I was also taught weni widi wici.
I'd guess, and I remember once reading, that Latin pronunciation was pretty
various --could be the b for v in Spanish goes back to the local dialect
pronunciation circo reino de Augusto. Likewise the c sound--c or ch or k.
Mark
At 03:20 PM 2/20/2005, you wrote:
>On 21/2/05 4:11 AM, "Joanna Boulter" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > I wonder if it was the source of that sometimes bitter pronunciation
> > controversy, 'veni vidi vici' as against 'weni widi wichi', which I always
> > thought of as confined (or if not it ought to be) to ecclesiastical and
> > 'singing' Latin.
>
>I was taught the soft "v"; I think - it was a long time ago - from a series
>which came from Cambridge. ("Hic est Caecillius" &c) And if I read Latin
>poetry, which I can say out loud if not understand, that's the pronunciation
>I use, because it's melodic and beautiful. The hard "v" sounds Anglicised
>to my ear.
>
>Best
>
>A
>
>Alison Croggon
>
>Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
>Editor, Masthead: http://masthead.net.au
>Home page: http://alisoncroggon.com
