Ever wondered what Latin sounded like?

Here is how Martianus Capella, a writer of the early fifth century A. D., describes the phonetics of the Latin alphabet (De Nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii 3.261; cf. Gramm. VIII 307-8 K.):

A sub hiatu oris congruo solo spiritu memoramus.

B labris per spiritus impetum reclusis edicimus;

C molaribussuper linguae extrema appulsis exprimitur;

D appulsu linguae circa superiores dentes innascitur;

E spiritus facit lingua paululum pressiore,

F dentes labrum inferius deprimentes,

G spiritus cum palato; H contractis paululum faucibus ventus exhalat,

I spiritus prope dentibus pressis.

K faucibus palatoque formatur.

L lingua palatoque dulcescit.

M labris imprimitur.

N lingua dentibus appulsa collidit.

O rotundi oris spiritu comparatur.

P labris spiritus erumpit,

Q appulsu palati ore restricto.

R spiritum lingua crispante corraditur.

S sibilum facit dentibus verberatis.

T appulsu linguae dentibusque impulsis extunditur.

V ore constricto labrisque prominulis exhibetur.

X quicquid C atque S formavit exsibilat.

Y appressis labris spirituque procedit.

Z vero idcirco Appius Claudius detestatur, quod dentes mortui, dum exprimitur, imitatur.

In the translation of W. Harris Stahl, R. Johnson, and E. L. Burge –

We utter A with the mouth open, with a single suitable breath.

We make B by the outburst of breath from closed lips.

C is made by the back teeth brought forward over the back of the tongue.

D is made by bringing the tongue against the top teeth.

E is made by a breath with the tongue a little depressed.

F is made by the teeth pressing on the lower lip.

G, by a breath against the palate.

H is made by an exhalation with the throat a little closed.

I is made by a breath with the teeth kept close together.

K is made with the palate against the top of the throat.

L is a soft sound made with the tongue and the palate.

M is a pressing together of the lips.

N is formed by the contact of the tongue on the teeth.

O is made by a breath with the mouth rounded.

P is a forceful exhalation from the lips.

Q is a contraction of the palate with the mouth half-closed.

R is a rough exhalation with the tongue curled against the roof of the mouth.

S is a hissing sound with the teeth in contact.

T is a blow of the tongue against the teeth.

U is made with the mouth almost closed and the lips forward a little.

X is the sibilant combination of C and S.

Y is a breath with the lips close together.

Z was abhorrent to Appius Claudius, because it resembles in its expression the teeth of a corpse.