[B-Greek] English translation as best goal for learning Greek?
David McCoy
davidmcy at io.com
Wed Aug 22 19:18:44 EDT 2007
John,
My own goal, which I think is a good one for the serious study of any
language, is to learn to think in the language, to be able to understand
it on its own terms without having to pass through the step of putting it
into my own language.
This is a superior way, I think, because, not matter how good the
translation, it is never more than an approximation to the original
meaning, and something is always lost. Not that we, so far removed from
the original, can regain it all even if we can think in it, but my feeling
is that we lose less if we can do that than if we have to translate it.
I guess I never saw the recommendations from Carl you mentionned. Please
put me on the track of those, as I would very much like to pursue Attic.
Thanks!
David McCoy
===================================================================
On Wed, 22 Aug 2007, John M. Linebarger wrote:
> Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:02:03 +0000
> From: John M. Linebarger <jmlineb at comcast.net>
> To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [B-Greek] English translation as best goal for learning Greek?
>
> Carl has made statements in passing several times that open with the condition, "If producing an English translation is your goal for learning Greek ..." At the risk of appearing naive, what other goals for learning Greek should be put ahead of the ability to produce an English translation? In priority order, what are the "best" goals for learning Greek, in the opinion of the group?
>
> Blessings!
>
> John M. Linebarger
> Albuquerque, NM
>
> (P.S. I remain grateful to Carl for his recommendations about how to learn Attic Greek. My Mastronarde book arrived in the mail yesterday [it seemed to correspond best to my particular language learning style, and an answer key is available for it] and I've devoured two chapters already.)
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"... if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in
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