Learn greek (4 of 7) - Greek phonology, part II.pdf - język grecki - Mistra

4 Greek Phonology Overview

4.0 Introduction

The purpose of this course of study is to prepare anyone interested in verbal

inspiration of Scripture to read and understand the Greek New Testament for

themselves. The under girding belief for this is that God chose the Greek

language as the written medium for the saints’ understanding the New

Testament, since all of the New Testament was written in Greek.

This Greek course is for the circle of saints of whatever theological persuasion

who have one thing in common: the desire to read the Greek New Testament as

the original writers communicated. One would think that many aspire to know the

intricate details of God’s message, and not to trust something as important to

someone else’s judgment. However, this is sadly not the case. Perhaps they

believe that translations are good enough, or someone else’s opinion is correct

on the basis they have more scholarship or sanctity. So be it. Nonetheless,

dependence and trust is only as good as the person/object in which it is placed.

What does the foregoing have to do with learning Greek phonology? It has

everything to do with it. Eagerness to acquire a working knowledge of the

language within several years will be met with difficulties that prove dispiriting,

especially if going at it alone. In your enthusiasm of learning NTGreek, you will

naturally tell others what you are learning. In many cases, these same people

will be those who distract—or even worse—discourage you from continuing to

study NTGreek for a variety of reasons. Unless your purpose for studying the

language is kept clearly in mind, their persuasiveness will dull your focus, and

inevitably, study of Greek will be cast aside. The Greek New Testament is the

New Testament (making translations irrelevant per verbal inspiration), or it is not!

If you find some portions of this lesson difficult, continue to go through it to gain

an overview. Next, go back through the lesson again, underlining or highlighting

what you have found to be a problem. Spend extra time on these problem areas,

but not to an excess. It may be helpful to remember that competency of

NTGreek does not depend upon learning everything the first time it is presented!

Becoming skilled at NTGreek does, however, demand practice, resolve and

perseverance. This encouragement is particularly germane for this lesson.

InTheBeginning.org

Sight and Sounds of Words (Part 2)

Consonants, Vowels and Diphthongs

LESSON 4: Greek Phonology: Consonants, Vowels and Diphthongs Page 58

4.1 Phonetic Classification of Greek Consonants listen

The Greek consonants may be charted to indicate their relationship to one

another in several ways. Perhaps the most functional phonetic classification is

according to what speech organ (throat, teeth and lips) used in their

pronunciation. The consonants are divided in the chart below into two broad

categories: the nine stops and the twelve continuants , with some consonants

serving double-duty. They are subdivided again according to the nature of the

sound and vocal organs used in producing them.

The chart must be carefully studied for future reference. It will be referred to in

later lessons whenever consonantal changes in words are encountered. Not

only should the chart be understood from left to right, but also from top to bottom.

Explanations of the terms used in the chart follow (4.2 – 4.3).

Classes are the

three positions of

breath closure.

Classes

The nine “stops” are divided into

three “classes” and three “orders”.

Guttural Dental Labial

(voiced) G g D d B b

The orders express both the degree

of the vibration in the vocal cords

and force in the expiratory breath.

Sound is formed by slowing down

or briefly stopping the flow of air

through the mouth.

(unvoiced) K k T t P p

(aspirate) X x Q q F f

Sibilant ( voiced)

( unvoiced )

S s

A sibilant is a hissing sound when

the breath in the mouth is

narrowed. Voiced S s has the z

sound as the “s” in “is”; if unvoiced,

S s is the “s” sound as in “sit”.

Compound

(voiced)

Z z

Compounds are a combination of a

guttural, dental or labial + s . Like

sigma above, notice that Z z is both

voiced and unvoiced. When

voiced, Z z is pronounced as “dz”.

(unvoiced)

C c Z z Y y

Nasal (voiced) G g N n M m The sound of nasal continuants is

forced up toward the nasal cavity

Liquid (voiced) L l R r

The liquids fall between the classes

and the air passage is mostly open.

Semi-

consonants

I i R r U u These letters serve at times as a

vowel or a consonant.

LESSON 4: Greek Phonology: Consonants, Vowels and Diphthongs Page 59

If the above chart is studied now, it will save untold hours of future frustration and

study when, in future lessons, these Greek consonants undergo predictable

consonantal changes within words. It is your choice whether you will study

diligently now, or suffer defeat and possible insanity later.

4.2 The Nine “Stops” listen

A stop is a consonant whose sound is formed by slowing down or abruptly

stopping the flow of air through the mouth before being released with an

expulsion of breath and sound. The nine stop consonants are G g, K k, X x,

D d, Tt, Q q, B b, P p and F f. The stops are classified according to what

speech organ (throat, teeth and lips) predominately employed.

The nine stops are subdivided into three orders and three classes . The classes

are vertically determined by the three possible positions of breath closure used in

producing them: guttural (throat), dental (teeth), and labials (lips). Stops

belonging to the same class are considered cognate ; and those to the same

order (voiced, unvoiced and aspirate) are coordinate (see the chart below).

