Insights or Perspectives: ‘Can you consider yourself Greek if you don’t speak the language?’

·

By Eleni Elefterias

Following on from last week’s column on what makes us Greek, I would like to present my view. What is the point of considering oneself Greek if you can’t speak the language? 

It is a unique, beautiful, lyrical language that opens your mind and fills your heart with treasures you can never imagine unless you can understand it.

It isn’t the same reading Modern Greek literature in translation. One could say it isn’t the same reading Homer in Modern Greek instead of Classical Greek but remember there is only one Greek language from antiquity to today. It is one of the oldest living languages and has evolved from the lyric language of Homer to the beautiful language it is today. So even if you read Homer in Modern Greek, it is still beautiful. 

Though many poets have been translated to English, very successfully, such as the poetry of Constantine Cavafy, it is always better in the original.

Speaking of Constantine Cavafy, he was a Greek born in Egypt who spent time in England and yet he wrote in Greek and became of Greece’s most celebrated poets and one of the top selling poets worldwide. Another interesting fact is that he only visited Greece twice in all his life and for a total period of one month.

Therefore, you see, you do not need to be born in Greece to be Greek. You need to practice ‘the art of being Greek’. That intellectual spark that can start a fire within you, a great love of the language that can lead to so much more. 

A deeper understanding of philosophy, religion, the arts, science, even life itself. 

Most European languages have borrowed heavily from Greek but Greek has also gobbled up many ancient dialects, many languages that do not exist anymore. 

*Eleni Elefterias-Kostakidis is a teacher of Modern Greek and University lecturer. 

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Untitled-2020-11-15T185819.367.jpg

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

10 years on, Angela Merkel defends her stance on Greece and the eurozone

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she never wanted Greece to leave the eurozone, speaking during a special event in Athens.

Wildfires ravage Crete and Halkidiki as Greece battles summer blazes

Firefighters in Greece are battling multiple wildfires, with major blazes reported on the island of Crete and in Halkidiki.

Kia ad sparks outrage among Greek Australians over ‘Macedonian Marble’ reference

Kia Australia faces backlash from Greek Australians over an ad showing “Macedonian Marble” alongside Parthenon-style columns.

Unley High students enjoy second annual cultural immersion trip to Melbourne

The Unley High School Greek language programme successfully conducted its second annual interstate cultural immersion trip to Melbourne.

Tass Mourdoukoutas among departures as Perth Glory begin squad shake-up

Tass Mourdoukoutas is set to leave Perth Glory, with the club confirming his departure alongside three other players.

You May Also Like

Greek pole vault star Emmanouil Karalis wins silver at World Indoor Championships

Emmanouil Karalis claimed silver in the pole vault at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, setting a new national record.

Adelaide Festival Centre to receive $35 million upgrade

South Australia’s iconic Adelaide Festival Centre is set to receive a $35 million make over. Read more of the story here.

Stefanos Tsitsipas attributes early Australian Open exit to ‘karma’

Stefanos Tsitsipas expressed frustration and reflection after his unexpected first-round exit at the Australian Open on Monday, January 13.