Curricula and Learning Links - Classical Languages
A Discussion of Pronunciation of Biblical Greek
by Anna1111
Before taking up the study of Biblical Greek, you will want to choose from the two styles of pronunciation before you begin your studies, and choose resources which best support that method for learning basic reading. After you have mastered the fairly simple system of Greek phonics, you can then choose any written texts you like to learn the language, since most high school and college level texts only have a little introductory information on learning the phonics of Greek before moving on to other language concepts like grammar and vocabulary. The two methods of pronunciation are Erasmian Pronunciation and Modern Greek Pronunciation
Erasmian pronunciation comes from a Dutch scholar and Catholic priest, Erasmus, who, during the Reformation, investigated how he thought ancient Greek would have been pronounced and wrote a book about it. He lived a couple of millennia after this style of pronunciation had ceased, and needless to say, there were no recordings available, only print resources for him to investigate. Erasmus himself did not use Erasmian pronunciation, and apparently had never been to Greece or among Greek-speaking people. Most scholars think that his method may have some validity concerning the pronunciation of ancient Greek, but the vast majority of scholars think that it is almost certainly not the way Greek was pronounced in New Testament times. Instead, they think that it was probably pronounced like Modern Greek. Erasmian pronunciation is not standardized, and there are several different styles.
See this article for a chart of the Erasmian pronunciation rules.
See this website for instruction in modern Greek pronunciation.
The advantages of Erasmian Pronunciation are these:
- Erasmian pronunciation is used in the vast majority of American and British Universities for classics studies. It is also used in the vast majority of American Protestant seminaries. If you wish to attend one of these institutions to study Greek or theology, you will need to be familiar with Erasmian pronunciation. Similarly, fraternities and sororities at American colleges are named with letters which are pronounced by the Erasmian method.
- Erasmian pronunciation makes Greek words easier to spell, remember and recognize in print. Modern Greek has at least 5 ways to spell "EE," therefore, when you hear an EE, you might not know how to spell the word in question, nor know how it would look in print. On the other hand, Erasmian pronunciation offers a different way to pronounce each of those spellings, making it much easier to remember how words appear.
- Some English words with Greek origins are spelled in accordance with Erasmian rules. For instance, hydro- keeps the H from the Erasmian pronunciation which it would not have in the modern Greek. In studying English vocabulary with Greek roots, a passing knowledge of Erasmian pronunciation is a plus. Similarly, when Greek letters are used as mathematical symbols in English-speaking classrooms, they are called by their Erasmian names. (For instance, an American math teacher will call the letter used in the formula for the calculating circles pie [Erasmian] not pee [Modern Greek].)
- Erasmian pronunciation allows you to entertain your Greek speaking friends, whether you intend to or not.
The disadvantages of Erasmian pronunciation are these:
- Almost all scholars agree that this is not the way Jesus spoke Greek, or the way Greek was spoken in New Testament times.
- Modern Greek pronunciation is used for Biblical Greek in Orthodox Christian Seminaries, and in Greek Orthodox Churches, both in the United States and in Greek-speaking countries. The Greek Orthodox Churches have been using Modern Greek pronunciation for the Gospel for 2000 years. If you wish to understand what is being said in those settings, Erasmian pronunciation will be a hindrance.
- If you learn Erasmian pronunciation and wish to learn to speak modern Greek, or if you wish to be able to get along in a Greek-speaking setting, you will have to re-learn how to pronounce the alphabet.
- Erasmian Greek is not a spoken language; it is a dead language. You can get a lot more practice with the spoken language in a Modern Greek pronunciation.
- Modern Greek pronunciation puts you one step closer to conversing with your Greek speaking friends.
For a very nice, more academic discussion of these issues, see this blog entry.
For reviews of Greek curricula, please visit HomeschoolChristian.com's reviews:
Review of Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar
Review of Biblical Greek Survival Kit
Review of A Greek Alphabetarion
Review of Basic Greek in 30 Minutes a Day
Review of Greek Hupogrammon
Review of Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek!
Review of Learn New Testament Greek
Review of Mastering New Testament Greek
Review of At Home with Hebrew
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