Questions and answers about The old Coptic accent
From the Arabic book, written by Fr. Shenouda, (The old Bohairic Coptic accent , its history, Authenticity and preference)- Translated By Dr. Mariam Michael .
The second question
Do not you see that the attempt to revive the old accent will lead again to confusion in church’s prayers and tunes?
Answer :
No my dear . . as our Coptic tunes are Very ancient, and most of them belong to the first centuries of Christianity . and some of them – especially the Funeral tunes – may belong to the era of the Pharaohs . Also all of the music tunes were Undoubtedly developed and organized on the basis of the old accent . The church, its tunes and prayers are older than Erian effendi Girgis .
If we returned back to the authentic situation of our tunes and prayers with their nice lovely old accent, Is not right to call this great work confusion .
Wondering : When erian effendi and his disciples changed the accent of the tunes and prayers to the modern accent had anyone said that confusion occurred ?. Or Did we hear that anyone had stopped them of teaching the modern accent for fear of causing confusion?!
Rest assured, my dear . . As in our return to the use of the lovely authentic pronunciation in the church, we do it quietly and systematically, with love and harmony .
It is possible to start with Deacon’s intones in the temple that are said by one person , so no disruption will occur if they are spoken with the old accent .
The Priests, if they want, can pray the liturgy with the old pronunciation (we have Audio recordings of the mass with the old accent, they can record them and learn from it) .
Lastly, when the number of people who knows and speak the Coptic language with its old accent, then they can reply their specific replies in the mass with the old accent.
So, let us start learning the Coptic language, and do not waste the precious time in the Succumb to illusions .