[B-Greek] How NOT to learn Biblical Greek
George F Somsel
gfsomsel at yahoo.com
Sat Jul 14 10:51:29 EDT 2007
I suppose the worth or lack thereof for everything depends on how it is used. A hammer makes a lousy screwdriver, and the overuse of anything (even a Greek lexicon) can stunt one's development.
I think that tools such as Logos or Accordance are quite valuable though it is possible to misuse them as well. If one continually relies upon them to provide parsing and vocabulary information which should have been learned because of the frequency of certain forms and definitions, that is a misuse. If, however, one uses them as a convenient way to have texts, lexicons and grammars available without having to devote additional shelf space to them as well as being an aid in the truly difficult situations, then they can be valuable. The problem with some tools such as interlinears or parsing guides is that one can become too easily dependent upon them. It is hard to ignore an English translation of the Greek when it is immediately below the text which is why I would rather see someone use a parallel text on a separate page so that a conscious effort must be made to look at it. It is in the end dependent upon one's own determination of what he wants to accomplish and his
will-power in sticking to that goal.
george
gfsomsel
Therefore, O faithful Christian, search for truth, hear truth,
learn truth, love truth, speak the truth, hold the truth,
defend the truth till death.
- Jan Hus
_________
----- Original Message ----
From: Bryan Cox <bccox99 at tx.rr.com>
To: B-Greek B-Greek <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 9:33:07 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] How NOT to learn Biblical Greek
While I can appreciate the warnings, as an autodidact, I have a very
different opinion of the various tools that instructors nearly denounce as
evil.
Tools such as interlinears, parsing guides, computer software (eg.
Accordance, Bibleworks, Logos, etc.), and online resources (eg. Perseus,
Zhubert, Blue Letter Bible, etc.) can also be extremely valuable to those
learning the languages.
In the beginning, the learner will obviously be heavily dependent upon such
resources (unless instructed otherwise, which I think can also be
potentially damaging to learning). However, the more often one makes use of
such resources, the more will sink in and become memorized over time.
My own experience began with reading through an interlinear Greek Bible. I
focused on the Greek words and grammatical structures, referring to the
English as necessary for lexical definitions and some help with grammar (of
course other sources must also be used since the English cannot always
follow the Greek perfectly). As I continued through the interlinear, my
recognition of words and sentence structures became better and better so
that I was eventually able to graduate to a Greek Bible (by Zondervan) that
had minimal word definitions at the bottom of each page. Finally, I was
able to procede to a purely Greek Bible.
So, while I understand the warnings given, I feel that they may discourage
(and even scare away) students from using tools that may also benefit them.
I can't tell you how often I've heard the mantra blindly repeated by recent
graduates from seminary that interlinears and parsing guides are bad and
should not be used. Why? They are very helpful tools if used correctly
(that's why they exist to begin with)...I think this sort of indoctrination
can be damaging.
Just my 2 cents.
Thanks,
Bryan Cox
Plano, Tx
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl W. Conrad" <cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu>
To: "B-Greek B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 5:55 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] How NOT to learn Biblical Greek
>From his early days as a reporter of parliamentary debates, Charles
Dickens was an indefatigable satirist of the way British government
functions. The "Circumlocution Office" is the primary instrument of
Britain's parliamentary government in Dickens' late novel, "Little
Dorrit." The fundamental concern at which the Circumlocution Office
labors diligently day and night is "how not to do it."
The blog to which I call attention this morning bears the title I
have cited in m my subject-header above. It is yesterday's offering
in "Withering Fig," maintained by Stephen Hebert:
http://www.witheringfig.com/2007/07/13/how-not-to-learn-biblical-greek/
OR: http://tinyurl.com/2yrxq
I must say that the advice offered therein is not at all at odds with
what I've urged repeatedly in this forum myself, but I cite the key
headers and applaud in parentheses:
"(1) “Reading” Through Perseus: By far, the most egregious error that
students make is the extensive use of sites like Perseus, or software
like Logos or Accordance."
(That is to say, make an interlinear your primary resource -- and an
online interlinear is quicker and dirtier)
"(2) Study for the Exam"
(That is to say, memorize all the endings and rules so that you can
reproduce them on demand; I've seen all too many students who could
parrot the endings and rules of grammar and still couldn't make sense
out of a paragraph or two of Greek text.)
"(3) Skip to Koine"
(That is to say, read the Greek NT first and only, and by no means
make forays beyond the LXX.)
And finally: "No matter what you do, practice is essential. I
strongly suggest using flash cards and daily schedules. Treat it like
exercise. Heck, get religious and fanatical about it. Do it with
friends if that motivates you. Just find some way that keeps you
doing it day in and day out."
(Amen, Amen!)
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad2 at mac.com
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/
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