| An Apocalypse: Hellenic Lexicodynamics and its Impact on the English Language BY: COSTAS MILIOTIS Preamble: We have been referring throughout the works herein to Hellenes or Greeks. Simply, we wish that the reader understands the origin and use thereafter of these two adjectives. In Homer's times Hellenes were the Thessalian tribe of which Hellen was the reputed chief. Later Hellenes became the common name for all Greeks.The term Greek: used by foreign peoples, was derived from Graecia, the Latin name for a small Hellenic tribe of Epirus. Over twenty-four hundred years ago the Greeks unwittingly reached the pinnacle of what has been bequeathed to us today, namely: culture, literature, art, music, drama. The gorgeous new Parthenon, temple of their patron goddess Athena and mythological goddess of wisdom and women's craft, (thus, our logo) shone down on them from the Acropolis. In their theaters were produced the tragedies and comedies which are still the marvels of the world. There was much free thought among writers and intellectuals and a plethora of speculation on questions of science, philosophy, and religion. Conceivably, all these plateaus, reached by our forefathers, were achieved because they paid special attention to their surrounding world and most importantly the beauty of the Greek language. Those gifted minds did not simply use the language as a sum of words. Clearly, the language is the filter of the mind. Beyond these facts, the language is a conduit, a means by which a people's civilization and philosophy is cultivated, developed, and expressed. Behind the words and their diverse meanings a nation's mentality, values, credo are expressed with the propensity towards their sciences and arts. Thus, the Greeks were glossoplasts. (How do you like glossoplast?); glosso=tongue-language+plast=form=create. For an additional touch of support of our assertions, kindly see an attachment at the end of this article. In fact, the Greeks were equally conscious of the sound, pronunciation, diction and grammar. Why do you suppose the word symphony is spelled with an "m" instead of an "n". The "n", as in syn=with, is the original letter. But, to the Greeks the "n" after the consonant "f" sounded cacophonous! The English language, which is an amalgamation of several languages, has borrowed generously from the Greek language. In fact, 24.6 percent of the English language has been borrowed from the Greek, and another 24.8 percent has been borrowed from Latin. Of course, Latin has borrowed greatly from the Greek. For a quantified presentation on this subject, kindly read the article contained in this domain (Greek for structure from dome, as in ecodome) entitled: "The Prevalence of the Hellenic Mind in Today's Americanism." Following, the reader is introduced to a sampler of Greek words in the English language, as it is next to impossible to include close to 85,000 words of Greek origin. Yet, the English language has borrowed an impressive principle from the Greek, i.e., phantasy, or IMAGINATION! As Greek has used adjectives to describe its world, e.g., hippopotamus is composite of hippo=horse and potamus=river or river horse. Thus, today English is combining a Greek root word with another Greek root word and comes up with a third. For example take the word geo for earth. The following is a brief, yet concrete example of borrowing Greek words and imagination: geo+botanical centric chemical chronological graphical logical physical political thermal A fascinating presentation is offered below. One can read a whole subject by solely using Greek derivatives, as used in the English language. "Εάν δεν μιλάτε Αγγλικά, διαβάστε το κάτωθι …Αγγλικό κείμενο! Αφιερωμένο, εξαιρετικά στους…..ξενομανείς, που θέλουν να αφανίσουν την Ελληνική γλώσσα. Ξέρεις ελληνικά; Τότε ξέρεις και αγγλικά! Το παρακάτω άρθρο είχε δημοσιευτεί πριν από καιρό σε βρετανικό περιοδικό τέχνης (;) Αξίζει το κόπο να το διαβάσεις…! “The genesis of classical drama was not symptomatic. Aneuphoria of charismatic and talented protagonists showed fantastic scenes of historic episodes. The prologue, the theme and the epilogue, comprised the trilogy of drama while synthesis, analysis and synopsis characterized the phraseology of the text. The syntax and phraseology used by scholars, academicians and philosophers in their rhetoric, had many grammatical idioms and idiosyncrasies. The protagonists periodically used pseudonyms. Anonymity was a syndrome that characterized the theatrical atmosphere. The panoramic fantasy, the