View Single Post
  #8  
Old 08-12-2003, 08:26 PM
AlphaPhiBubbles AlphaPhiBubbles is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco and Chico, CA
Posts: 448
Send a message via AIM to AlphaPhiBubbles
Quote:
Originally posted by sugar and spice
Actually, I'm pretty sure that there is no rule one way or another on how to pronounce "phi." (The one about it being "fee" after following a vowel just doesn't hold water -- Alpha Phi Alpha or Alpha Epsilon Phi being obvious examples to the contrary.) "Fee" is the Greek way of pronouncing it and "fie" is the more American pronunciation -- individual GLOs or chapters choose how they want to say it. Same with Xi -- it is pronounced "zie," "zee," or "k-zee" depending on the chapter.
Well, I think it was just something Alpha Phi discovered back around 1872 (when we were founded) because the founders were good friends with a Greek professor who informed them of the correct "fee" pronounciation. I know that the letters AF actually stand for greek words, hence the different pron. but maybe AFA doesn't, therefore no need for pronouncing it differently? Or maybe they just didn't want to? There is certainly no GLO rule...and I don't think most Alpha Phi's go "oh my gosh I can't believe that GLO pronounces it FIE instead of FEE!!!".
Reply With Quote