Είναι όλα ελληνικά για μένα!

It’s all Greek to me! I love words, and I love knowing their etymology. As I am learning Greek, which is extremely difficult–it’s like learning two languages in one (Romanized and Modern Greek), but it’s also interesting to research both the modern and ancient origins of the word–which I often find myself doing.

It has been interesting to see how many of our English word origins have derived from Greek. Actually, most of us speak Greek, and we don’t even know it! 

Here are some of the fun and interesting anecdotes I have learned about Greek in my studies.

The word alphabet comes from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet: alpha (α) and veta (β). 10% of English words and 30% of English vocabulary consists, directly and indirectly, of words of Classical Greek origin.  Once you learn the letters it’s easy to sound things out. It’s the vocabulary that’s difficult. Unlike other languages, there is not a direct equivalent to the English. The Greek Alphabet only has 24 letters! It has been written since the 403 BC. Anciently, only capital letters existed in the Greek alphabet, with the lowercase developed much later. The Sigma has an additional lowercase form used for word endings. 

Thankfully, I have found a Greek ABC song to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” that has been helpful in learning the alphabet order. Greek Alphabet Song 4

The Greek language is an Indo-European language which has existed from around the 14th century BC. Modern Greek is a living tongue and one of the richest surviving languages today, with more than 600,000 words. The Greek language, with a documented record spanning three and a half millennia, is a strong element of national continuity. While Greek has changed over periods of time, if you know Modern Greek, you can probably original, Greek texts without much translation. That’s pretty cool!

Before 1976, Greek had two variations. Demotic was used in most casual contexts, as well as in literature. Katharevousa, on the other hand, was used in academia, law, medicine, newspapers, and the armed forces. In 1976, however, the Greek government adopted Demotic as the sole official language.

The Greek alphabet was the first to use vowels. The Greek alphabet has a long history and has been around since the 9th century BCEIt was the first alphabet to use vowels; before that, written language consisted only of consonants. Greek was originally written from right to left, like modern Hebrew or Arabic. It then went through a period of boustrophedon, meaning that lines alternated between right-to-left and left-to-right script. Nowadays, it’s written only from left to right.

There are two-letter consonants. Such as gamma kappa which make the English G sound.  So, my name in Greek doesn’t have a direct letter translation. It is Μόργκαν. There are also two-letter vowels. Almost every word in Greek is accented where you stress the spoken word. There are 3 genders (German, is also this way)- feminine, masculine, and neutral, and the could be any of the three!

Historically, the Greek language wasn’t monolithic. Various dialects, such as Ionic, Aeolic, and Doric (Greek Island groups), existed with distinct differences. Over time, the Attic dialect, used around the Athens region, became predominant, especially after the classical era. Today, Greek-speak sound very similar, no matter where the speaker is from.

The Greeks introduced spaces between words, making texts more reader-friendly. They also developed a system of dots (akin to modern-day periods or full stops) to denote pauses in speech, laying the groundwork for punctuation as we know it. The Greek ? looks like a ;__which is my favorite form of punctuation 🙂 In Greek the comma also functions as a silent letter in a handful of Greek words, principally distinguishing ό,τι (ó,ti, ‘whatever’) from ότι (óti, ‘that’).

Many Greek words found in medicine, mathematics, philosophy, and the sciences are rooted in Greek. Even college life has Greek embedded in it. Greek has also influenced other languages as well. Though not as significant, English’s influence can be seen in Modern Greek. The word γκλαμουριά (pronounced “glamour-ee-ah”) derives from “glamour,” among others. Greek words have been widely borrowed into other languages, including English. Ancient Greek was the foundation for works of literature, official documents, and religious texts. Unlike Latin, Greek did not die–it has evolved.

Greek words are long! Greek boasts the longest documented word: “λοπαδοτεμαχοσελαχογαλεοκρανιολειψανοδριμυποτριμματοσιλφιοκαραβομελιτοκατακεχυμενοκιχλεπικοσσυφοφαττοπεριστεραλεκτρυονοπτοκεφαλλιοκιγκλοπελειολαγῳοσιραιοβαφητραγανοπτερύγων,” a comedic term from Aristophanes’ play, “The Birds.” It refers to a fictional dish made of various foods. It’s 171 letters. 

Greek is the official language of Greece and Cyprus. Greek is spoken at the E.U., since both Greece and Cyprus are members. It is a minority language spoken in Albania, Armenia, parts of Italy, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, and even Turkey.

The Greek language, as one of humanity’s enduring voices, presents a tapestry of history, innovation, and cultural amalgamation. Delving into its lesser-known aspects not only offers linguistic insights but also emphasizes the profound impact of the Hellenic world on the global canvas of communication and thought. It’s complex. It’s difficult. I am learning so much–not only about Greek, but English as well. Truly-it’s all Greek to me!