Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

  1. #1

    Default skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    I was talking to a professor of old testament studies and Middle eastern history last night , this guy is a Language and history expert he knows all these ancient languages cueform and stuff but he told me that the Scipii is pronounced sip-pee-i not skip-pee-i is this one of those things you Britons just say differently from Americans?

  2. #2

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    Quote Originally Posted by ZIM!!
    I was talking to a professor of old testament studies and Middle eastern history last night , this guy is a Language and history expert he knows all these ancient languages cueform and stuff but he told me that the Scipii is pronounced sip-pee-i not skip-pee-i is this one of those things you Britons just say differently from Americans?
    I think it's skip-ee-oh-nays really, but we'll let that pass.

    In Classical latin you normally pronounce all the letters, and "c" is like a moder "k", so it is indeed skip-ee-ee or skip-ee-eye (tastes vary - see below).

    Mediaeval and Church latin moved away from that, and "c" became a softer "ch" sound. It also tends more to "i" being pronouces as a long "eye" rather than the shorter "ee" of classical latin. That would make it more like ship-ee-eye, or possibly s-ship-ee-eye (pronouncing the initial "s" separately).

    If he's a Bible scholar his view is probably coloured by Church pronunciation.

    Modern pronunciation tends to more or less ignore "c" after "s", leading to sip-ee-eye - softened even further.

    It's all rather fluid and there's no real consensus, excpet in that I'm right and everyone else is wrong

    Oh and it's the Americans that say things differently, not the British.

    Cheers,

    Pell.R.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Senior Member Oaty's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    2,863

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    It's prounounced see-mi-pee-pee-i
    When a fox kills your chickens, do you kill the pigs for seeing what happened? No you go out and hunt the fox.
    Cry havoc and let slip the HOGS of war

  4. #4

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    Actually, no one's really sure how the Romans pronounced their Latin.

    The " 'c' pronounced as 'k' " argument started with German historians of 19th century and firmly established itself as the the norm. However recently, many other historians are coming up with new argumens that the "German method" may be wrong, and the "Italian method" ( 'c' pronounced as 'ts'/'ch' ) may be how the Romans actually pronounced their Latin.

    As for the German method, it is usually how its taught in most areas of the world, and historical evidence of foreign representation of the pronunciation makes a strong argument(ie. the Egyptian cartuches of Caesar is spelled as 'ka-e-sar', not 'che-sar').

    However the Italian method also has some powerful arguments owing to the fact that the Roman Catholic is the only surviving organization from the days of Rome, and the modern Italian which has very close relations with ancient Latin, also pronounce 'c' as 'ch'.

    So be it Chi-che-ro or Ki-ke-ro, or be it Ver-jil-ius or Ver-gheel-ius, its usually a question of where you are taught Latin nowadays

  5. #5
    Takeda Kygona-san Member Medieval Assassin's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Nova Scotia, Canada
    Posts
    458

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    In passion of the christ, they pronounce l ceaser: KaI-sur...
    I pledge allegiance to the underworld One nation under dog,There of which I stand alone,A face in the crowdUnsung, against the mold
    Without a doubt
    Singled out
    The only way I know

    Stepped out of the line,Like a sheep runs from the herd
    Marching out of time,To my own beat now
    The only way I know

    One light, one mind,Flashing in the dark
    Blinded by the silence of a thousand broken hearts

    "For crying out loud" she screamed unto me
    A free for all,Screw 'em all
    You are your own sight

    I want to be the minority,I don't need your authority
    Down with the moral majority,I want to be the minority

  6. #6
    Oni Member Samurai Waki's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Portland, Ore.
    Posts
    3,925
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    As stated above, the German method is the best form of latin we know. The c is pronounced like a k, and the two iis are pronounced ae(or eye). On a further note the Julii are wrong as it should be pronounced Iulii as Js are not even in the latin alphabet and have no pronunciation.

  7. #7
    Takeda Kygona-san Member Medieval Assassin's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Nova Scotia, Canada
    Posts
    458

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    That interesting

    The Iulii are not friends of the Kaisurrr!
    I pledge allegiance to the underworld One nation under dog,There of which I stand alone,A face in the crowdUnsung, against the mold
    Without a doubt
    Singled out
    The only way I know

    Stepped out of the line,Like a sheep runs from the herd
    Marching out of time,To my own beat now
    The only way I know

    One light, one mind,Flashing in the dark
    Blinded by the silence of a thousand broken hearts

    "For crying out loud" she screamed unto me
    A free for all,Screw 'em all
    You are your own sight

    I want to be the minority,I don't need your authority
    Down with the moral majority,I want to be the minority

  8. #8
    Unfrequent Visitor Member tombom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    England
    Posts
    257

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    I'd say sci-pii (rhymes with sci-fi). But of course, that's not historically accurate in the slightest, and I'm bad at prounounciation.
    caesar44 is having a system failure Claudius. He no longer has a head, on the count of it exploding. - Wonderland in this thread

  9. #9

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    I like the accent I've heard people being taught for Latin. It's this floaty, wussy kind of thing, like your balls have retracted into your body or something.

    I can't imagine this entire nation of conquering bastards incapable of the concept of surrender, who went about slaughtering and pillaging at the end of a really vicious stabby weapon, sounding like an effeminate angel.

    "Surrender to Rome!"
    "Um....could you bring your most butch soldier over to offer the terms? I want to maintain at least some personal dignity and manhood surrendering to you lot."
    Love is a well aimed 24 pounder howitzer with percussion shells.

  10. #10
    Oni Member Samurai Waki's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Portland, Ore.
    Posts
    3,925
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    Funny thing you mentioned Khorak, considering that Charlemagne(by most accounts) had such a high sqeaky voice that it made most of his men frown and women blush. So, given that, most Roman men probably were either tenors or altos. However, back then, it was just one more reason to seperate themselves from barbarian cultures who most likely had a baritone or bass voice. Well, my 2 cents anyway.

  11. #11
    Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die Member Axeknight's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Isle of Man
    Posts
    816

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    We're taught to say it 'Skippy-eye', but then our Latin teacher is RC, and every so often he slips into church Latin 'Si-pea-eye'


    As to no J in Latin, is it 'You-ley-us or 'Eye-oo-ley-us'?

  12. #12
    Praeparet bellum Member Quillan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Posts
    1,109

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    I think it's EE-oo-lee-us, but the way it runs together Yoo-lee-us would probably work.
    Age and treachery will defeat youth and skill every time.

  13. #13

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    Quote Originally Posted by Khorak
    I can't imagine this entire nation of conquering bastards incapable of the concept of surrender, who went about slaughtering and pillaging at the end of a really vicious stabby weapon, sounding like an effeminate angel.
    Well, your theory would explain the Roman voice acting.

    The day is AIIIURRRRS!

  14. #14
    Member Member katar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    northern ireland
    Posts
    455

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    Well, your theory would explain the Roman voice acting.
    yeah, they probably spent far too long watching reruns of "Carry On Cleopatra".
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam!

  15. #15
    Oni Member Samurai Waki's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Portland, Ore.
    Posts
    3,925
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: skip-pee-I or sip-pee-i

    well, you know what the run of the mill computer nerd sounds like...end of discussion.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO