Which latin pronunciation

Vergil, Cicero, Caesar, and the other great Latin classical writers should be read with Ecclesiastical pronunciation because Ecclesiastical pronunciation captures the beauty, power, and magnificence of their words much better than the Reformed Classical pronunciation. There are two reasons for this. The first is that our modern ears are accustomed to sounds having a certain meaning.

To our modern ears, it sounds effete. Second, Ecclesiastical pronunciation is simply more beautiful. Choir directors will painstakingly work with their choirs on pronunciation of Latin to bring out the beauty of the hymn because the pronunciation is so important.

Since Classical pronunciation was absent from the world stage from the Late Latin period until the late s excluding the failed attempt by Erasmus to bring back the Classical pronunciation in the 16th century , if you added the number of people throughout history who read Vergil in Latin using an Ecclesiastical pronunciation they would far outnumber those who have read him using a Classical pronunciation.

As the old saying goes: Dante Alighieri read Vergil with an Ecclesiastical pronunciation, and if it was good enough for Dante it is good enough for me.

The Reformed Classical pronunciation is used in most high school and college Latin classes. Vergil, Cicero, Caesar, and all the great Classical Latin writers used the Classical pronunciation and to really appreciate their writings it helps to pronounce it the way they did or at least close to the way they pronounced it. The Classical pronunciation was simplified in the early s into the Reformed Classical pronunciation to make it less complicated and difficult.

Still, the Reformed Classical pronunciation is more difficult than Ecclesiastical and is more removed from English pronunciation, requiring greater linguistic training. The Reformed Classical pronunciation is the mainstream pronunciation of choice for most advanced Latin scholars, and there are some who would not regard you as a serious scholar if you chose Ecclesiastical pronunciation.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Share Flipboard Email. Ancient History and Latin Expert. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. Updated February 12, Featured Video. Cite this Article Format. Gill, N. Latin Pronunciation. How Is 'C' Pronounced in French? How Is 'S' Pronounced in French? German for Beginners: Pronunciation and Alphabet. Through the Nose: French Nasal Vowels. How Is 'O' Pronounced in French?

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At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. Please treat the next page as an elementary reference guide, and merely read it through quickly for now. Surprising though it may seem, we do have a very good idea of how Cicero and Caesar expressed the sounds of Latin, in the first century BC; there is a wealth of evidence, both practical and theoretical. Here are a few general guidelines, with rough and ready English approximations:. The most notable changes affected the consonants C , G , and T I , which were palatalized softened in some phonetic environments; and V , which was later pronounced as in modern English.

This change played havoc with spelling, and caelum was often spelled coelum.