I didn't find a thread for this, so I decided to post one. I apologize if there's already a thread, the search function isn't very good.
I read in the "Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin" that the letter "h" is always pronounced as a spiritus asper, never as in "hour" or "honor". However, when it comes to pronunciation guides that you can find on Google, they always tell you that "h" is silent, except in "mihi" and "nihil", where it is usually a "k". I suppose the Google articles are singing guides, as opposed to simple, spoken Ecclesiastical Latin (which the "Primer seems to be more about). But should there really be a difference?
Looking at various videos on how the priests at St. Peter's Basilica pronounce Latin (because I figured that's where people pronounce Ecclesiastical Latin most correctly), their pronunciations are mixed. Sometimes I hear the "h", sometimes not, usually depending on who is singing or speaking.
What are your opinions? Is the "h" supposed to be voiced in normal, spoken Latin? For me, the "h" feels more natural when it is pronounced.
There's also the issue of intervocalic "s", which I still didn't find a definite answer to. I already have a thread on that here and was already told that it should be unvoiced, but I need some official documents for the correct pronunciation. I don't trust the internet articles on how to sing Latin. They all differ on some points and it's all very confusing.
This being said, does anyone have a reliable and definite source on how Ecclesiastical Latin should be pronounced correctly? So far, the "Primer" makes most sense to me, but I need a second opinion.
I read in the "Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin" that the letter "h" is always pronounced as a spiritus asper, never as in "hour" or "honor". However, when it comes to pronunciation guides that you can find on Google, they always tell you that "h" is silent, except in "mihi" and "nihil", where it is usually a "k". I suppose the Google articles are singing guides, as opposed to simple, spoken Ecclesiastical Latin (which the "Primer seems to be more about). But should there really be a difference?
Looking at various videos on how the priests at St. Peter's Basilica pronounce Latin (because I figured that's where people pronounce Ecclesiastical Latin most correctly), their pronunciations are mixed. Sometimes I hear the "h", sometimes not, usually depending on who is singing or speaking.
What are your opinions? Is the "h" supposed to be voiced in normal, spoken Latin? For me, the "h" feels more natural when it is pronounced.
There's also the issue of intervocalic "s", which I still didn't find a definite answer to. I already have a thread on that here and was already told that it should be unvoiced, but I need some official documents for the correct pronunciation. I don't trust the internet articles on how to sing Latin. They all differ on some points and it's all very confusing.
This being said, does anyone have a reliable and definite source on how Ecclesiastical Latin should be pronounced correctly? So far, the "Primer" makes most sense to me, but I need a second opinion.