Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE QUEST FOR “PURE” GREEK
When Greece achieved independence in 1832, its people were mostly illiterate, and the
spoken language -
dhimotikí
, “demotic” or “popular” Greek - had undergone enormous
change since the Byzantine and Classical eras. The vocabulary had numerous loan-words from
the languages of the various invaders and conquerors - especially Turks, Venetians and Slavs
- and the grammar had been considerably streamlined since ancient times.
The leaders of the new Greek state, filled with romantic notions of Greece's past glories, set
about purging the language of foreign words and reviving its Classical purity. They accordingly
created what was in effect an artificial language,
katharévoussa
(literally “cleansed” Greek).
Long-forgotten words and phrases were reintroduced and complex Classical grammar
reinstated.
Katharévoussa
became the language of the schools, government, business, the law,
newspapers and academia. Everyone aspiring to membership in the elite strove to master it.
The split between
katharévoussa
and
dhimotikí
quickly took on a
political
dimension with
intellectuals and left-wing politicians championing the demotic form, while the right, notably
the colonel's junta of 1967-74, insisted on the “purer”
katharévoussa. Dhimotikí
returned
permanently after the fall of the colonels, though the Church and the legal profession still
persist with
katharévoussa
.
All this has reduced, but not eliminated, confusion. The Metaxás dictatorship of the 1930s
changed scores of village names from Slavic, Turkish or Albanian words to Greek ones - often
reviving the name of the nearest ancient site. These of
cial
place names
still hold sway on
most road signs and maps - even though the local people may use the
dhimotikí
or non-Greek
form. Thus for example you will see “Plomárion” or “Spétsai” written, while everyone actually
says “Plomári” or “Spétses”.
Polite forms and questions
Greek makes the distinction between the
informal
(
essý
) and
formal
(
essís
) second
person, like the French “tu” and “vous”. Young people and country people often use
essý
even with total strangers, though it's best to address everyone formally until/unless they
start using the familiar with you, to avoid offence. By far the most common greeting,
on meeting and parting, is
yiásou/yiásas
(literally “health to you”).
To ask a
question
, it's simplest, though hardly elegant, to start with
parakaló
(please),
then name the thing you want in an interrogative tone.
GREEK WORDS AND PHRASES
ESSENTIALS
Hérete/Yiássas
Pós se léne?
What's your name?
Hello
Mé léne
…
My name is …
Kalíméra
Good morning
Kýrios/Kyría
Mr/Mrs
Kalíspéra
Good evening
Dhespinís
Miss
Kalíníkhta
Goodnight
Parakaló,
o …?
Where is the …?
Adío
Goodbye
Dhén xéro
I don't know
Thá sé dhó ávrio
See you tomorrow
Tí kánis/Tí kánete?
How are you?
Kalá íme
I'm fine
Kalí andhámosi
See you soon
Páme
Let's go
Ké essís?
And you?
Né
Yes
Parakaló, ná mé
Please help me
voithíste
(Dhen) Trógo/píno
Óhi
No
Parakaló
Please
I (don't) eat/drink
(Dhen) Mou aréssi
I (don't) like
Efharistó (polý)
Thank you (very much)
Sygnómi
Sorry/excuse me
Málista
Certainly
Endáxi
OK, agreed
Miláte
angliká?
Do you speak English?
(Dhén) Katalavéno
I (don't) understand
Anikhtó
Open
Klistó
Closed
Parakaló, na milísate
Speak slower, please
pió sigá
Pós léyete avtó stá
Méra
Day
Nýkhta
Night
How do you say it in Greek?
Elliniká?
Edhó
Here
