At 08:52 AM 05/15/2000 -0500, Melanie wrote: >According to "Diction for Singers" (Wall,Gavilanes,Allen) > >The letter h is always silent in Latin, except for two irregular wods >listed under Exceptions) > >Ho-san-na [open o zan: na] >ho-di-e [open o di E] >ho-mi-ni-bus [open o mi ni bus] > >Exceptions: In these two words, h is pronounced [k]. In ancient >manuscripts these words were spelled nichel and michi. > >ni-hil [ni kil] >mi-hi [mi ki] > >so that's what my all trusted diction book says...... > > Melanie (new to list--first post-- thought I'd just right in!)
I have to admit, I'm stumped. I don't see how anyone could publish such nonsense. I don't doubt there are choral traditions that drop h's in latin, but all the choral recordings I've ever heard of latin texts pronounce the h's.
I know for a fact that all h's were sounded in classical latin, and I also know that the pronunciation of certain letters changed in medieval times to agree with the pronunciations in the vernacular languages. So it wouldn't surprise me that there is an h-less choral tradition, perhaps in italy or france - and those are the countries our singing teachers tend to emulate.
But to use words like "always" and to invent theories involving ancient manuscripts supporting the position is way over the line, imo - then again, latin was used in many places, and not always well, so there could be some weird manuscripts out there. I do know that the standard spellings mihi and nihil are ancient, and the h was pronounced as an h, as it was pronounced wherever it appeared.
So, I sense a great deal of intellectual dishonesty in that book. I would chuck it - those authors are too disingenuous to believe anything they say. Preferably in the fire, not in a used book store where it could mislead others.
I've noticed that knowledge of foreign languages is getting so scarce today - in america, that is - that writers and movie producers can say literally whatever they want about languages, making it up as they go along.
And, welcome to the list, Melanie! Thanks for jumping in :)
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