TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS SABAH

A

A is pronounced as in the word Father, never as in the word can. We must be careful to get this open, warm sound, especially when A is followed by Mor N as in Sanctus, Nam, etc.

E

E is pronounced as in Red, men, met; never with the suspicion of a second sound as in Ray.

I

I is pronounced as ee in Feet, never as i in milk or tin.

O

O is pronounced as in For, never as in go.

U

U is pronounced as oo in Moon, never as in custom.

Y

Y is pronounced and treated as the Latin I. (see above)

The pronunciation given for i, o, u, gives the approximate quality of the sounds, which may be long or short; care must be taken to bring out the accent of the word.      e.g. mártyr = márteer.

Double Vowels

As a general rule when two vowels come together each keeps its own sound and constitutes a separate syllable.

e.g. diéi is di-é-i ; fílii is fíl-i-i ; eórum is e-ó-rum.

OU

The rule of each keeping its own sound applies to OU and AI.

AI

e.g. prout is pro-oot ; coutúntur = co-oo-toón-toor ; áit is aheet.

AE

However, AE and OE are pronounced as one sound, like E above.

OE

e.g. caelum

C

C coming before e, ae, oe, i, y is pronounced like ch in Church

       e.g. caelum = che-loom ; Cecília = che-cheé-lee-a

CC before the same vowels is pronounced T-ch.

       e.g. ecce =  et-che ; síccitas = seét-chee-tas.

G

SC before the same vowels is pronounced like Sh in shed

       e.g. descendit =  de-shén-deet

Except for these cases C is always pronounced like the English K

       e.g. cáritas = káh-ree-tas

CH is always like K (even before E or I)

       e.g. Cham = Kam, máchina = má-kee-na

G before e, ae, i, y, is soft as in generous

       e.g. mági , génitor , Regína

GN has the softened sound given to those letters in French and Italian.

       e.g. (French)  agneau , signor , monsignor

The nearest English equivalent would be N followed by y.

       e.g. Regnum = Reh-nyoom ; Magnificat =  Mah-nyeé-fee-caht

H

H is pronounced K in the two words nihil (nee-keel) and mihi (mee-kee) and their compounds. In ancient books these words are often  written nichil and michi. In all other cases H is mute.

       e.g. mihi (mee-kee) = me

Nihi (nee-keel) = nothing

J

J, often written as I (e.g. juris or iurus), is treated as Y, forming one sound with the vowel which follows it.

       e.g. jam, iam = yam ; alleluia = allelóoya ; major = ma-yor

R

When with another consonant, care must be taken not to omit this sound. It must be slightly rolled on the tongue (carnis). Care must be taken not to modify the quality of the vowel in the syllable preceding the R.

       e.g. Kyrie: Say Kée-ree-e  not  Kear-ee-e

              sapere: Say sáh-pe-re  not  sah-per-e

              diligere: Say dee-lée-ge-re  not  dee-lee-ger-e

S

S is hard as in the English word sea, but is slightly softened when coming between two vowels. e.g. misericórdia

T

T is like the English T, except as below.

TI standing before a vowel and following any letter (except S, X, T) is pronounced tsee.

       e.g. patientia  = pa-tsee-én-tsee-a

              gratia  =  grá-tsee-a

              constitutio  = con-stee-tú-tsee-o

              laetitia  =  lae-tée-tsee-a