּתֵּ֑ר אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
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Originally posted by John Reece View PostLikewise, and it matters not who that may have been.βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι δι᾿ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον·
ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους, τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην.אָכֵ֕ן אַתָּ֖ה אֵ֣ל מִסְתַּתֵּ֑ר אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
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Originally posted by John Reece View PostAs American soldiers used to say in Germany in the mid-1950's when I was one of them: "max nix" for das macht nichts" = never mind, it does not matter.The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
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