The Department of Communication and Media Studies of the NKUA currently hosts two programs that teach Modern Greek and its history to classical philologists. In 2023, the program Modern Greek for Classicists was launched and, the following year, renamed the International Modern Greek Seminar for Classicists. From 2025, we also host the BIP (Blended Intensive Program) Modern Greek for Classicists. These two programs last for five or six days each and are aimed at students of Ancient Greek and teaching staff with knowledge of Ancient Greek from foreign universities, and foreign students with knowledge of Ancient Greek enrolled at Greek universities. All courses are offered free of charge.
The instruction is based on the similarities and differences between the ancient and modern forms of the Greek language. In the initial stage of teaching, the emphasis is placed on the words which are called "carry-overs" (e.g. μέλι, κρέας, πίνω, μένω). These words have in Modern Greek approximately the same meaning as in Ancient Greek (according to the etymologies of the LKN, Λεξικό της Κοινής Νεοελληνικής). Additionally, their Erasmian pronunciation generally corresponds to their Modern Greek pronunciation. Gradually, students are also informed about the differences between Ancient and Modern Greek, starting with the phonological differences, and progressing from there. The program also includes lectures on the history of the Greek language and on the phenomenon of diglossia.
Carry-overs from the 16th century dictionary Corona pretiosa
The teaching method is explained in more detail in the following articles by Jerneja Kavčič (University of Ljubljana), Brian Joseph (Ohio State University), and Christopher Brown (Ohio State University):
For more information on the method and the history of Greek, see also:
So far, the two seminars have welcomed the following lecturers:
