Letters to the Editor
THE PRONUNCIATION OF LATIN [To-the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,---I read with great pleasure the very interesting article by Mr. J. R. Roxburgh on " The Pronunciation of Latin," which appears to be unanswerable. - May I add this : to anyone accustomed from childhood
to the ordinary European pronunciation of Latin--especially of the vowels—the old-fashioned " English " way seems not only always curious, but often rather funny--like a Cockney, who has never heard the French language spoken, trying to read it as if it were English. For example, " DO mortals nil nisi
Marine " becomes " Dec more-chew-is nil nigh-sigh bone-'em "
—in which, by the way, there arc at least four false quantities, the short " 6 " in " bonum " being rendered by the long English diphthongal " ou," and both the short vowels in " nisi " by the long English diphthongal " ahi," while, on the other hand, the' long " i " in " nil " (properly pronounced very like the English vowel sound in " kneel ") is rendered by the short " I," and pronounced " nil."
A similar false quantity is habitually perpetrated over the word " sic," the long "i " of the Latin being rendered by a short "1," and pronounced " sick "—instead of the correct " seek."—I am, Sir, &c., ERNEST LAW.
The Pavilion, Hampton Court Palace.
Previous page