mystique, the melody, the aesthetics, the use of the cosmetic epithets are characteristics of drama. Even through the theaters were physically gigantic, there was no need for microphones because the architecture and the acoustics would echo isometrically and crystal – clear. Many epistemologists of physics, aerodynamics, acoustics, electronics, electromagnetics can not analyze – explain the ideal and isometric acoustics of Hellenic theaters even today. There were many categories of drama: classical drama, melodrama, satiric, epic, comedy, etc. The syndrome of xenophobia or dyslexia was overcome by the pathos of the actors who practiced methodically and emphatically. Acrobatics were also euphoric. There was a plethora of anecdotal themes, with which the acrobats would electrify the ecstatic audience with scenes from mythical and historical episodes. Some theatric episodes were characterized as scandalous and blasphemous. Pornography, bigamy, hemophilia, nymphomania, polyandry, polygamy and heterosexuality were dramatized in a pedagogical way so the mysticism about them would not cause phobia or anathema or taken as anomaly but through logic, dialogue and analysis skepticism and the pathetic or cryptic mystery behind them would be dispelled. It is historically and chronologically proven that theater emphasized pedagogy, idealism and harmony. Paradoxically it also energized patriotism a phenomenon that symbolized ethnically character and phenomenal heroism.” Αλήθεια…Υπάρχει κανείς που δεν κατάλαβε τι έλεγε το παραπάνω άρθρο; An effort has been made to show frequently used, yet not too obvious words of their Greek origin. We dare call them "buried." Words in bold are more indicative of the unexpected. Aside from peripheral knowledge, the author has researched several scholarly sources. A most useful text reference has been: "The Greek-English Lexicon" by Liddell & Scott, Eighth Edition. This particular dictionary was published in Oxford, October, 1882 and it contains 1776 pages in an 8 1/2 x 14 inch dimension. Another is "Webster's New World Dictionary-College Edition" by The World Publishing Co of New York-1959. The latter has a fine etymological content. For starters, look at this gorgeous wrathful island, SANTORINI. The word Santorini is a composite from Latin Santa for Saint and irini, Greek for peace In true Alphabetical order: A. Alfa. alphabet, abyss, acacia, academia, acantha, acapnia, acardia, acatastasia, acatharsia, acathisia, ace , acolasia, acousma-acoustic, acre from acra=agra=agros, acroama, acrobat, actinoid, adamant from damazw=adamastoV, aerobics, aerologia, aetiology, agamy, agerasia, agonia and agony from agwn, agoraphobia, agrypnia, akathisia, alchemy , allergy from alloV+ergon, almond from amigdalon, amazon-ian, amethyst, amnesty, amphibian, amphitheater, anachronism, anaesthesia, analogy, anarchy-ist, anathema, anatomy, anchor anecdote, angel, angiogram, anode, anomaly, anonymous, anorexia, anorectic, anthem from antifwna, anthropo+ from anw+qrwsw (uywnw), anti + biotic, antonym, apathy, aphrodi- siac, apnea, apogee, apology, apostrophe, aracnophobia, archdiocese from arch+dioikhsiV, aristocracy, arithmetic, arm from armoV , army from arma-ta artery from airw , asitia, asparagus, asthma, astrodome, ataxia, atheism, athlete, atlas, atmosphere, attic from Attikh, aura, austere from austhroV, authentic, automatic, autonomy, B. Beta. bacterium, balanus balanorrhea, ball from ballizw=corebw, ballet, balm, balsam, baptism, barbarian from bar bar bar!, baritone, barometer, base, basil, bath from baqoV, bathy- scaphe, bible from biblion, bibliotheca, bionics and all words commencing with bio..., blame from blaspheme, blast from blastw, blepharis, blepsopathia, from the tiring of the eyes, bomb and bombard, botany, bottle from boutiV meaning container, box from puxoV=to puxari , brad from braduV, brilliant from beriloV, Britain from Brettanoi which was adopted from the Greeks of Marseilles, brom, from brwma, bromide, bronch, bucolic, bulb from bolboV, butter from bouV + bouturon, C. Although there is no such a letter in the Greek alphabet, several Greek words commenc ing with a "K" or kappa have been adapted and the kappa has been converted to the Latin "C". caca and caco from kakoV, cactus from kaktoV, caliber from kalapouV, calm from kauma, camera from kamara, qolwth orofh, canister from kanistro, canon from kanoni, canopy from kwnwy - kounoupiera, canvas from kannabiV, canyon from kanna, card from carthV, cardia and all additions, carton from