[B-Greek] What we can live with (was papyrus text)

Yancy Smith yancywsmith at sbcglobal.net
Sun Apr 12 16:27:08 EDT 2009



Mark EGRAPSE: 


I can't really explain why I can live with TA and TO sounding alike
but not TO and TWi.
 
If you want to make a convert to Living Koine out of one of the most articulate
defenders of Erasmus out there (me), you are going to have to convince him how
he CAN live with it.

    I for one wish we could live with a higher standard in teaching/ learning Greek at a seminary level. A standard to which Dr. Buth's comments point indirectly. The "imprecision" in the spelling of Greek in the papyri is an indicator of a living language in use: something toward which our teaching and learning should strive.  I have used LIVING KOINE for non-traditional students in seminary who have learning disorders (e.g. unable to memorize the alphabet). I lament, however, that we could not use it for traditional students. The problem was not the students, but lack of faculty unable to try something other than the dismally unsuccessful traditional appraoch. 
      We should judge the traditional approach by the same standard we use to determine the success or failure of any other foreign language teaching program. The Erasmian pronunciation scheme is part of a system that has rarely produced students capable of actually thinking or much less  communicating in Greek.

   Success in these two areas would certainly lead to greater facility in understanding the texts of ancient Christians. Perhaps it would lead to greater quality in the application of the fruits of exegesis.

Yancy Smith, Ph.D.
5636 Wedgworth Road
Fort Worth, TX 76133
817-675-6033





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