About the Greek Language

In which countries is the Greek language spoken?

Greek is the official language of Greece and Cyprus. It is also spoken by small communities in Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine. Greek is also spoken by a large number of expatriate communities and diaspora around the world, including the United States, Australia, and Canada.

What is the history of the Greek language?

The Greek language has a long and rich history, beginning during the Mycenaean period (1600-1100 B.C.), when it was an early form of Hellenic. Ancient Greek was a branch of the Indo-European language family and is considered to be the foundation of all modern European languages. The earliest known literature written in ancient Greek began appearing around 776 B.C. in the form of poetry and stories. During the Classical period (5th to 4th century B.C.), the Greek language was refined and matured into its classical form, which is the basis of modern Greek.
Greek was spoken in some form or another up until the 5th century A.D., when it shifted overwhelmingly to the demotic form, which remains in use today as the official language of Greece. During the Byzantine era (400-1453 A.D.), the main language in the Eastern Roman Empire was Greek. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, Greek went through a period of decline. It wasn’t until 1976 that Greek officially became the country’s official language. Today, Greek is one of the most widely spoken languages in Europe, with nearly 15 million native speakers.

Who are the top 5 people who have contributed the most to the Greek language?

1. Homer – considered the father of Greek language and literature, whose epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, are foundational works of Western literature.
2. Plato – The ancient philosopher is credited with introducing new ideas, words and terms to the Greek language.
3. Aristotle – Not only did he write extensively about philosophy and science in his native Greek, but some believe he was the first to codify the language.
4. Hippocrates – Known as the Father of Medicine, he wrote extensively in Greek, having a major impact on medical terminology.
5. Demosthenes – This great orator wrote diligently in the language, including many speeches, orations, and other works.

How is the structure of the Greek language?

The structure of the Greek language is highly inflected, meaning that words change form according to their role in a sentence. For example, nouns, adjectives, and pronouns must be declined in order to indicate number, gender, and case. Verbs are conjugated to indicate tense, voice, and mood. Additionally, syllables within words often undergo various changes depending on the context they are found in.

How to learn the Greek language in the most correct way?

1. Buy a good basic course in Greek: A good introductory course in the Greek language will give you an overview of the language and teach you the basics such as grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.
2. Memorize the alphabet: Learning the Greek alphabet is the first step to understanding Greek words and phrases. Be sure to learn both the upper and lower case letters and practice your pronunciation.
3. Learn common words and phrases: Try to pick up some of the most common Greek phrases and words. This includes greetings and useful words such as “hello”, “goodbye”, “please”, “thank you”, “yes” and “no”.
4. Listen to Greek music: Listening to Greek music can help you in picking up the pronunciation, rhythm and intonation of the language. It also gives you an organic way of learning the language, as it exposes you to real life conversations and situations.
5. Practice with a native speaker: If you have access to a native Greek speaker, practicing the language with them is essential. Speaking out loud and having conversations in Greek allows you to quickly learn the language and correct any mistakes that you make.
6. Sign up for a language class: If you don’t have access to a native Greek speaker, signing up for a language class is a great way to learn the language. You’ll be surrounded by people who are in the same boat as you and this will give you the opportunity to practice and ask questions about the language.
7. Read Greek literature: Reading classic and modern Greek literature will give you insight into the language and allow you to gain a deeper understanding of its nuances.
8. Watch Greek movies and TV shows: Watching Greek movies and TV shows will get you exposed to the language in everyday conversation so that you can start to understand how it is spoken.
9. Take a trip to Greece: The best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in the culture and surroundings. Taking a trip to Greece will give you an opportunity to practice the language in daily life and pick up on regional dialects.