Learn Ancient Greek. in 20 minutes!

Transcription

1 Learn Ancient Greek in 20 minutes! Deepen your knowledge of English! Impress your friends! α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω Latin is an honour, Greek is a treat Winston Churchill

2 CONTENTS Pages Read Greek words you already know 3-5 The full Greek alphabet 6 Key to words on pages 3-5 and notes 7-8 Spotting Greek words in English 9-10 Read an ancient Greek story Read a book about Ancient Greece 13 Attend a Greek course 14 FURTHER INFORMATION If you would like further copies of this pamphlet or have any general queries please the author: Sylvia Moody symoody@aol.com α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω 2

3 Nine Greek lessons Lesson 1 Here is a Greek word: φιλοσοφος Use the key below to write the word in English letters, and then you will probably see its meaning: φ = ph ι = i λ = l ο = o σ = s (at the beginning or in the middle of words) ς = s (at the end of words) Check your answers and find out more about these words on pages 7-8 Full Greek alphabet is on page 6 Lesson 2 You have two Greek words to read; if you put them together, you will have the basis of a modern English word. The two words are: θεος + λογος You will need to use some of the letters you used above, and these new ones: γ = g ε = e θ = th Lesson 3 New letters: ω = ο (long as in rose) ρ = r α = a θεωρια 3

4 Lesson 4 μυθολογια New letters: υ = u or y μ = m Lesson 5 You have two Greek words, both of which have been taken unchanged into English. 'υβρις νεμεσις New letters: ' = h β = b ν = n Lesson 6 δημοκρατια New letters: δ = d η = e (long, as in see) κ = k τ = t Lesson 7 An easy word for you this time; you already know all the letters: δραμα 4

5 Lesson 8 επιταφιος One new letter (which, however, may already be familiar to you): π = p Lesson 9: You have now learned almost all the Greek alphabet. There are only four letters remaining: ζ = z ξ = x χ = ch ψ = ps Use these letters to read these words: ζευς λαρυνξ ψυχη 5

6 The full Greek alphabet: Greek English Greek English Greek English α a ι i p r β b κ k σ,ς s γ g λ l τ t δ d μ m u u,y ε e ν n φ ph ζ z ξ x χ ch η e ο o ψ ps θ th π p ω o Note: The English letter h at the beginning of a word is shown in Greek by e.g. ηρακλης Herakles How to pronounce the Greek alphabet: alpha iota rho beta kappa sigma gamma lambda tau delta mu upsilon epsilon nu phi zeta ksi chi eta omikron psi theta pi omega 6

7 Key to, and notes on, words on pages 3-5 Lesson 1 Word in Greek: φιλοσοφος English transliteration: philosophos English version: philosopher The Greek word φιλοσοφος is made up of two shorter Greek words: φιλος+ σοφος φιλος means: lover or admirer or friend. σοφος means: wise So φιλοσοφος means: lover of wisdom Lesson 2 Words in Greek: θεος + λογος English transliteration: theos + logos English version: theology θεος means: god λογος means: study of, inquiry into Lesson 3 Word in Greek: θεωρια English transliteration: theoria English version: theory Lesson 4 Word in Greek: μυθολογια English transliteration: mythologia English version: mythology μυθος means: story λογος means: study of, inquiry into 7

8 Lesson 5 Words in Greek: 'υβρις νεμεσις English version: hubris = pride, effrontery nemesis = fall, punishment Lesson 6 Word in Greek: δημοκρατια English transliteration: demokratia English word: democracy δημος means: people κρατος means: power, rule Lesson 7 Word in Greek: δραμα (from δραω = to do) English transliteration: drama Lesson 8 Word in Greek: επιταφιος English transliteration: epitaphios English word: epitaph επι means: on top of ταφος means: tomb Lesson 9 Three words in Greek: ζευς λαρυνξ ψυχη Zeus larynx psyche 8

9 Spotting Greek words in English Many Greek words entered English in the early Christian era through Greek translations of the New Testament. Many more entered the language in the Renaissance period, when there was an upsurge of interest in the ancient world. In this period, too, there were many new scientific discoveries and advances in medicine and other areas of learning. New words were needed for all the new things that were being discovered and discussed, and many of these new words were either taken directly from Greek, or constructed from combinations of Greek words. For example, our word psychology. The Greeks themselves did not use the word psychology, but they gave us the two words from which it is formed: psyche (meaning soul or mind) and logos (meaning inquiry into). A word taken directly from Greek is climax; however, in Greek climax had the meaning of ladder! Words taken from Greek with their original meaning are: drama, anemone, pathos, Eros, hippopotamus and mathematics. You've already learned the Greek alphabet and read some Greek words, so perhaps now you'd like a bit more practice. The words below are all the first half of English words that end in -logy. This ending comes from the Greek word λογος which means account of or inquiry into. The first one is done for you. (The answers are given immediately below.) βιος = life + λογος biology ζοον = animal κοσμος = universe αστρον = star χρονος = time Answers: zoology, cosmology, astrology, chronology Here is another set of words which end with -graphy, from the Greek γραφη which means 9