carthV, several words derived from the preposition cata, caustic like burning, celery from selino, celiac from koilia the belly,stomach, abdomen or cavity, cemetary from kumamai to sleep, centaur, center from kentron, cephal as in kefali, ceramic, cerat, chamber from kamara-qolwth orofh, chameleon, chaos , character, chart, chasm as in casma, chiromancy, chem-istry, chestnut as in kastano, chicory, chime as in kumboV, chimera, chir as in ceip=hand, chlor-chlorine, cholera, cholic, chondr as in hypo- chondriac, chord, chorea as in choreography, chorus, chrism as in Christ, chroma, chrome, chron as in chronometer or chroni or chronicle, chrys for golden, church from kuriakon, cinema-tography from kinhmatografoV -this word is anathematic to Greece as it was imported frm abroad without the "k" and the k has been converted to a "c" and then sigma, circus, cist, citrus, class = to break, clergy and clerk from klhrikoV, climate, climax, clinic klinh-krebati, coccus, coffer, coffin, collage, colon, coma =deep sleep comet, from komh as in pony tail, comic , comma from koptein to cut off, crater, criterion, critic, crown from koronh, cryo as in cold, crypt, ctenoid, cybernetics from kubernetikoV, cycle, cyclone, cylindre, cynic from kuwn=dog, Cyntia, cypress from kuparissoV, cyst, D. As in delta dactyl, demon, Daphne, deacon, decade, deleterious, demagogue, demo-cracy, dendron, derm, despot, deut-erology, devil from diaboloV , dia and a large number of words combined to give composites, betes, diabolic, dialect, diatribe, diarrhoea-ea, diaspora, diction from deiknunai, dilemma, diocese from dioikhsiV, diode, diphthong, diplo with a large array of words as in diploma and diplomat, dish from diskoV, dock from doch , dodeca as in twelve, dogma, dome , domestic, domain, Doris, Dora, as in THEODORA and if we reverse the God/ gift we get THEODOR (neat he!),dose, dragon, drama; Conceptually, the heights and quality of the Greek drama has never been equaled! dynamic, dys as in adverse with several additives to produce numerous words, dyslexia, dystaxia, dystrophy. E. Epsilon. ebony from ebenoV, eccentric from ekkentroV, echo, eclectic from eklektoV, eclipse, ecology, economy,ecstasy, ecto from ekyoV-exw with quite a number of words,eczema, ego, elastic, electric from Thales of Miletus, ellipse, elk from elafoV, elixir from xeroV, embryo, empathy, emphasis, empiric, emporium, encrypt, endemy, endo with a large number of additives, energy, enigma, enology, enter from enteron =intestine, enthusiasm from en+qew, entomology, from entomon =the insect, entropy, enzyme, eon, ephemeral from efhmeroV= epi+hmera, epic, epicenter, epicure, epidemy, epigram, epilogue, episode, episteme, epistle, epitaph, epoch, epoxy erg from ergon as in energy, eros, erotic, eso, estrogen, ether, ethic, ethnic, etymon as in etymology, eu with a host of words, exit from exw, exorcism, exotic. F. As in Phi fancy from fantasiV, father from pater, frenetic and frenzy from frenetikoV, fucus, fungus from spoggoV G. As in Gamma galaxy from gala =milk-y, gamete from gamew to marry, gangrene from grainw+ rokanizw, gas from caoV, gaster from the belly, genealogy, generation, genious from gen=to create, genuine, general, generous, genus all derived from genoV, geo, George from gh =earth and erg=unit for work, gloss from glossa, gonorrhea from gonoV +reo , govern from kubernw, gram, graph, gym and gymnaast from gumnoV =naked, H. This is strictly the rough spirit dasua of the Greek grammar. Hades, halo from alwV, halogen, harmony from armoV = a fitting, harpoon from arpazw, hectic from ektikoV, hedonist from hdonisthV, Helen, helic from elix as in helicopter= propeller+wing, helio from sun, helix, Hellas a derivative of Hellen, hellenistic, hema, hemi, hemisphere, hepar the liver, heresy from airw =to take, hermit, hero, herpes to crawl, heter from other, hex, hexagon, hier as in devine, hilarity and Hilary from ilaroV=joyous in appearance, hipp, hippopotamus, histic, history from eidenai to know, hoi polloi =the multitude or the crowds, holo, homily from omilia , horizon from orion homo of the same, howl from ololuzw, hubris, hulk from olkaV, hydrant from hydro=water and antlia =pump, hydraulic from udor+auloV, hydrogen, hyena from uaina, hygro, hymn, hyperbole, hyphen from uf+mazi, hypnic, hypo, hypothesis, hystear and hysteria, hysterectomy from womb+a cutting out= ustera=mhtra=mhtera+ektomh, I. as in Iota . iatric, iberia, ichthy, icon, idea, ideal, idealism, idiom, idiot from idiwthV, idol, idyl, ignorefrom