[B-Greek] Definitions and educational value
Nikolaos Adamou
nikolaos.adamou at hotmail.com
Fri Feb 26 00:06:12 EST 2010
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Is it meaningful to communicate in a form of Greek that we
cannot really communicate?
I wrote and I can communicate in an older form of Greek.
Simply, because as a native, that lived the language of the Bible from
childhood as a familiar liturgical language, and as a language that I study
later on, and practice I can do it, as an exercise.
Greek is a living language, and as such has many forms. I do not think anyone
in a good faith makes an issue on this matter anymore. One of those
forms, the ecclesiastical Greek, still in use, is very close to the language of
the Bible. But it is not for all forms of communication of a daily
life.
I did not see anyone, American or other English native speaker, to communicate
in Shakespearean English even as and exercise.
Living languages evolve, and the current language is the language of
communication. The situation with Greek is that its dialectic variations
are really large - even now-, not only in the form but also in the voice.
Similarly are the differences in the sound and form between American and
British English.
I read recently the "Akademeika anagnwsmata" by George Hatzidakis,
Athens 1902, available in Google Books. He discusses among others the variety
of the sounds in Greek, and pronunciation matters.
Although, he makes a note to the theory of the voice by the antiquity, he shows
that he does not understand it. Just recently it was shown its relationship
between to the music of the Church (Byzantine) as well as the traditional music
(which although carries additional influences from east as well as the
west).
Similarly, the analysis of Janaris in his historical Grammar (in English) is
also important. I am waiting for the volume of Chrys Caragunis from the
past summer conference in honor of Janaris.
Beside the above point, one conclusion is notable.
The reading of the older Greek text forms is significantly important to
our cultural continuation. Loud plain reading, (ANAGNWSIS), as well as
the chanted reading (with Melos) caries significant educational value.
Besides reading, writing by hand as well as with a computer carries its own
educational value. As writing I mean firstly copying (ANTIGRAFE).
The additional composition in a language similar to the NT is an advance
exercise and can be useful, but only when one is very comfortable with the
sound and the text of the language. As always, advance matters are what
the word implies, advanced. Not for all and not for all times and just
for a well defined purpose.
When I will meet native English speakers to use Shakespearean English in their
daily communication, then I may change my mind.
I have seen native Greeks using a language closed to the language of the bible
only in official occasions and for specific purposes. When they have to
say a joke, laugh and relax they use the most current form of the language.
________________________________
Nikolaos Adamou, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Business Management
BMCC / CUNY
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