[B-Greek] Finding Verbal Roots (more on rules and paradigms)

Carl Conrad cwconrad2 at mac.com
Wed Sep 17 07:18:55 EDT 2008


On Sep 17, 2008, at 5:15 AM, Randall Buth wrote:

>>> Litwak HRWTHSE
>>> ... I need a resource for students
> to use or I need to skip the topic. Anyone who teaches Greek in
> favor of skipping the topic of verb roots?>>
>> lightman APEKRIQH
>> The best resource that lists NT verbal roots is probably Mounce's own
> Morphology of Biblical Greek.  I think introducing the concept of  
> roots and
> stems (note Mounce himself is quick to point out the difference) is
> very important.
> It's one of the things that makes Greek fun. >
>
> As a linguist I think that it is important, or at least fun, to
> discuss verbal roots.
> But we are talking about language learning. Not about how or why a  
> particular
> form is the way that it is.  Are people listening? Do Greek teachers
> care what second language acquisition studies have to offer?
> Teaching a  language through morphological rules guarantees that the
> students do not progress toward fluency. See below if there is any  
> doubt.
> Students will understand WHY "a is A" and "b is B". They may be able  
> to say
> "g should be G1 or G2". But they won't be able to think with the  
> language.
> Is that what we want? To perpetuate the disaster?
> TAXA  DOKOYMEN OTI H DIDASKALIA THS ELLHNIKHS EYQHNOYMENH?

AR' OUK EBLEPES  hWS PROQUMWS SPEUDOUSIN hOI ELLHNODIDASKALOI TOIAUTA  
PUQESQAI? H OUK EMPOREUONTAI SHMERON KAQWS ECQES KAI PROTERON AEI?

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)






More information about the B-Greek mailing list