gnorizein, iliad, iodine, ion, irony, isomer, Istanbul a composit of the words eiV thn poli -if you were to repeat this phrase a few tmes fast you will get the clear sound of in+stan+bul or istinpol (neat ha!), isthmus. J. No Greek letter. jealous from zhlotupoV. K. Kappa. Note that many words originating from the Greek and commence with a k, the k has been converted into a Latin "C" as on Kakophony=cacophony. kairos, kaleidoscope, keloid, kinesic, kinetics, kleptomania, koinonia, krypton, kyrie eleison. L. Lampta. labyrinth, laconic = he who uses few words, lamp, lantern from lampthr, lars, laryngitis, lay from laoV, leopard, leper, leproma, lesbyan= one from the island of Lesbos, leucoma, leukemia, lexicon, lily from leirion =white, lion from lewn, lip from lipoV, litany from lith-litaneia lithium, lobe from loboV, lotus from lotoV, lyceum, lyssa as in lyssoid. M. Mu. machine, macro, magic from mageia, magnet, malacia from softness, mania, marble from marmaron, marmalade from melimhlon=meli+mhlon or sweet apple, mass from maza, massage from massw + zimonw, mastology, mastitis from breast infection, mausoleum, mechanic from mhcanikoV, medal from metallon, medic, megalo+, melancholy = today's depression, melodrama, melody, melon from mhlopepwn, melt from meldw, menopause from menas or month and pause, or the stop of the montly cycle, migraine from hemikrania which is hemi=half+kranion=skull. N. Nu . nanoid from nanos=dwarf, naos=temple narcissus, nausea from nautia, nautic, necr+ as in necrotomy, necta, nemesis, neo, neph, nephron, neural, neo, nome, nomo=law, noso, nostalgia, nun from nonna=mhtera, nymph=maiden, nystagmus = nustagmoV =drowsy, sleepy. (This word is used by law enforcement when a DWI is administered; it is called: "horizontal gaze nystagmus test.) nyxis. O. Omikron . (small o vs. big o= wmega) ocean, octo for eight, octave, ode from wdh (a song), odo, odont, oedema or edema, oedipal from oideo to swell, oenophile from wine, oil from elaia , olig from small or little, omega from big o as in small o= omikron , onco as in oncology, ontology the mataphysical science of being, onyx, oo as in egg, how about oography=the painting with egg yoke instead of oil (the former lasts 1200 years to 600 for the latter), opal, opthalmo, opisthen, optic, orchi, orchid, organ, orgy, ornithology from bird study, orphan ortho=correct=straight= upright, osmosis, osteo the bone, otic, oxygen, oxymoron from extreme and foolish, (check out sophomore), oyster from ostreon , P. Pi pachycarpus, paed+ from child, page as a Congrational page from paidion , pain, paleo+, pali as in palindrome, palm from palami , palikar from palikari , pan and pam-both are same but the “m” replaces the “n” for phonetic melody, panacea, pantomime=all+mimic, paper from papuroV , parable, para+ as in paradox and parasite, parish and parochial from paroikia , parody, paste from pasth , and pastry, path from patw , pathos, patr+ pause from pausiV , pedal from pedon , ped+ from child, pegmatic, pelican, penal from poini , peper, pepsic as in pepsi and pepto+, perch, peri+, petal, Peter from Petre=stone, petrify, pew from pouV-podoV , phantasy, pharmacon=poison, phase from fainw - fasiV, pheasant from fasiano, phila+, philter and filter from filtron, phon+ for voice as in phone and phonics, phos+ as in light, photo which is the genitive of phos, phrase, phren the mind as in schizo= phrenia, physic for nature, pile the hairline from pilos , pilot, from peda- pida or rows, pirate, place from plateia , placenta, plagiarism from plagioV , planet, plasma from plaqw to create plastic, plate from platu , plateau same root, platonic from platu or wide or broad-Plato's real nam was Aristocles but he had broad shoulders and a broad mind thus Platu-o, plenty from pleoV-plhrhV , pleonexia, plerosis, plexus, plutocracy, pod for podi, podium from podion , poem, pole from poloV, police from poliV , and policy as in insurance from poluV+ptuch , poly+, pore from poroV-perao-pernw to pass through, porno+ , port also from poroV to pass, practic, pragmatic, presby+ from elder, prism from priw-priwni to cut with saw, pro+, as in prostate with a dual magnificent logic; see "The Prevalence of the Hellnic Mind...", protein, proto+, psalm+, pseudo+, psych+, purple from porfura, pylon from pulwn-pulh or (porta), pyrrhic, python. R. Rho resinfrom ritini-retsina, rhapsody from raptw+odh =song, rheo=to flow, rhetor from rema= rhma+eirw=say, rhum=to flow=current, rhin=nose, rhizo=root or earth’s base, rhodiom, rhythm, rice from ruzi. NOTE: Do remember