In pronouncing diphthongs sound both vowels, but glide so rapidly from the first to the second as to offer to the ear but a single sound. In the publication of the Cambridge (Eng.) Philological Society on “Pronunciation of Latin in the Augustan Period,” the following directions are given:
“The pronunciation of these diphthongs, of which the last three are extremely rare, is best learnt by first sounding each vowel separately and then running them together, ae as ah-eh, au as ah-oo, oe as o-eh, ei as eh-ee, eu as eh-oo, and ui as oo-ee.”
Thus:
| ae | (ah-éh) as in German näher; or as ea in pear; or ay in aye (ever); (not like ā in fate nor like ai in aisle). |
| ai | (ah-ée) as in aye (yes). |
| au | (ah-óo) as in German Haus, with more of the u sound than ou in house. |
| ei | (eh-ée) nearly as in veil. (In dein, deinde, the ei is not a diphthong, but the e, when not forming a distinct syllable, is elided.) |
| eu | (eh-óo) as in Italian Europa. (In neuter and neutiquam elide the e.) |
| oe | (o-éh) nearly like German ö in Goethe. |
| oi | is not found in the classical period. (In proin, proinde, the o is either elided or forms a distinct syllable. ou in prout is not a diphthong; the u is either elided or forms a distinct syllable.) |
| ui | (oo-ée) as in cuirass. |
In the pronunciation of consonants certain points claim special attention. And first among these is the sounding of the doubled consonants. Whoever has heard Italian spoken recognizes one of its greatest beauties to be the distinctness, yet smoothness, with which its ll and rr and cc—in short, all its doubled consonants—are pronounced. No feature of the language is more charming. And one who attempts the same in Latin and perseveres, with whatever difficulty and pains, will be amply rewarded in the music of the language.
A good working rule for pronouncing doubled consonants is to hold the first until ready to pronounce the second: as in the words we’ll lie till late, not to be pronounced as we lie till eight.
Next in importance, and, in New England at least, first in difficulty, is the trilling of the r. There can be no approximation to a satisfactory pronunciation of Latin until this r is acquired; but the satisfaction in the result when accomplished is well worth all the pains taken.
Another point to be observed is that the dentals t, d, n, l, require that the tongue touch the teeth, rather than the palate. Munro says: “d and t we treat with our usual slovenliness, and force them up to the roof of our mouth: we should make them real dentals, as no doubt the Romans made them, and then we shall see how readily ad at, apud aput, illud illut and the like interchange.” This requires care, but amply repays the effort.
It is necessary also to remember that n before a guttural is pronounced as in the same position in English, e.g., in ancora as in anchor; in anxius as in anxious; in relinquo as in relinquish.
Remember to make n before f or s a mere nasal, having as little prominence otherwise as possible, and to carefully lengthen the preceding vowel.