Posted by GinnyT on March 25, 1999 at 11:30:17 {MWyyC89S7ssMg}:
In Reply to: Syllables, Jan and non answers posted by Janey on March 25, 1999 at 07:35:24:
Do It Yourself Hebrew and Greek, by Edward W. Goodrick gives this list of diphthongs (I got it right!): . . . There is no ie diphthong.
This diphthong was not commonly used in Greek words. But remember, these names are not native to Greek. These names are Hebrew. The person writing in Greek hears a Hebrew name and has the task of transliterating it into Greek. What letters will best do this task?
Take a look at the Greek alphabet and how we transliterate the sounds into English:
http://metalab.unc.edu/koine/greek/lessons/john1.html
If you heard the Hebrew name "Yeshua," how would you translate that into Greek? Do you see a "y" or "j" sound anywhere? The iota-eta combination was as close as it got. For example, "Jerusalem" in Greek begins with iota-epsilon, even though that diphthong is not on Goodrick's list.
I still don't understand the point of all of this. If authentic pronunciation is so important to you, why are you messing with the Greek middle man? Why not go directly back to the Hebrew?
Ginny