5 good reasons to learn Greek

So  you are looking for a new language to learn. Have you ever considered Modern Greek?

I truly believe Greek is worth it, and not just because it's my language. Okay, maybe precisely because it's my language, I may be a little prejudiced in favour of it. But why not trust my inside knowledge on this? Let's find out the 5 reasons why Greek should be your next language.

#1 NO HARDCORE GRAMMAR

Consider that Modern Greek is not that hard as Ancient Greek. Still, there are four cases to master (including the most interesting and rare vocative case), but all in all, grammar rules are pretty straightforward. As with most Indo-European languages, Greek has become more analytic, making things easier for the language learner.

#2 AWESOME SCRIPT

You will use a beautiful new script that is used in mathematics, science, and engineering. Greek letters are also used in the International Phonetic Alphabet and in the names of stars and constellations. In case you want to appear sophisticated, you could also learn how to write in the quaint polytonic system. So cool!

#3 GREAT POETRY

Some languages are great for prose and some other languages for poetry. Modern Greek is absolutely a language for poetry. We are a small country but already with two Nobel laureates, both in poetry. If you love poems, that's the language to learn!

#4 YOU ALREADY KNOW A LOT

Believe it or not, you already know a lot of Greek. I know, because I have the (bad) habit of saying Greek stuff to friends from other countries and I have seen they understand me. How they do it: using the Ancient Greek they had been taught at school as well as the various Greek elements that appear in certain English words. So with Greek, you are not starting from scratch. Αnd now a quiz for you: can you guess the meaning of the following Greek words? paidiatros (παιδίατρος), pateras (πατέρας) katharizo (καθαρίζω), theatro (θέατρο), panepistimio (πανεπιστήμιο) gymnastirio (γυμναστήριο). You can find the answers at the end of the post.  

#5 A LANGUAGE STILL ON THE MAKING

According to some linguists, Modern Greek is still evolving, trying to sober up after years of struggle between the two varieties known as Demotic and Katharevousa. The two varieties differ in the matter of register, with Katharevousa being more formal due to its connection with Ancient Greek. As a result, there are many sets of words that express the same idea or concept, something that is explored by writers in various ways. Learning Greek will enable you to witness this most interesting phenomenon.

As you see, Greek is a messy language, with tons of exceptions and irregularities. But this is due to its numerous adventures over the centuries. Studying this kind of language can make you grow as a language learner, and this is what matters most.

Still all Greek to you? Read more:

Modern Greek

Varieties of Modern Greek

Modern Greek Phonology

10 Greek Words You Need to Know in Cyprus

It’s All Greek To Me! Food Idioms From the Land of the Gods

Enjoy!

Quiz answers:

paidiatros: paediatrician, pateras: father, katharizo: to clean (related to catharsis!), theatro: theatre, panepistimio: university (related to epistemology!) gymnastirio: gym (from gymnasium). 

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The Athens polytechnic graffiti and the subtle power of urban art

Some days ago, the residents of Athens, Greece, woke up to a huge black-and-white graffiti covering the historic Athens Polytechnic University. It was created during the night, and as you can see, it is not a clumsy job. It needs time, craftsmen, and money to create such a thing.

Who did this? And why? And most importantly, why is everyone talking about it? And not just talking about it; as is common for us Greeks, this has become a philosophical debate. This time is about art. What is art? Is this art? For some people, this is not art, because it is ugly. For others, it is not, because no one says so (it is not part of an art exhibition, that is). For others, it is not, because it is vandalism, an act of destruction.

But why is everyone so uncomfortable? For various reasons, I think. First of all it is bleak. If our journalists were more familiar with Dickens, they would use Bleak House in their headline puns. It is bleak in a deep, depressive way. Some of us can see our troubles, our fears, our worries, projected right onto these walls. No wonder we don't like it at all.

Moreover, I think people are uncomfortable because they have connected it with fear. If someone is capable of going along with such a large-scale project surreptitiously, this someone will do it again. Are our monuments safe? It's all we have, you know.

Besides, this particular building complex carries special significance for us. Athens Polytechnic University was where on November 14-17, 1973, during the military junta, the student uprising took place. Since then, the building has become a symbol; especially during the demonstrations commemorating the 1973 uprising. It has seen countless sit-ins, protest meetings, demonstrations, and in its quaint neoclassical majesty, notwithstanding its wounds, it still stands there today keeping that tragic November night alive.

This graffiti is yet another wound. And in my opinion, this is art. True art kicks us out of our comfort zone, helps us become part of the wound. It celebrates the wound. And, to paraphrase Williams Carlos Williams, the famous American poet, a new coat of paint / is one way of expressing it. However ugly this graffiti may be, since people want to get rid of it so much, it may have hit a particularly raw, raw, nerve.  

Thank you for reading.

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