So Pharr, so good...

Are you reading Homeric Greek? Whether you are a total beginner or an advanced Homerist, here you can meet kindred spirits. Besides Homer, use this board for all things early Greek poetry.
Post Reply
Brendan
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun May 07, 2006 9:50 am
Location: Spain

So Pharr, so good...

Post by Brendan »

OK, I apologise for the horrible pun. But I'm so excited! I did Pharr Lesson XIII today and read my first lines of actual Homer! I just wanted to say thanks to the textkit team for making such a great resource available, and Paul for his greekgeek website and the helpful answer keys, and also whoever put together the "pfarrnotes" pdf that I downloaded with all the stuff on accent rules (I didn't get the name before I deleted it).

Also, two questions that I haven't found answers for yet:

1. For almost every verb, starting around lesson X, Pharr gives the first three parts of the verb, except occasionally when he doesn't. For instance, ὀλέκω doesn't get any other parts listed, even in the vocabulary section at the back. I guess this means it's completely regular, but then why does a verb like λύω (which I think is regular) get the full treatment?

2. I understand that brackets around a form indicate it's rare, and parentheses mean it's a contracted form, but what does a question mark mean? (For example, the paradigm for πόλις in section 704, in plural accusative form.) That it didn't exist? Bottom line, is it a form I need to know?

Anyway, thanks again!

annis
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 3399
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2003 4:55 pm
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Contact:

Re: So Pharr, so good...

Post by annis »

Brendan wrote:1. For almost every verb, starting around lesson X, Pharr gives the first three parts of the verb, except occasionally when he doesn't. For instance, ὀλέκω doesn't get any other parts listed, even in the vocabulary section at the back. I guess this means it's completely regular,
Beware! For this verb, it doesn't mean that at all. Pharr is good for learning, but for this sort of information you need to check the LSJ (via Perseus) or Cunliffe's Homeric dictionary. In this particular case ὀλέκω only exists in the present and imperfect. For other forms the verb ὄλλυμι is used instead.

but then why does a verb like λύω (which I think is regular) get the full treatment?
That does get used in all aspects and tenses.
but what does a question mark mean? (For example, the paradigm for πόλις in section 704, in plural accusative form.) That it didn't exist?
It means that it might have existed, but when Pharr wrote the book the matter wasn't settled. I'm not sure if it is yet. On your first pass through, you probably don't need to spend time on these. If you continue on to read more Homer, you'll want to go back and take a closer look. Some editions of Homer may sometimes choose obscurer forms.
William S. Annis — http://www.aoidoi.org/http://www.scholiastae.org/
τίς πατέρ' αἰνήσει εἰ μὴ κακοδαίμονες υἱοί;

annis
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 3399
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2003 4:55 pm
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Contact:

Re: So Pharr, so good...

Post by annis »

And:
Brendan wrote:But I'm so excited! I did Pharr Lesson XIII today and read my first lines of actual Homer!
Congratulations! :)
William S. Annis — http://www.aoidoi.org/http://www.scholiastae.org/
τίς πατέρ' αἰνήσει εἰ μὴ κακοδαίμονες υἱοί;

Paul
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 708
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2003 4:47 pm
Location: Maryland
Contact:

Post by Paul »

Hi Brendan,

Your infectious enthusiasm more than makes up for the pun. :D

Congratulations!

Cordially,

Paul

annis
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 3399
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2003 4:55 pm
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Contact:

Re: So Pharr, so good...

Post by annis »

I was going to comment on this but forgot...
Brendan wrote:a verb like λύω (which I think is regular)
Take a look at the vowel lengths on the upsilon in the p.parts. It's not quite so regular as it appears.
William S. Annis — http://www.aoidoi.org/http://www.scholiastae.org/
τίς πατέρ' αἰνήσει εἰ μὴ κακοδαίμονες υἱοί;

Post Reply