Greek

[Nicknak]

Anyone wanna talk in greek or want to ask something?

[Slither360]

I am studying the greeks and I want to know how to say: we are the best!

[Gwenhwyfara]

I am considering taking Greek classes, and am curious about the differences or similarities between different varieties (or is "dialects" the better word?). For instance, if I studied modern Greek, how well would I be able to understand Classical texts, and if I studied Classical Greek, how well would I be able to communicate with Greek people today? Are Classical and Koine Greek mutually comprehensible or are they very different?

[Klio]

Giassou, Nicknak!

How do you spell your language on a messageboard like this, in Latin letters?

Modern Greek (and I assume that bthis is the version meant here) is one of the languages I read reasonably well (at least texts I need for my work) - but I am rather bad at speaking/writing it, and it would be fun trying to use it a bit. I LOVE Greek (of any age) - what a fantastic language!!!


Gwenhwyfara,

It's absolutely crucial not to think of Ancient and Modern greek languages as ONE language. They really are different, and it is (IMHO) easier to learn them as separate languages. That said, they are closely related, so knowing modern Greek will help you with learning ancient Greek, and the other way round.

Compared to Ancient Greek (AG), Modern Greek (MG) has a fairly simple grammar and especially verb forms - so that makes a difference in learning them, especiually if you learn AG first and then move on to MG.

The script is the same, but the pronunciation is VERY different. Basically, MG spells many words as they were in ancient times (or close to that) but the pronunciation has moved on. As a result it is difficult to spell a Greek word correctly if you just heard it and don't actually know it. However (unlike in English) it is possible to read a MG text and pronounce it correctly. The pronunciation rules a logical


Classical Greek and Koine Greek, however, are just two different versions of ancient Greek. And if you learn one version of AG you should not have too much trouble reading other dialects. The main versions are the following:

- Classical Greek (= Attic, the dialect of C5th/C4th BC Athens),
- Ionic Greek (Herodotus' language),
- Epic greek (a mix of dialects, as used in the Iliad and Odyssey),
- Koine (the version of Greek written in the Hellenistic period - typical examples: Polybios, Diodoros)
- New Testament Greek (simplified version of Koine, and, depending on the author, with a dash of Aramaic word order and expression).

All these are accessible if you learn one of these versions first, although going from Classical Greek to the other versions is the usual way of leearning the language - Classical Greek is in some ways most fussy about verbforms and some refined details of grammar and syntax, so going to the others from there tends to be easiest.

Some people start with Epic greek and that seems to work OK as well.

If you start with NT Greek (as some people do as well) you'll have to make some adjustments to deal with Attic, but it isn't too difficult.

[Gwenhwyfara]

Thanks, Klio! I thought Ancient and Modern Greek probably were very different, but I wondered whether it was closer to, for instance, the relationship between Modern English and Middle English (which is understandable a lot of the time) or between Modern English and Old English (which isn't). Thanks for the explanation! That's exactly what I needed! I think my school only offers Koine, and intend it mostly for Divinity students. Now I have a place to start.

[Nicknak]

Originally Posted by Slither360

I am studying the greeks and I want to know how to say: we are the best!

imaste i kaliteres <- that's how you say it in latin letters.

Έιμαστε οι καλίτερες <- that's how you spell it in greek

lol

[drummer]

The Lord's Prayer in the original Greek means so much more than in the translated English because of the Aorist Past.

[Nicknak]

Ah really? Thanks, i never knew!

[KarmenO]

I'm coming as an exchange student to Greece for summer ^^
Though I can't speak greeks at all :/ (Not even one word (a))
But we have few days before going to live in a family some classes to learn something =)

[Tonks_Animagus]

Τι λέτε? Τα ελληνικά είναι τέλεια!
Γειά σε όλους!

[JoAdams]

I'm from Greece and I've got to say that it's a fascinating but extremely rich and difficult language even for us here!

Anyway, καλημέρα σε όλους. =)

[Pravus]

Ενδιαφέρον, πόσος κόσμος μαθαίνει ή θέλει να μάθει ελληνικά...

[Tonks_Animagus]

Us Greeks have the hardest time with this language. They make us study even Ancient Greek xP

[sparrowinwinter]

Awesome! I love Greek. Fascinating language I think. My dad is part Greek and he is fairly familiar with Ancient Greek. I am trying to learn Greek at the moment. I can read and understand a bit as well but I've still got a lot to learn.

[Ms_Snuffles]

Hello fellow Greeks! Or should I say γεια σε όλους τους Ελληνάρες εκεί έξω; :P

Well, I find it really hard for someone to learn Greek, except maybe if he/she is Italian or Spanish, who I 've noticed have particularly good accent, but if you truly want it, you 'll be fascinated!

By the way, Έμυ εδώ!