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dpappas87

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This is some cool info I found out about katharevousa.

Greek is the official language and is spoken by nearly all the citizens. It is an Indo-European language that has been used in this area since the second millenium B.C.E. , although it has undergone considerable change. A major division exists between the ordinary spoken language known as demotic and a formal version known as katharevousa, which was developed in the eighteenth century to revive elements of ancient Greek and develop a national language that did not favor any regional dialect. Katharevousa spread quickly among political leaders and the intelligentsia. Writers initially embraced it, although most turned back to demotic Greek by the twentieth century. Katharevousa was used for most state documents, in many newspapers, and in secondary school instruction until the 1970s but has been displaced by demotic Greek since that time.

Source: https://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Greece.html#ixzz717YSfPBy
 
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Thanks so much for sharing this great information!!
 
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It's a real shame this is not taught in school anymore. Most people can't speak it anymore...
 
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Hmmmm.....interesting I've never heard of this before
 
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Is this a more formalized version of the Greek language? I think I may have seen it written in some older Greek writings...
 
Is this a more formalized version of the Greek language? I think I may have seen it written in some older Greek writings...
You have definitely seen it in older writings. Until about the 1930s (I think) they used to teach katharevousa in school. Today, almost no one speaks it and people will laugh at you if you speak it; although, some words are still used. For example, the technical terms for "red blood cell" and "white blood cell" are erythrocyte and leukocyte. In katharevousa erythros means red and leukos means white.

Greek is getting g dumbed down and it's a shame. The younger generation wants to simplify things (e.g. getting rid of dipthongs) - e.g. In the past the word "train" was spelled "τραίνο" and now people spell it as "τρένο".
 
You have definitely seen it in older writings. Until about the 1930s (I think) they used to teach katharevousa in school. Today, almost no one speaks it and people will laugh at you if you speak it; although, some words are still used. For example, the technical terms for "red blood cell" and "white blood cell" are erythrocyte and leukocyte. In katharevousa erythros means red and leukos means white.

Greek is getting g dumbed down and it's a shame. The younger generation wants to simplify things (e.g. getting rid of dipthongs) - e.g. In the past the word "train" was spelled "τραίνο" and now people spell it as "τρένο".
Sometimes simple is good, but you lose a lot of history and culture with it. I find Greek very hard to spell and learn, and i’ve heard a lot of native speakers struggle with the spelling. The rules are pretty hard to follow. I’m not sure if that has much to do with katharevousa though
 
Sometimes simple is good, but you lose a lot of history and culture with it. I find Greek very hard to spell and learn, and i’ve heard a lot of native speakers struggle with the spelling. The rules are pretty hard to follow. I’m not sure if that has much to do with katharevousa though
Greek grammar is very difficult to learn, especially for a foreigner. Up until the 70's ancient Greek was taught at high schools. Just like English they made it simpler and easier to learn. They even had two different accents, oxia and perispomeni, that's gone. What about pneumata they don't exist now either.
I don't know where you I'm guessing USA. American English is simpler than UK English. As an example they replace "gh" in the word light with a T .
 
Greek grammar is very difficult to learn, especially for a foreigner. Up until the 70's ancient Greek was taught at high schools. Just like English they made it simpler and easier to learn. They even had two different accents, oxia and perispomeni, that's gone. What about pneumata they don't exist now either.
I don't know where you I'm guessing USA. American English is simpler than UK English. As an example they replace "gh" in the word light with a T .
Ancient Greek is still taught in high school and middle school.
 
Sometimes simple is good, but you lose a lot of history and culture with it. I find Greek very hard to spell and learn, and i’ve heard a lot of native speakers struggle with the spelling. The rules are pretty hard to follow. I’m not sure if that has much to do with katharevousa though
Learning to spell in Greek is no different than other languages. The people in Greece who can't spell are the same as English speakers who can't spell - they aren't trying hard enough to learn.

Grammar isn't that hard to learn in Greek, but you will pick it up over time and start to sound more like a native as you practice.
 
Learning to spell in Greek is no different than other languages. The people in Greece who can't spell are the same as English speakers who can't spell - they aren't trying hard enough to learn.

Grammar isn't that hard to learn in Greek, but you will pick it up over time and start to sound more like a native as you practice.
Hmm that's a pretty good point
 
Hmm that's a pretty good point
When it comes to spelling and phonetics, English is far harder language than Greek because English is a language made up of several different languages. When it comes to grammar, English is a complete joke, except for the prepositions "in, at, on, and to". Most languages only have one word for these prepositions, and in Greek that word is se (σε). Eimai sto (se + to) spiti sou = I am at/in your house, Eimai sto (se + to) nisi = I'm on the island, thelw na paw sti (se + ti) thalasa = I want to go to the beach. Greek people will use these prepositions incorrectly when speaking English (e.g. I am to your house), and it's hard to teach them exactly when to use them because there are specific rules on when to use them.
 
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When it comes to spelling and phonetics, English is far harder language than Greek because English is a language made up of several different languages. When it comes to grammar, English is a complete joke, except for the prepositions "in, at, on, and too". Most languages only have one word for these prepositions, and in Greek that word is se (σε). Eimai sto (se + to) spiti sou = I am at/in your house, Eimai sto (se + to) nisi = I'm on the island, thelw na paw sti (se + ti) thalasa = I want to go to the beach. Greek people will use these prepositions incorrectly when speaking English (e.g. I am to your house), and it's hard to teach them exactly when to use them because there are specific rules on when to use them.
This is true, Ive heard many people say that English is pretty hard in terms of getting the grammar perfect, but because there is no verb conjugations its actually pretty easy to communicate when you don't know it perfectly
 
It's a real shame this is not taught in school anymore. Most people can't speak it anymore...
I'm in no position to make a judgment on the utility of this formalized Greek language, but I just learned from Wikipedia that it does, or tries to do, away with the ancient Greek vowel diphthongs; I suppose it retained Xi [ks] and Psi [ps]. That is a pity, because many diphtongs are not mere diction phenomena, but significant grammatical forms, as in "Zeus huei". Furthermore, one reason I think that Greeks, not Phoenicians, invented the alphabet is precisely that the Greek language had an abundance of vowel sounds which had to be represented in writing. (The fact that some Semites used only consonants in their writings does not imply that the original alphabet consisted of only consonants; it was syllabic, as in the Linear B script and in Greek metric poetry. Syllables require vowel accuracy.)
 