that all Greek words biginning with a vowel and have a “rough”= dasua spirit, in English the rough spirit always becomes an h . The only exception is the consonant “r” in that it too at the beginning of a word takes a rough spirit thus converted into an h. Thus, you will see that all Greek words starting with an “r” and which are used in English the h is always present before the “r”. S as in Sigma. salpinx, sandal from sandalion , sarcasm=flesh, sarco+, sarcoma, sardonic, satyr, scandal, scar from eskara, scatology, scatoma, scene, scepterfrom skhptron , schedule from scizw scheme from scedion , schism from scisma =to tear, scholar from scolarchV=school and lead er, school from scolh , sciatic, scleroid, scope, scorpion, scotoma, seism from seiw =to shake up, semantic from shmantikoV +important, serene from seirinoV , sesame, sibyl, syphon, from sifwn , skatole, skeleton , from skellw =to dry or dry up, skepsis, sketch from scedion, slander from skandalon, Slav and slave from sklaboV , soma, sophia, sophist, sophomore from sofoV+moroV=infant, spade from spaqh , span=rare and few, spasm, spastic, spatual, from spaqh , sperm from seed, spere from sfaira , sphinx, sphygmic as in sphygmomano- meter, spleen, spondyl, sponge from spoggoV , sporadic, spore from seed, squirrel from skiouros=skia+oura or shadow+tail, stadium=a period of time, stagmometer, stalactite, staphyle as in "staph" infestion from staphylococus, meaning grapes, static =solid, statistics, stear from stear =fat, stamma, steno=nerrow and stenographer, stereo, sterile from steiroV, stern from sternon , steroids from stereoeidh , stich from sticos , stigma, stoa and stoic stomach, story from istoria , strabism=cross eyed, strata from stratos , stremma, strepto, strophe, style from stuw , STUPID from stypein =coarse-rough-stump beat, surgery from ceirourgia=ceir+ergo , sycamore from sukomoron = sukh+morea , sycophant from sukofanthV= sukon+fainw The word sycophant, meaning an informer, and one who seeks favors by flattering the wealthy, comes from the Greek “to show the fig.” As the valuable and sacred figs were stolen for export purposes, certain persons revealed the figs and accused the robbers; hence “fig shower.” Every inhabitant of Athens, including Plato, was a “philosykos.” Literally translated, “a friend of the fig.” And Mithridates, the Greek King of Pontus, heralded figs as an antidote for all ailments, instructed his physicians to use them medicinally, and ordered his citizens to consume figs daily. As a token of honor, figs were used as a training food by the early Olympic athletes, and figs were also presented as laurels to the winners as the first Olympic “medal.” The ancient city of Attica was famous for its figs and they soon became a necessity for its citizens, rich or poor. Solon, the ruler of Attica (639-559 BC), actually made it illegal to export figs out of Greece, reserving them solely for his citizens. The Persian King Xerxes, after his defeat by the Greeks at Salamis in 480 BC, had figs from Attica served him at every meal to remind him that he did not possess the land where this fruit grew. , syllable from sun+lambanw , sym for syn-here the m replaces the n for better or melodic sound, symbol, symmetry, sympathy, symptom, synagogue from sun+agw , synapsis, synergy, syngamy, synod, synonym, synopsis, syntax, synthesis from sun+tiqhmi=qetw , syphilis from sun+filw, syphon, system from sun+isthmi as in systematic. T. as in Tau . tachometer, tactics, talent from talanton , tantalize, tapestry from taphV, tautology from tautoS=logos+idioV or same, taxi, taxidermy from taxiV+derma, technical, tecto, tel from thle = distance, teleology, telephone, teletype, temple from temenoV=a partitioned part of earth, tetanus from teinw , tetre for four, thalassanemia, thallium, thanato-, theater or theatre from qeaomai to view, theca as in discoteque, theism, theme from qema+tiqhmi , theocracy, Theodore or God’s gift and if we reverse it we get Dorothy, theology, theory from QeoV + wra , therapy, therm+ from warm, thromb, throne,thylacine from qulex qulazw , thyme from quw to sacrifice, tick from qhkh , tiffany from qewfainw , Timothy as in Honor God, titanic from Titan, titanium, tomb from tumboV , tome=cut, tone, topaz from tupazoV , topic from topoV as in utopia or no place, tornado from turnoV =a tool making circles, tox, trachea, tragedy from tragwn+wdh or the song of the goat, trauma, treasure from qhsauroV , tremble and tremendous and tremor from tremw , tri for three, triad or threesome, trich