Reading classical Greek: language and literature (A275) - a brief introduction

Free learning from The Open University http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/

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Dr James Robson introduces Reading classical Greek: language and literature (A275)

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For more information about 'Reading classical Greek: language and literature' visit http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C01A275

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• Dr James Robson
• classical Greek language
• Greek culture
• Greek literature
• beginners Greek
• Greek vocabulary
• Greek grammar
• Greek texts
• Herodotus
• JACT Reading Greek Euripides
• Aristophanes
• ou_a275
• open university

[tawnylion1]

hi, i'm a long time student of the OU and i am doing this course at the moment and loving every minute. 10 out of 10

[TheOpenUniversity]

Thanks for the comment, best of luck with the course!

[AkaMouTinn]

The difference between latin and greek is the difference between a child that can understand and an adult that can understand and MAKE himself understood. The unbelievable vocabulary of greek words and the perfect sounds that you discover in poetry and all literature is what makes you realise how incomplete and impotent "languages" are english, french etc. Modern greek is hugely relevant with ancient greek. And you have to be born greek to realise it or at least live in greece for long time.

[AkaMouTinn]

its not enough to learn how to pronounce greek. The difference will come when you are able to "think" in greek. You will then realise that germanic and romanic languages are litteraly impotent languages. If you can feel and think in greek you will connect yourself with the primordal archetype of western civilization which is ofcourse greek. But to do that you must change your logic to the logic that collapsed in 1453 and found again incomplete in the italian renaisance.

[geragna]

@GREdimitraki12 That was very informative. Thank you for your opinion :D

[GREdimitraki12]

@geragna personally i find it very difficult to read and understand ancient/hellenistic greek but nonetheless i do catch a few phrases of similarity if im lucky. For me, knowing modern Greek complements the understanding of ancient Greek so i would say they should be studied separately. I would say knowing the grammatical format of modern Greek, an easier language compared to ancient Greek, would create a great basis for learning ancient Greek.

[geragna]

@GREdimitraki12 Question: How much different is Hellenistic/Ancient Greek as compared to Modern Greek? If you can speak and read modern Greek, are you able to understand Hellenistic as well? Or is it so different that it should be studied separately from Modern Greek? Please comment back! :)

[AkaMouTinn]

@Thorakites if the doctor is there you shouldnt be talking to me.

[Thorakites]

@AkaMouTinn

The Doctor is already here. He's asking why you don't like Fezzes.

[AkaMouTinn]

@Thorakites dont worry everything will be allright. The doctor will come soon.

[Thorakites]

@AkaMouTinn

Your comment is like a Republican redneck: Nationalistic, piggish, delusional, and retarded.

[GREdimitraki12]

i speak both english and greek fluently and im starting to learn spanish but there is such a difference when you live ur daily life in the greek language...it is like the greek language opens up so many more doors of explanation that the romance and germanic languages cannot comprehend.

[AkaMouTinn]

@xgnothixseautonx your comment is like a broken pencil ..... pointless

[JonathanGiraldo99]

@YiannisThiakos

This has nothing to do with the subject at hand, but I would like to note that Japanese has no future tense either...