Latin short A?

CKyle22
Posts:646
Joined:2009-01-09, 0:50
Real Name:Kyle K
Gender:male
Country:USUnited States (United States)
Latin short A?

Postby CKyle22 » 2009-08-11, 3:12

All the books I've read say that the Latin short A is pronounced as thus:

The A in "Dinah"
The first syllable of "aha!"

The problem is, I pronounce both of those as the A in "father" which is the Latin long A. I've also heard it's pronounced like a schwa. So how DO you pronounce a Latin short A?

(and all the vowels, if possible :))
Really good at: Image
If I'd only stop making silly mistakes I'd be really good at: Image
Need more practice in: Image

KingHarvest
Posts:4168
Joined:2008-03-21, 5:46
Gender:male
Location:New York
Country:USUnited States (United States)

Re: Latin short A?

Postby KingHarvest » 2009-08-11, 3:26

The Latin short a is [a] and the long a is [a:], i.e. they're pronounced the same except the long a is pronounced twice as long. The other long vowels are the same as modern day Continental vowels and the short vowels are the same as the equivalent of the English short vowels.
Most men are rather stupid, and most of those who are not stupid are, consequently, rather vain.
-A.E. Housman

CKyle22
Posts:646
Joined:2009-01-09, 0:50
Real Name:Kyle K
Gender:male
Country:USUnited States (United States)

Re: Latin short A?

Postby CKyle22 » 2009-08-11, 4:06

Thanks SO much! I can finally start working and learning with Wheelock's now. That was driving me absolutely batshit crazy! Thankyouthankyou!
Really good at: Image
If I'd only stop making silly mistakes I'd be really good at: Image
Need more practice in: Image


Return to “Latin (Latina)”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests