Do you pronounce the the last vowel, which is long, as long or short in eg. ablative declensions?

EnitLee

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Hello!

I'm in a quandary about how to pronounce words like, puellā (versus puella), Latīnē (versus Latīne) and so on. I asked my teacher, who is a very experienced Italian (although I wouldn't call him reliable per sé :|) and he said he hasn't heard anyone pronounce puella and puellā differently. But I have a hard time swallowing that pill. Why would we add the macron (which, as far I understand, is a post-classical pedagogical invention) to differentiate between the abl. and nom., if they are homophonic?
 
 

cinefactus

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There is a difference, and you should pronounce it.
I believe that they use the Italian Church pronunciation in schools in Italy which doesn't distinguish between vowel lengths.

which, as far I understand, is a post-classical pedagogical invention
This is mostly true, but a bit of an oversimplification.
 

Pacifica

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he hasn't heard anyone pronounce puella and puellā differently
He also hasn't heard any ancient Romans speak. ;)
They are supposed to sound different in the reconstructed classical pronunciation—which of course doesn't mean that everyone today manages or cares to make them sound different.
 

EnitLee

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He also hasn't heard any ancient Romans speak. ;)
They are supposed to sound different in the reconstructed classical pronunciation—which of course doesn't mean that everyone today manages or cares to make them sound different.
Ok, but if I can chalk it up to laziness I'm quite content haha.
 
 

cinefactus

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It isn't laziness, so much as the way that Latin used to be taught.
 
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