Vowels
1. α (alpha)
– Modern Greek: [a]
– Erasmian: [a]
(No difference)
2. ε (epsilon)
– Modern Greek: [e]
– Erasmian: [e]
(No difference)
3. η (eta)
– Modern Greek: [i] (like “ee” in see)
– Erasmian: [ɛː] (long open “e” sound, like “air” in fair)
While the Modern Greek pronunciation is [i], it’s worth noting that in some dialects, especially older ones, it can still be pronounced as a long [ɛ].
4. ι (iota)
– Modern Greek: [i]
– Erasmian: [i]
(No difference)
5. ο (omicron)
– Modern Greek: [o]
– Erasmian: [o]
(No difference)
6. υ (upsilon)
– Modern Greek: [i] (like “ee” in see)
– Erasmian: [y] (like French “u” or German “ü”)
The Erasmian pronunciation [y] is a close approximation, but it’s important to note that it’s a rounded vowel sound, distinct from the Modern Greek [i].
7. ω (omega)
– Modern Greek: [o]
– Erasmian: [ɔː] (long open “o” sound, like “aw” in saw)
Diphthongs
1. αι (alpha iota)
– Modern Greek: [e]
– Erasmian: [ai] (like “eye”)
2. ει (epsilon iota)
– Modern Greek: [i]
– Erasmian: [ei] (like “ay” in say)
3. οι (omicron iota)
– Modern Greek: [i]
– Erasmian: [oi] (like “oi” in boil)
4. αυ (alpha upsilon)
– Modern Greek: [av] or [af] (depending on the following consonant)
– Erasmian: [au] (like “ow” in how)
5. ευ (epsilon upsilon)
– Modern Greek: [ev] or [ef] (depending on the following consonant)
– Erasmian: [eu] (similar to English “eh-oo”)
6. ου (omicron upsilon)
– Modern Greek: [u] (like “oo” in food)
– Erasmian: [u]
(No difference)
Consonants
1. β (beta)
– Modern Greek: [v]
– Erasmian: [b]
2. γ (gamma)
– Modern Greek: [ɣ] (like a voiced “h” or French r); before ε and ι, pronounced [y]
– Erasmian: [g] (hard “g” as in go)
The Modern Greek pronunciation before ε and ι as [y] is a palatalized sound, not a simple “y” as in English.
3. δ (delta)
– Modern Greek: [ð] (like “th” in this)
– Erasmian: [d]
4. ζ (zeta)
– Modern Greek: [z]
– Erasmian: [zd] (a compound of “z” and “d”)
5. θ (theta)
– Modern Greek: [θ] (like “th” in thin)
– Erasmian: [tʰ] (aspirated “t,” like top)
6. κ (kappa)
– Modern Greek: [k]
– Erasmian: [k]
(No difference)
7. λ (lambda)
– Modern Greek: [l]
– Erasmian: [l]
(No difference)
8. ξ (xi)
– Modern Greek: [ks]
– Erasmian: [ks]
(No difference)
9. π (pi)
– Modern Greek: [p]
– Erasmian: [p]
(No difference)
10. ρ (rho)
– Modern Greek: [r] (trilled, similar to Spanish “r”)
– Erasmian: [r] (often trilled, but less pronounced than Modern Greek)
While both Modern Greek and Erasmian ρ (rho) can be trilled, the Modern Greek trill is often stronger and more consistent.
11. σ/ς (sigma)
– Modern Greek: [s]
– Erasmian: [s]
(No difference)
12. τ (tau)
– Modern Greek: [t]
– Erasmian: [t]
(No difference)
13. φ (phi)
– Modern Greek: [f]
– Erasmian: [pʰ] (aspirated “p,” like pot)
14. χ (chi)
– Modern Greek: [x] (like the “ch” in German Bach)
– Erasmian: [kʰ] (aspirated “k,” like kit)
The Modern Greek pronunciation [x] is a velar fricative, while the Erasmian [kʰ] is an aspirated velar plosive.
15. ψ (psi)
– Modern Greek: [ps]
– Erasmian: [ps]
(No difference)
Modern Greek or Erasmian Pronunciation?
Modern Greek pronunciation is closer to the pronunciation likely used by scribes of the manuscripts of the Septuagint and the Greek New Testament, with softer, less aspirated consonants and simplified vowel sounds. Erasmian pronunciation, by contrast, preserves distinct sounds for each letter and diphthong, emphasizing clearer differentiation, especially for educational purposes.
Additional Considerations:
- Stress: While not explicitly mentioned in the comparison, stress patterns differ significantly between Modern Greek and Erasmian. Modern Greek has a more flexible stress system, while Erasmian often follows a fixed stress pattern.
- Dialectal Variations: Both Modern Greek and Erasmian have dialectal variations, which can influence pronunciation.
- Historical Context: The Erasmian pronunciation is based on the pronunciation of Classical Greek as understood in the Renaissance. However, our understanding of Classical Greek pronunciation has evolved since then, and modern linguistic research may offer different interpretations.