I'm in no position to make a judgment on the utility of this formalized Greek language, but I just learned from Wikipedia that it does, or tries to do, away with the ancient Greek vowel diphthongs; I suppose it retained Xi [ks] and Psi [ps]. That is a pity, because many diphtongs are not mere diction phenomena, but significant grammatical forms, as in "Zeus huei". Furthermore, one reason I think that Greeks, not Phoenicians, invented the alphabet is precisely that the Greek language had an abundance of vowel sounds which had to be represented in writing. (The fact that some Semites used only consonants in their writings does not imply that the original alphabet consisted of only consonants; it was syllabic, as in the Linear B script and in Greek metric poetry. Syllables require vowel accuracy.)
What exactly is a dipthong?
 
What exactly is a dipthong?
To begin with, a single, simple, and distinct sound of the human voice is called a phoneme. Two phonemes, uttered one immediately after another, are called a diphthong. English,too, has many diphthongs, but they are not written down. E.g. : "Night" is not written as n-a-i-t. "No" is not written as n-o-u, where u is a mere sound-flair/twist of o. // Since it is difficult to utter consonants without vowels, Greek has/had few consonantal dightongs. Typical example: PSykhE, which in English becomes S-a-i-ki. // My view: The earliest Greek writing was syllabic, that is, it reflected singing such as it is done to this day, that is, by breaking down whole words into syllables, utterable groups of consonant(s) + vowel(s). [Oh, dont for-get me, O my dar-ling on this my wed-ding day, ...] Gary Cooper was starring in the movie.
 
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What exactly is a dipthong?
It's a combination of letters to make a new sound that they would not make on their own.

For example, in Greek ε=eh and υ=ee but when combined ευ=ef like in the word euharistw (sometimes written efharistw)
 
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It's a combination of letters to make a new sound that they would not make on their own.

For example, in Greek ε=eh and υ=ee but when combined ευ=ef like in the word euharistw (sometimes written efharistw)
Hmmm, so interesting! Everyone on here knows so much about Greek which is super helpful because Im trying to learn some Greek so that I can learn to speak with my husbands family and have an easier time when I visit Greece. Thanks for your info
 

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Of course we spend Holy Week in church. We do our best to fast during Lent, and once Easter comes, it's all about serving our traditional dishes. This year I might spend part of lent in Greece to visit some religious sites.

What do you guys all do?

Tips for Learning and Teaching Greek

I know how to speak Greek okay, but I am not great at it. I want to brush up on my skills, and I also want to teach some of my family members. I am good enough at it to the learn the basics. I am looking for advice, but I've also compiled some ideas:

1. Spend an extended period of time in Greece

There’s no better way to learn Greek than to immerse yourself in the language and culture of Greece. If you have the opportunity, consider spending an extended time in Greece, studying or working, taking a sabbatical, or just exploring the country. Living in Greece can help you understand the nuances of the language, such as the different accents, dialects, and slang that are used. You’ll also have the chance to practice your Greek with locals, watch Greek TV or films, and read Greek books or newspapers. I would imagine this is the best way to learn fast!

2. Use a language program

If you can’t travel to Greece or you prefer a more structured approach to learning Greek, consider using a language program. There are many language programs available online or in your local area, ranging from self-paced courses to interactive classes. Some popular language programs for Greek include Rosetta Stone, Duolingo, and Pimsleur. From what I understand these are all great options and I can learn at my own pace.

3. Take classes

Taking classes is another excellent way to learn Greek, especially if you prefer face-to-face interaction and feedback. You can find Greek language classes in community colleges, universities, language schools, or private tutors. Taking classes can help you improve your Greek skills, such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing. You’ll have a teacher who can guide you through the learning process, answer your questions, and give you homework or assignments that challenge you. You’ll also have classmates who share your passion for Greek and can practice with you.

4. Find ways to immerse yourself outside of Greece

Even if you can’t go to Greece or attend classes, you can still immerse yourself in Greek in your daily life. One way is to find Greek-speaking communities or events in your area, such as cultural centers, festivals, or meetups. You can also use online resources to connect with Greek speakers, such as language exchange websites, social media groups, or chat apps. Listening to Greek music, watching Greek videos or podcasts, or reading Greek literature can also help you familiarize yourself with the sounds and patterns of the language.

Honestly, I plan to try all 4 - whatever I can do. I think it will all help.

Where did plate smashing come from?

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I was just at a wedding and they had purchased plates to smash - so basically they were cheap throwaway plates that actually smashed really well. I almost wonder if they were made for the purpose...

It got me thinking - where did this tradition come from? Does anyone know?

Learning about hospitality in Greece

I was trying to explain to some non-Greek friends about hospitality in Greece. I feel like it's next level, but how do you explain it?

Could anyone help me explain any of the following:
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I am helping someone plan her Greek wedding. I wanted to make a list of all the traditions we need to keep in time for the big day. Did I miss anything?

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The Crowning (Stefana)

One of the most iconic rituals during the ceremony is the exchange of crowns or 'Stefana.' I believe they need to buy the crowns they want in advance?

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