10 writing about: γη = earth βιος = life αυτος = myself αυτος + βιος = myself + life Answers: geography, biography, autograph, autobiography Here is a set of words, or pairs of words, which give us our names for commonly studied subjects. Can you identify the subjects? μαθημα = lesson, science φυση = nature, natural world 'ιστορια = story οικος = house + νομος = law, regulation αστρον = star + " " " Answers: mathematics, physics, history, economics, astronomy 10

11 Read a story in Greek And, finally, because Greeks liked a good story, here is a story containing some Greek words which you can transliterate to get the equivalent English words. (See next page for notes on the words in this passage.) 'εκτορ and δαφνε were exploring the μητροπολις. They dined at the κριτηριον restaurant on αμβροσια, drank a delicious νεκταρ and listened to the ορχηστρα. After that the ιδεα was to go to a κινημα see a δραμα. But before they got there, things reached a horrid κλιμαξ for poor δαφνε, who developed strange convulsions of the θωραξ and fell into a κωμα. She collapsed in the arms of the faithful 'εκτορ, who exclaiming 'φευ, φευ,' called a physician, whose διαγνωσις, after a careful αναλυσις of the symptoms, was that the γενεσις of the trouble was not her ψυχη but δυσπεψια contracted from a long sojourn in the tropic ζωνη. Daphne's ασβεστος digestion had not been proof against the νεκταρ. She reached and passed the κρισις three days later, although the affair nearly ended in a καταστροφη. Fate, however was determined to punish her, in spite of the fact that αμβροσια was αναθημα to her afterwards; for it was soon found that she was suffering from αφασια brought on by the νεκταρ, which left its στιγμα upon her for the rest of her life. The ηχω of her hollow groans used to scare passers-by, who wondered what sort of strange χαρακτηρ she was. But at last νεμεσις overtook her, and she faded away, the sad σκηνη reaching the ακμη of παθος. (From: Teach Yourself Greek, F. Kinchin Smith and T.W. Melluish) 11

12 METROPOLIS CRITERION AMBROSIA ORCHESTRA IDEA CINEMA DRAMA CLIMAX COMA PHEW DIAGNOSIS ANALYSIS GENESIS PSUCHE DYSPEPSIA ZONE ASBESTOS CRISIS CATASTROPHE ANATHEMA APHASIA NECTAR STIGMA ECHO CHARACTER NEMESIS SCENE ACME PATHOS From μητηρ mother and πολις city. From κρισις = a means of judging, standard, test. Food of the immortals. From α = not + βροτος = mortal. Originally the circular dance floor for the chorus in front of the stage. Form a favourite word of Plato, who is famous for his theory of ideas. kινημα = a thing moved (hence moving picture in Modern Greek). A thing done or acted. From the verb δραν to do. Originally a ladder; later a gradual ascent to a climax. Deep sleep. A word as old as Homer. The Greek exclamation for grief or anger. From δια = through + γνοσις, the process of investigating. Ανα = up, from bottom to top + λuσις, setting free, unravelling. Origin, source, manner of birth. Means something like: breath, life, spirit, soul Hard to digest. δυς = hard, bad, unlucky + πεπτω = digest A belt or girdle, so zone in English means a girdle of the earth. Inextinguishable. From α = not + σβεννυμι = extinguish Originally the process of separating or distinguishing, eg, sheep from goats. κατα = down + στροφη = turning. Overturning, sudden end. ανα = up + τιθημι = place, offer. Pagan offerings were regarded as accursed. Speechlessness. α = not + φασις = speech. Homer's word for the drink of the gods. A thing pricked, so a tattoo, mark, brand. From the root στιγ = to brand. The Greeks personified Echo. A distinctive mark. From χαραζω, to incise. Righteous indignation of the gods, divine vengeance. The hut at the back of the Greek stage οn which the scenery was painted. Highest or culminating point of anything. Experience, often calamitous experience, so suffering. 12

13 Congratulations! You are now able to read Ancient Greek and to recognise some of the Greek words that are at the root of 30,000 English words. To learn more about the Ancient Greeks themselves --- their views on life, the universe and everything read: ETERNAL QUESTIONS NOTES FROM ANCIENT GREECE by Sylvia Moody Here you will see how the Greeks tackled questions such as: What is life? Is there a god? What can we know? How should we behave? What happens after death? α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω 13

14 Learn Ancient Greek For those who would like to learn their Greek at leisure in a beautiful country house with good food, great company, and gardens courtesy of Capability Brown, there are weekend courses throughout the year at: Madingley Hall Madingley Cambridge CB3 8AQ On-going courses: Courses at all levels offered by the City Lit in central London Those who want an intensive experience of Ancient Greek could attend a summer school: One-week courses: St. John s College, Durham London Summer School in Classics King's College London Strand London WC2R 2LS classics@kcl.ac.uk Two-week course: Department of Classics University of Wales Lampeter Ceredigion SA48 7ED Eight-week course: Department of Classics University College Cork, Ireland / 2359 Recommended book in which Greek is learnt via English etymology and you read real Greek from the beginning: Teach Yourself Greek F. Kinchin Smith and T.W. Melluish Available second-hand at: amazon.co.uk or abebooks.co.uk Sylvia Moody 14