Prima Latina pronunciation question

[cjorden]

My son and I are working through Prima Latina. I have a question on
pronunciation. We have the DVD and she teaches that the vowel "e"
makes a long "ay" sound. She stresses this in the first 2 lessons.
We are now on lesson 3 and two words from the lesson are "specto"
and "pleni". On the listening CD and on the DVD, the vowel "e" in
those words are pronounced with a short "e" sound like in "hen". So
when do we know what sound to use? :confused:

Thank you,
Carolyn

[Maria]

Carolyn,

In ecclesiastical (Christian) Latin pronunciation e is more properly pronounced as the e in met. In classical Latin, however, long e is pronounced as the a in gate and short e as the e in met. So even though the author of Prima Latina is claiming to give ecclesiastical pronunciation, she's actually mixing a little classical in with the ecclesiastical. Thus your confusion.

My recommendation would be to forget how Lowe teaches you to pronounce Latin and rather to get the Pronunciatus Latinus booklet and CD (http://www.emmanuelbooks.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=1576&user=124648085). It gives the rules for both ecclesiastical and classical Latin pronunciation and examples for each rule. The one drawback is that you will have to apply the rules to each word you encounter in Prima Latina and will not get to hear a spoken example for those words.

Maria

[ShawnB]

I agree that there is a mix of classical and ecclesiastic pronunciation on the Prima Latina CD. While I don't have an education in Latin, I do sing ecclesiastical Latin, and have been schooled in it it that way. I've found quite a few discrepancies in the pronunciation; enough that I think it would be too confusing for my students. For example: the first lesson teaches the vowel sounds, and specifically notes that "U" is pronounced "oo." The CD then pronounces "ambulo" as "ahmbyoulow." Same with "j." It is noted that the correct pronunciation is "Y" like in "yes," but the CD pronounces "injuria" with a hard "g" sound like in "germ." Conflicts like this are peppered throughout the CD. While it is true that each of us will have our own "accented" version of Latin, I think the CD could be much better. I don't recommend the CD as it is. BUT, I do love the rest of the program. It is well laid out, and my kids and my extra student are enjoying it.

[ShawnB]

I agree that there is a mix of classical and ecclesiastic pronunciation on the Prima Latina CD. While I don't have an education in Latin, I do sing ecclesiastical Latin, and have been schooled in it it that way. I've found quite a few discrepancies in the pronunciation; enough that I think it would be too confusing for my students. For example: the first lesson teaches the vowel sounds, and specifically notes that "U" is pronounced "oo." The CD then pronounces "ambulo" as "ahmbyoulow." Same with "j." It is noted that the correct pronunciation is "Y" like in "yes," but the CD pronounces "injuria" with a hard "g" sound like in "germ." Conflicts like this are peppered throughout the CD. While it is true that each of us will have our own "accented" version of Latin, I think the CD could be much better. I don't recommend the CD as it is. BUT, I do love the rest of the program. It is well laid out, and my kids and my extra student are enjoying it.