That's really helpful, thank you guys.
By the way
@HoldAll I believe it's spelled "pronunciation" and not "pronounciation". As in the word "enunciate". Anyhow. My own research so far has led me to this;
First, there is actually a place in the PGM that gives instructions for the pronunciation of the vowel sounds:
the “A” with an open mouth, undulating like a wave; [A, α]
the “O” succinctly, as a breathed threat. [O, ο]
the “IAÔ” to earth, to air, and to heaven. [ΙAΩ, ιαω]
the “Ê” like a baboon; [Η, η]
the “O” in the same way as above; [O, ο]
the “E” with enjoyment, aspirating it, [Ε, ε]
the “Y” like a shepherd, drawing out the pronunciation. [Υ, υ]
PGM V. 24 – 30
Second, there is an excellent
by Dr. Sasha Chaitow behind a subscription wall that makes a compelling argument for utilizing Modern Greek. As she says;
If we explore the actual language as it has been spoken, sung, and evolved since late antiquity, we might come far closer to something resembling the “original” pronunciation and use of such incantations, hidden in plain sight.
A key point to bear in mind is that we are not debating the pronunciation of Classical Attic Greek (the version arbitrarily applied by some scholars to represent all of Greek speech in antiquity, largely regardless of region and period), but of Hellenistic Koine in Egypt and Asia Minor: two forms of pronunciation as disparate as those of (modern) Glasgow vs. New York, to provide but one analogy.
While there is clear historical evidence for the prosodic nature of Attic Greek, it is as bizarre to propose the Erasmian reconstruction of this particular variant as the only authentic pronunciation across Greek-speaking regions and periods, as it is to propose that all historical English should henceforth be spoken in a reconstructed version of Chaucerian or
English (prior to the
)
Which I think is a very fair point. I don't think the efficaciousness of a given language lies in any
exact Orthodox pronunciation, given the huge variety of dialects in any language and whatnot - but I do think there is merit in approaching a language and get close to it's native "feel" and "rhythm".
Third, I found this rather funny
of the difference in pronunciation of the ancient philosophers which is really helpful to me. I have always pronounced the first part of "Pythagoras" in the same way one would pronounce the word "Python", or "Plato" as in "Play Dough", which is of course incorrect, and this is what I'm trying to avoid in magical usage.
Fourth, I found this really awesome
of how the pronunciation of Greek has developed throughout the different eras. This
which made the abovementioned spreadsheet also seems solid, at least judging by some of the commenters who, as native speakers, are glad to hear him pronounce the Greek properly.
And fifth, I see that
has some pronunciation guides of certain PGM spells up on his channel, which does sound Greek and not Anglicized attempts at Greek, but whether that is correct or not I cannot say.
I'll see where it goes.
