I have an 1852 translated copy of Kuhner’s Greek Grammar by Edwards and Taylor. Sorry - still looking for a public domain copy in German.
I’m seeking input about just where this book should fall in line with other yet to be posted grammars. We also have Hadley and Allen’s Greek Grammar, Haldley’s Greek Grammar.
Also, my knowledge of the famous German grammars is not the best.
Can anyone set me straight on what are the must-haves. I’m looking for the grammars that really influenced future Greek educators. The ones that laid the foundation of our ‘modern’ understanding of Greek grammar.
The grammer of Kühner is one of the best German grammers there is! I would even say the best Latin or Greek grammers in German! You must know that it is a very complete grammer and so it can be a little confusing for beginners, but it also is the most complete grammer, with many examples. Universities sees these grammers as the most complete.
I am sure it had a great influence to all other grammers published later on, also English ones! You can see the reference to Kühner in almost every bibliography!
I’m using it myself also and if I must find something you can’t find anywhere else, Kühner is the place! Great that you’ve found the Greek one!
If your english translation is in one relatively small volume, I think it is either a translation of Kuhner’s School Grammar, or a translation of an abridged version of Kuhner’s complete grammar.
I have a copy of the third edition of Raphael Kuhner’s grammar, it is entitled Ausfuhrliche Grammatik der Griechischen Sprache, and is in four volumes ( two parts). Part I: Volume one was published in 1890 and volume two in 1892. These mainly cover accidence, and were revised by Dr Friedrich Blass. Part II: Volume three and four appear to mainly cover syntax, and were published in 1898 and 1904 respectively (and were revised by Dr Bernhard Gerth). Each volume is around 600-700 pages in length.
In addition to a foreword to the third edition (written by Blass in October 1890), Volume one contains the original foreword of the first edition, written by Kuhner on 1 June 1834, and the foreword to the second edition, written by Kuhner on 22 January 1869. Below Kuhner’s name on that foreword is a cross and the date 16 April 78. I assume this is the date that Kuhner passed away.
I don’t as yet read German well, so I can’t provide much more information, but hope that this is of interest. i am hoping to use these when both my Greek (and German) are at a more advanced stage.
My message was about the Kühner in 4 volumes in German. I didn’t know there was a small version too. So I can’t say if the abridged version is good or not,
That explains a lot. I must have some sort of abridge version since it’s only about 450 pages. I’m going to read the preface very carefully to get a better handle on exactly what it is…
I found a bibliographical citation for the Taylor and Edwards translation you have Jeff, and it is indeed translated from Kuhner’s School Grammar (and not his more comprehensive grammar.) See following link:
I remember the huge grammar out at the university many years ago. It is my recollection that it was extensively referenced (and superseded) by later scholars like Smyth ktl. Like the early editions of Liddell-Scott (one of which I picked up by pure happenstance for a song in a used-book store; I never saw another, before or since), it should be regarded for its historical significance now.
What doubly surprised me was that Kühner had been working all along privately on a Latin grammar, equally magisterial in scope and depth in its day.
The syntax volumes (Kūhner-Gerth) are still very useful for the wealth of examples they provide. I believe both Goodwin and Smyth are based on this German work. German scholars in the 19th century did the work of focusing on Greek syntax microscopically, collecting large bodies of examples of specific points. Kühner-Gerth is the product of their efforts, and the American and English grammars rest on this foundation.
