By Eleni Elefterias
On Tuesday 9th February it was International Greek Language Day.
So who is celebrating? Hardly anyone!
At least not in Greece at the moment due to Covid and definitely not in Australia. With an origin of more than 3.500 years old, it is one of the oldest continuing languages on earth, Chinese being the other.
In this, the 200th year since the beginning of the War of Independence, maybe this day should have been added to the Calendar of the Greek Festival of Sydney. An opportunity lost.
But where do our major organisations stand as far as our Universities are concerned?
All modern languages, and especially Community languages are suffering in Australia. Numbers are down compared with 20 years ago. One big problem is the Australian government’s complete disregard for the importance of languages study.
Unlike our counterparts in Europe where three languages are compulsory, our students get a small taste of a language in primary school of only 100 hours. Lack of funding for languages at University level is therefore one important issue.
Because of this, another issue affecting Modern Greek study is that it is not centralised in one university but offered at three different universities. This means that any funding via benefactors, fundraisers or government sponsorship is divided into three.
Since there are not the students there once were, surely they would consider amalgamation to create one large department. This would only strengthen the position of Modern Greek languages study.
Off the grapevine, I have recently heard that the Greek Archdiocese is planning to create a big Theological Institute that will also teach Classical and Modern Greek.
At first, and if this is true, it sounds like a great idea. However, as far as Modern Greek is concerned it further withers away the numbers from our current universities.
Wouldn’t it be better to integrate their language learning course with that of one of the major Modern Greek Departments such as that of Sydney University?
It seems obvious and we can only hope that there is some cooperation between the two.
More, in next week’s column.
READ MORE: Insight or Perspective: What should the Associations be doing to help Modern Greek?
*Eleni Elefterias-Kostakidis is a teacher of Modern Greek and University lecturer.
Read Eleni Elefterias’ column ‘Insight or Perspective’ in Greek, every Saturday in The Greek Herald’s print edition or get your subscription here.
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