Re: Quick Latin pronunciation question

Benct Philip Jonsson wrote:
>> In any case, I didn't get what you meant about <vacuum>. It rhymes
>> with <continuum> in my speech. Although I do hear people pronounce it
>> quick as [v{kju:m], and I think that might be what you are referring
>> to, but I believe it is due to syncope of the schwa from regular use.
>
> I meant Late Latin (250 CE onwards) spelling and pronunciation,
> which has very little to do with the traditional English pronunciation
> of (Neo)Latin.
I think he actually address that to me. I was not aware anyone
pronounced "vacuum" in any way other than with two syllables and it
hadn't really occurred to me that it was possible (because in my speech,
/u\:/ is retracted slightly before vowels --- reflecting the more
centralised POA of the epenthetic [w] added).

--
Tristan.

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