[B-Greek] Definitions in Greek - Format

Randall Buth randallbuth at gmail.com
Sat Dec 1 02:33:50 EST 2007


DANIEL EGRAPSE
> Listers,
>
> I am using a communicative approach in my first year Greek course. Rather than give my students English glosses for Greek words, I have been compiling a picture dictionary. Some words, of course, would be very difficult to define via pictures, so I have been attempting to come up with definitions in Greek. I would value any input from the list about the best format for a definition in Greek. I have consulted some of the ancient Greek  lexicographers like Photius and Hesychius to see how they went about writing definitions, but I have found that they mostly give one-word synonyms and not true definitions.
>
> Here is an example. Let me know what you think:
> πιστευειν
> (ῥημα)= 1) δοκειν τι εἰναι ἀληθες. 2) δοκειν τινα λαλειν το ἀληθες.
> PISTEUEIN (hRHMA)= 1) DOKEIN TI EINAI ALHQES; 2) DOKEIN TINA LALEIN TO ALHQES
>
> Also, would anyone be interested in a collaborative effort to compile such a Greek-Greek dictionary? My students have certainly responded positively to the idea. The definitions, to be really helpful in a first-year class, would need to be written at a beginner's level, employing the most common words in order to define less common words.
>
>Daniel Streett

χαιρε
Nice example.

you should've come to my SBL talk at Biblical Lexicography,
e.g. (ΟΦΘΑΛΜΟΣ)
ὁ ὀφθαλμός ἐστιν μέλος τοῦ προσώπου.
πρόσωπον ἔχει δύο ὀφθαλμοὺς καὶ ἄνθρωπος βλέπει τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς.

O OFQALMOS ESTIN MELOS TOY PROSWPOY.
PROSWPON EXEI DYO OFQALMOYS KAI ANQRWPOS BLEPEI TOIS OFQALMOIS.

that was following WHD Rouse's example of practical
definitions/comprehenisble usages for students. Pictures and TPR, of
course, can make the concrete items easy, though it still helps to
define or use the words in the plainest Greek possible.

I like your example of trying to be more structurally lexicographic.

Randall Buth

-- 
Randall Buth, PhD
www.biblicalulpan.org
χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη πληθυνθείη
שלום לכם וברכות
randallbuth at gmail.com


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