Learning modern and ancient Greek at the same time: do-able?

[Adelheid]

Who has experience with studying modern and ancient Greek at the same time? Can that be done without mixing the two up too much?



Regards,
Adelheid

[ThomasGR]

Emm yes, it is possible and done all the time. In Greece by the Greeks. The only problem you would have (as a foreigner) is the pronunciation, you have to forget all that rubbish foreigners invented for their own sake (that’s to make them easier to learn Greek), and change to modern Greek pronunciation. That pronunciation is sounding even more humanly and sounds so sweet to the ears, like a melody After a while spent reading modern Greek, you’ll understand where I want to direct your attention

[Adelheid]

@ThomasGR

Emm yes, it is possible and done all the time. In Greece by the Greeks

I did indeed mean for foreigners. I’m sure for Greeks it will be no real poblem.

@ThomasGR

modern Greek pronunciation. That pronunciation is sounding is even more humanly and sounds so sweet to the ears, like a melody

I was thinking more about grammar.

Regards,
Adelheid

[Pangnosis]

Chaire,

I don’t think that the grammar will be much of a problem. If you can handle to learn the grammar of ancient Greek you will have no problem learning the grammar of modern Greek as well. It is very similar. After all, many educated modern Greeks, usually politicians, laywers, doctors, important intellectuals etc, use parts of the ancient grammar when they speak; and especially when they write formally.
Your problem will probably be on a number of words of which their meanings has changed through the centuries. They meant something else in ancient Greece than what they mean today and you have to learn their differences.

PS: You may choose the way you want to pronounce the ancient Greek language, but don’t use the Erasmian pronounciation when you speak modern Greek, .

[Adelheid]

@Pangnosis

Your problem will probably be on a number of words of which their meanings has changed through the centuries

I was worrying about the grammar being perhaps too similar (the subtle differences would then be a source of confusion), but the changed meaning of words may be the more important thing to keep an eye on.

Thanks,

Adelheid

[mingshey]

A side-kick,

Since there are a few who can understand Korean here,

ναὶ and ὀρθώς in the modern pronunciation almost sound like a good Korean.

네(yes) and 옳소(true).

[Olga_R]

@Pangnosis

You may choose the way you want to pronounce the ancient Greek language, but don’t use the Erasmian pronounciation when you speak modern Greek, .

I completely AGREE!

[William]

I have a goofy question, but one that I am truly curious about: if you went to modern Greece and spoke Ancient Greek, how much of what you said would be understood?

WB

[Olga_R]

It depends on your pronunciation. If you learn the correct one (see posts above ), most people will understand you (although I cannot promise you a 100% understanding). But if you use the horrible Erasmian pronunciation, people will think you are speaking Chinese (and they will not be completely wrong ).