Expertlatin
- Is there a right way to pronounce Latin?
- Why is Latin pronounced differently?
- How do we know how Latin was pronounced?
- What is ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation?
Is there a right way to pronounce Latin?
There are two main ways to pronounce Latin. The first is the classical pronunciation, an approximation of what Latin would have sounded like in Ancient Rome. This post is a guide to Classical Latin pronunciation. The second way is the ecclesiastical pronunciation (or “Church Latin”).
Why is Latin pronounced differently?
The pronunciation of the ancient Romans, called the classical pronunciation, was modified by Christians in the Middle Ages, when Latin became the language of the church and of the educated class. You may see this pronunciation referred to by a number of names: ecclesiastical, medieval, Church, Christian, or Italian.
How do we know how Latin was pronounced?
Knowledge of how Latin was pronounced comes from Roman grammar books, common misspellings by Romans, transcriptions into other ancient languages, and from how pronunciation has evolved in derived Romance languages.
What is ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation?
The consonants b, d, f, k, l, m, n, p, s, t, and v are pronounced as in English. c before e, i, y, ae, oe is pronounced ch: coelo (cheh-loh); in all other cases, c is pronounced k: cantus (kahn-toos). cc before e, i, y, ae, oe is pronounced tch: ecce (eht-cheh).
