[B-Greek] "Crossing the Rubicon" (learning Greek NOT in English)

John Sanders jfs at jfsanders.com
Sat Jun 23 07:42:03 EDT 2007


I would like to thank Dr. Conrad on posting the item, I was formerly able to access that site, but in China the government is concerned about the moral welfare of its citizens, and consequently has inaugurated a system (which we affectionately refer to as the Great Nanny) to block those sites that will lead to the irrepairable harm of its citizen, and that site is apparently on of those so identified.  
 
Now, for just a comment or two about language learning.  Mr. Robie is quite accurate in his observation about the difficulties of picturing particles (and I would include prepositions, etc.).  Ivar's suggestion is good for starters, to help us begin to acquire an understanding of Greek, but I fear it has limitations for learning purposes.  
 
Many who study Japanese have a very difficult time using particles with any degree of accuracy.  I believe this is because they are attempting to "intellectualize" their use.  The same can be said of German prepositions for native English speakers.  I think what would be better is to learn the patterns that these elements are used in.  Let me give an example in English:  "Yea, and he went into the store, and look around, not knowing what to do.  And he even bought a little trinket and turn around and went outside and looked down at his feet and saw his shoe untied.  And so he bent down to tie his shoe, and as unbelievable as it may sound, there was a one hundred dollar bill, right there, just as if it fell from heaven, just for him."  I do not think one needs to attempt to identify what the "and" means in the above sentence, they just form a pattern which one uses in speaking.  
 
The same can be said of prepositions.  Look at the English word "in", and in such phrases as: in the house, in regards, in appreciation, in all his glory, in detail, etc.  the first instance gives some spacial relationship, but the others?  I do not think one needs to attempt to define each term, just learn to use the patterns, become comfortable with the patterns, and pretty soon you do not need to identify an English equivalent unless you need to provide translation, and even then a translation that needs to account for each word and term.   As an example, if I am reading, let us say first chapter of Luke, and someone points to the fifth verse and asks what that means (if I recall, it begins "egento de")  and I say it means "when Herod was king" and she then points to "egento" and asks if that means "when"?  Now I need to explain word for word and term for term.  For "de" I have a hint, just a hint, of Japanese "wa".  
 
So to recap, I would learn the patterns rather than attempt define these items with some type of recipe or definition.  You will find you can learn faster and more accurately (although you will feel that it is slower and less accurate).  It is as if you were practicing moves in Judo or wrestling, or perhaps the piano or violin.  It is that practice that makes it more comfortable for you.
 
John Sanders
Suzhou, China  
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