Reconstructed Koine Greek Pronunciation

As I mentioned earlier, I am planning to use Randall Buth's "Reconstructed Koine" Greek pronunciation in my Introductory Greek class this year. I have prepared a handout and a few recordings for my students which I am happy to make available here:

• The handout attempts to present Buth's system clearly using English examples. (Buth tends to cite Arabic, German and Spanish examples, which are beyond the linguistic competence I can expect from my students.) The handout is intended to replace charts on pp. 8-10 of Mounce's Basics of Biblical Greek (2d ed.; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003). See below for a summary of the differences between Erasmian and Reconstructed Koine.
  
• Randall includes a few audio samples on his website, but no recording of the alphabet, so I made my own. The alphabet and the first diphthong recording follow the order on the handout. The second diphthong recording spells the dipthongs before pronouncing them.
• Update: Don't miss the Reconstructed Koine Greek Alphabet Song (courtesy of Luke Johnson).
  

• Suggestions for improvement (and feedback in general) are welcome!
  

My rationale for changing pronunciation systems is simple: Languages are best learned in a living environment that involves hearing, speaking, and writing as well as reading. If one is going to the effort to speak ancient Greek, one might as well learn a reasonably accurate pronunciation. It is well known that the standard Erasmian system doesn't cut it. Side benefits include insight into textual variations caused by errors of hearing, and an easier transition into Modern Greek.

Buth defends his pronunciation choices here. His system is apparently close to the conclusions reached by Geoffrey Horrocks and Francis Gignac; it is also close to Modern Greek pronunciation.

Summary of the Differences between Erasmian and Reconstructed Koine

There are only three major differences in the pronunciation of letters:

• β is pronounced as ‘v’ instead of ‘b’
• δ is pronounced as ‘dh’ instead of ‘d’
• ο is pronounced as a long ‘o’ like ω

Most of the diphthongs have changed:

• αι is prounounced like ε (met) instead of as ‘eye’
• ει is pronounced like ι (‘ee’) instead of ‘eh?’
• οι is pronounced like υ instead of ‘oy’
• αυ, ευ, ηυ are pronounced ‘av’, ‘ev’ and ‘ehv’ or ‘af’, ‘ef’ and ‘ehf’ instead of ‘ow!’ and ‘ew!’

Other minor changes:

• ι is always a long ‘ee’ sound
• γ is pronounced ‘gh’ instead of ‘g’
• π, τ, κ are unaspirated which makes them sound close to b, d, and g.
• ζ is pronounced ‘z’ instead of ‘dz’