The orders are horizontally determined by whether the stop is voiced,

unvoiced , or aspirated . A consonant is voiced when the vocal chords vibrate as

the air passes through (all vowels are voiced). As a simple exercise, please your

fingers on your voice box and pronounce the voiced stops. You will feel the

vocal cords vibrate if pronouncing these consonants properly. Stops are

unvoiced when the vocal chords are slack in pronunciation. Aspiration denotes

the consonant’s pronunciation is accompanied with a strong emission of breath.

The relationship between the nine stops may be conveniently represented below

in the chart. This arrangement is commonly called the Square of Stops .

Classes

Coordinate

Guttural Dental Labial

Voiced G g D d B b

Unvoiced K k T t P p

Aspirate X x Q q F f

Cognate

LESSON 4: Greek Phonology: Consonants, Vowels and Diphthongs Page 60

The different relationships of the nine stops with one another will now be further

illustrated below. The explanation of the chart will first move from left to right

(differentiating between the three classes: guttural, dental and labial), and then

from top to bottom (differentiating between their order: voiced, unvoiced and

aspirate).

The Three Classes

Classes are the three

possible positions of

breath closure.

Guttural Dental Labial

The chart above reflects the three possible positions of breath closure when

pronouncing the stops: guttural, dental and labial. The progression from left to

right begins with the sound produced in the back of the oral cavity in the throat,

moving toward the front with the tongue and teeth, and finally the lips.

Guttural Dental Labial

Voiced G g D d B b

Unvoiced K k T t P p

The Three Orders

1. Voiced

2. Unvoiced

3. Aspirate

Aspirate X x Q q F f

• A stop consonant pronounced with the aid of the vocal cords is called voiced .

The vocal cords vibrate as the air passes through the oral cavity. The three

consonants that belong to this order are: G g, D d, and B b.

• A stop consonant pronounced without the aid of the vocal cords is called

unvoiced . The vocal cords do not vibrate as the air passes through the oral

cavity. The three consonants that belong to this order are: K k, T t and P p.

• A stop consonant pronounced with a strong emission of breath is called

aspirate . The three consonants that belong to this order are: X x, Q q and

F f. The three aspirates are placed with the stop consonants because when

their phonemic interact with following sounds in words, they behave like stops.

Therefore, they are grouped with and treated as stops.

4.2.1 The Guttural Stops ( G g, K k, X x ) listen

The guttural consonantal stops belong to the same class because they are

formed in back of the throat by the closure of the tongue with the soft palate in

the oral cavity (“guttural” < Latin guttur , “throat”). The three guttural consonants

are gamma , kappa , and chi . The three guttural consonants are distinct according

to its separate order as voiced (G g), unvoiced (K k), and aspirate (X x).

LESSON 4: Greek Phonology: Consonants, Vowels and Diphthongs Page 61

G g belongs to the same voiced order and is coordinate with the

consonants D d and B b. K k belongs to the same unvoiced order and is

coordinate with the consonants T t and P p. X x belong to the same

aspirated order and is coordinate with Q q and F f.

The voiced phonetic pronunciation of G g ( gamma ) will be considered first.

4.2.1.1 G g ( gamma ) listen gamma, gh, ghj, ghmaj

Gamma may be either a voiced consonantal stop, or a nasal continuant. When

G g is pronounced as a voiced stop, the phonetic pronunciation is the hard “g” as

in “ g ate”. However, when G g occurs before itself or another guttural stop

consonant (gg, gk, gx) or c (gc), the combination undergoes phonemic change.

This change will be studied later when we come to the gamma nasal (4.3.3.1)

4.2.1.2 K k ( kappa ) listen kappa, kata, kopoj, Kore

K k ( kappa ) is an unvoiced stop consonant, meaning the vocal cords are not used

when pronouncing the phonetic value of this stop consonant.

“Unvoiced” never means that a consonant is not pronounced. Although

consonants may undergo phonemic changes, there are no silent

consonants in Greek words as there are in English words.

4.2.1.3 X x ( chi ) listen xi, xrw, Xristoj, troxoj

X x is an aspirated stop consonant. This phonetic sound of this consonant can

be easily confused with kappa unless it is remembered that the breath is not

entirely cut off with chi .

A clear phonetic distinction must be maintained between the two guttural stops,

K k and X x. Although chi orthographically appears to correspond to the English

“x”, its phonetic value does not. This is where beginning Greek students are

confused. In actuality, chi and the English “x” are not equivalent. Chi is a Greek

alphabetical letter that does not correspond to any English alphabetical letter.

The phonetic sound of X x approximates the “ch” in the English words, “ ch emist”,

and “ ch iasmus”. Breath flows with the consonant and is not interrupted as with

the unvoiced consonant K k. Form the mouth for K k and then pronounce “h”

through it. The emission of breath should produce a strong aspirated “kh”.

Learn greek (4 of 7) - Greek phonology, part II.pdf

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: