Talk:Punic

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Etymology[edit]

"pertaining to Carthage," 1530s, from L. Punicus, earlier Poenicus "Carthaginian," originally "Phoenician" (adj.), Carthage having been founded as a Phoenician colony, from Poenus (n.), from Gk. Phoinix "Phoenician" (see Phoenician). Proverbial among the Romans as treacherous and perfidious. Punic Wars were three wars between the Romans and the Carthaginians fought 264-146 B.C.E.

Erm, my question is: is Poenicus pronounced the same as Punicus, shedding some light on the pronunciation of coelus. 81.68.255.36 10:58, 12 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

No. They are not pronounced the same; they come from different periods in the development of Latin. The spelling coelus exists because of other complications, and is typically spelled caelus. --EncycloPetey 05:45, 13 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I see, could you perhaps explain how they are pronounced? :) Because of Dutch I think of oe always as u, if you know what I mean. 81.68.255.36 21:20, 13 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The pronunciation of Old Latin is highly debated, and rarely expressed decisively by authors. --EncycloPetey 02:21, 14 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]
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