Is it worth studying ancient Greek?

In short, as much as it pains me to say it, today the main reason to learn Greek is simply out of curiosity and respect for one of the oldest languages in the world today. Greek is an amazing language with a rich history that has played a role in the world for centuries, and as such is always well worth learning.

Why is it important to study the Greek?

The Language of English Root Words Students who learn Greek are better able to learn and identify root words, increasing their English language vocabulary while learning Greek.

How long does it take to learn to read ancient Greek?

Unless you start reading from a wider base than just the New Testament there are constructions you’d never see. If your goal is just to read, you can develop a reasonable fluency in about five years. If you want to be able to compose in Greek, plan on taking the next ten years to become fluent.

How fast can I learn Greek?

For a motivated English-speaker, who’s gone to school, studies every day for about 1½ hours, you could reach an upper intermediate level of Greek in about 2½ years. This is based on the calculator that I made for figuring out how long it takes to learn any language depending on different factors.

Why should you learn Ancient Greek?

Another great reason to learn Ancient Greek is just because learning the language will change how you think about the world. Ancient Greek is an incredibly nuanced language. To give a famous example, in English, we only have one word for love, but, in Ancient Greek, they distinguish between all different kinds of love.

Why read Ancient Greek literature in English?

First: If you are interested in ancient Greek literature, you could be reading it in the original language. So much is lost in translation! Second: Vocabulary building and improved grammar comprehension in English—Spelling and syntax in English improved. The reason?

What is the Ancient Greek language?

Ancient Greek! The language of Aeschylus, Aesop, Alexander the Great, Archimedes, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Euclid, Euripides, Hippocrates, Homer, Pericles, Plato, Ptolemy, Sophocles, Thales, Thucydides, Xenophon, and lots of other famous characters from our Western heritage. It’s also the language of the Greek New Testament.

What do you call a person who studies ancient Greek literature?

A person who studies ancient Greek & Latin literature is called a philologist. From ancient written sources we have a good idea of what the dialects of ancient Greek sounded like, but you will not be learning how to speak Greek in this course; rather, you will learn the grammar and syntax through oral and written drills.