Can people who speak modern Greek easily understand Ancient Greek?

2 Responses to “Can people who speak modern Greek easily understand Ancient Greek?”

  1. Jeannie Says:

    No – Classical Greek is far more difficult; the language has been greatly simplified over the past 2000 years. Classical vocabulary contains many words that are no longer in use, and the grammar is far more complex. The same goes for Latin – its grammar is far more complex than any of its modern day derivatives.

    Compare Shakespeare’s English to ours – he is credited with writing in Modern English. See the differences in just 400 years? Some of what he says is virtually unintelligible. Now imagine the differences over 2000 years. Most Greeks require some degree of study to master Classical.

    However, after four years of Classical Greek and a modern Greek dictionary for vocabulary, I was able to read almost everything from an article in a modern Greek newspaper about 10 years ago. So it is easier going from Classical to Modern, because the grammar is a lot simpler; it is just the vocabulary that must be mastered. I am just referring to reading it, as the tendency is to use standard formal constructions in written pieces. Similar to how we write out "will not" but say won’t. Speaking it would be impossible, as the pronunciation has changed and people use slang and colloquial expressions that you do not usually come across in written articles.

  2. Cornflake.. Says:

    nope. i study both and my modern greek teacher (that is from Greece) doesnt know the most of the stuff we’ve studied in ancient greek

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