We report micro-Raman and far-infrared reflectivity spectra obtained f
rom the two members SrCuO2 and Sr0.5Ca0.5CuO2 of the solid solution Sr
1-xCaxCuO2 with orthorhombic chain structure. The analysis of the spec
tra is based on the similarity between the investigated stucture and r
elated copper oxides. which contain the same type of copper-oxygen cha
ins. The assignment of the observed lines to atomic vibrations is supp
orted by shell model lattice-dynamics calculations.