Linguistics and opposite conclusions

Jonathan Robie jonathan.robie at datadirect-technologies.com
Tue Oct 29 08:00:33 EST 2002


At 05:59 AM 10/29/2002 -0500, Carl W. Conrad wrote:

>Long ago on this list I
>expressed a dislike for Jonathan's distinction between "big Greek" and
>"little Greek" on grounds that nobody is so competent in ancient Greek that
>he or she cannot learn new things about it from others. We are all
>students, even if some of us have been studying longer than others.

Actually, Carl, I think that the way I use the term "little Greek" is in 
agreement with what you say here. Here's an excerpt from my "Little Greek" 
home page:

<quote>

What is a little Greek?

A "Little Greek" is someone who is still learning Greek. The phrase 
originated when someone on the B-Greek Mailing List suggested that "a 
little Greek is a dangerous thing". I replied that I am a Little Greek, and 
I am dangerous, but so are some of the Big Greeks. Most Greek grammars say 
a few things that are completely wrong, and most noted authorities on the 
Greek language have said at least one stupid thing. But there is good news: 
even Really Incredibly Awesome Big Greeks can be Little Greeks too, as long 
as they realize one thing:

EXOMEN DE TON QHSAURON TOUTON EN OSTRAKINOIS SKEUESIN, hINA hH hHPERBOLH 
THS DUNAMEWS hH TOU QEOU KAI MH EX hHMWN (2 Cor 4:7)

Those who don't know aren't dangerous; those who insist they do know are 
very dangerous. This is just as true for Really Big Greeks as for Little 
Greeks. Each of us knows only in part; if we want to profit by studying 
Greek, we must have the humility and the patience to learn one step at a 
time, to be corrected by others, and be open to the Spirit who guides us in 
all truth.

</quote>

I've learned important things in this thread, especially from Iver and 
Mark, and intend to keep learning.

Jonathan




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