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Greek discussions directory
2092
Hello everybody in the lovely duolingo community!!!! Here's a list with all the discussions which may be helpful for anyone who learns Greek or tries to discover the Greek culture and history!!!
Introduction
Culture
Greek lessons
Resources
Immersion (FR -> EN)
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For the alphabet, see also this discussion, made by danaie
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Also, you can see this discussion about the letter ι, made by danaie
Competitions
26 Comments
Very good work! I always thought that the way the language changed through time is very interesting, especially the distinction in modern times between καθαρεύουσα and δημοτική. It might be important for new learners to know that some texts, especially older ones (I believe before the 80s) are written in a different system and with different vocabulary, which confused me at the beginning. I thought it was ancient Greek because of the many accent tones whereas the Modern Standard Greek only has one.
2092
Don't get upset! An average Greek person can't read a document which was written before 1700-1800!!! Now we study texts of the revolution of 1821 at school and I can't say that I can understand them comfortably!!! :)
2092
Both δημοτική and καθαρεύουσα were used in Greece for same decades, while there were some mixed writing systems...So it's very difficult to distinguish...
2092
In Greece, Cyprus (although it's a bit different there, an average Greek person can hardly understand what a guy from Cyprus says, but it's considered as Greek too), and in the Greek minorities, which are expanded all over the world!!! The most known Greek communities are in the USA, Australia, Germany, Albania and Turkey but there are Greek people everywhere because many people immigrated from Greece in the 20th century and as Greece is in the centre of the worldwide financial crisis of the years 2010, many young Greek people immigrate abroad to find a job. You can also find Greek people in the UK, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Slovakia (Greek students go there for cheaper university studies), Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden, Russia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, EVERYWHERE!!! If you type on google "Greeks in ...." and the place where you live, you'll see the site of the Greek community of your region. :)
Its an official language in Greece and Cyprus (though the average greek has trouble understanding cypriot greek due to the fact that they have a different accent and intonation).
Anywhere where there are greek immigrants there will be greek spoken, because we love our language and cannot bear to forget it.
2092
Yes, of course! I'd be so glad to cooperate with you! I think we had talked in the past, so we know each other. :)
2092
Greek and French too!!!
- https://www.duolingo.com/comment/5838681 (for Greek)
- https://www.duolingo.com/comment/5840156 (for French)
:)
2092
I don't want to disappoint you, but no. It won't help you much. Ancient Greek is the form of Greek spoken in Greece about 3,000 years before. Since then, the language has changed dramatically... The only thing where may ancient Greek be useful is spelling. If your level in ancient Greek is very good, then you'' probably can guess how some Greek words are spelled, but this will be done instinctively and it will take many years to be able to do that, not to mention that your ancient must be in a very high level and your modern Greek must be also in a high level... Also, you must be careful, because you may get confused with modern Greek. The alphabet is the same in modern and ancient Greek but most letters were pronounced in another way then! Also, the accent system was very different! So, you have to start modern Greek from the beginning, ancient Greek won't help you at all, at least in the basics. :)
324
Thank you so much!! I've been trying to use the reverse course to learn some basic Greek, but finding this discussion will help me so much to be better able to navigate my way through this. Thank you!