from qrix, tricycle, trilogy, trope and tropic from trepw-troph , trophy from tropaion, truck from trocoV- would you believe this? and how about turn from tornoV , one more- turtle from tartaroucoV, tympan from tuptw to hit or beat, type, tyrant. U. Upsilon. ulcer from elkoV , uranium, Uranus, urea, uretra, urinate, urine, urology, utopia from outopia or no place (paradisical). V. No Greek letter as the beta is used and th u as in evangelical. Vulnerable from oulh as in wound-subject to hurt! X. as in Ci. xanth+ for blonde or light, xen as a foreigner or dtranger, xenomania, xenophile, xenophobiaxylophone. Strangely, the English pronounciation does not allow for the “x” to be pronounced as such. Instead, it is mispronounced as a “Z”. How about the trademark in photocopying “xerox” that which is dry or from dry ink-which is a black powder. Z. as in Zhta . Zeal from zhloV , zephir, Zeus -the genitive of Zeus is Dios and thus in Spanish we have Dios for God. zodiac, zone, zoo for animal world as in zoology, zyme for zumh as in prozimh. Reader, wasn’t this an eye opener or apocalyptic and most certainly entertaining? ATTACHMENT On The Hellenic Language. The way historians used to write about the Greek language over a 100 years ago! Text-Scanned from RIDPATH’S UNIVERSAL HISTORY-The Ancient World, Vol. II, p.466 The Jones Brothers Publishing Company (1894-1907 Editions) Cincinnati, Ohio “……In its grammatical structure the Greek language is one of the most complete, and, at the same time, one of the most flexible in the world. The noun preserves five cases out of the original eight belonging to the primitive Aryan. It also has three numbers; singular, dual, and plural. By this means the discrimination of objects as it respects unity, binity, and multiplicity is easily carried out in speech. The language presents three genders; masculine, feminine, and neuter. The article (ho, he, to) accompanies the nou and follows its inflections. It also has an independent use, being capable of representing the absent noun as by a delicate innuendo. In its power of nominal combination no other language has equaled the Greek. There was practically no limit to the ability of a Greek author to form compound nouns, expressing the most complex ideas. The striking off of case-endings and the juxtaposition of radicals was a process so easy and natural as to suggest itself in the ordinary flow of speech, and the laws of the language were so tolerant of growth as to put no restriction on either the poetic imagination ,or the necessity of philosophy. A whole hexameter might flow in a word, if fancy suggested the combination. The adjective was specially full and rich in its expressiveness. Each word of this class was capable of one hundred and. thirty-five -endings! Of course, many of these were duplicates of others, but the full scheme showed the number here indicated. In general the adjective conformed to the mutations of the noun. There was thus established between fact and epithet the closest bonds of sympathy. The adjective did obeisance in its forms to the noun with which it was joined. It swayed to and fro with its master, followed his fortunes and vicissitudes, shared his wealth and his poverty. But it was the Greek verb which most of all exhibited the fecundity of the language. Here was revealed the great force and perspicuity of the speech of the Hellenes. A double series of affixes, added or prefixed to the verb-roots, clearly distinguished the tenses as to the time and completeness of the action expressed by them. For past time the augment, and for completed action the reduplication, furnished delicate discriminations for which we should look in vain in Latin or in any other tongue ever spoken in Europe. The root of a Greek verb was thus subject to a kind of development by means of endings and prefixes until the exact notion of the time, its point and duration, and the completeness of the action, was expressed with a specific delicacy of which no other language has ever shown itself susceptible. There was thus established among all the parts of the formal structure of the Greek tongue a kind of sympathetic union which moved the whole as one. A Greek sentence was agitated through all its length and depth by the stress of expression. The paragraph trembled from end to end when the thrill of life awoke in any part. The language, with its multitudinous endings, all in harmonious accord, lay like a rich meadow of stately timothy swaying and waving in the breezes of thought. Each stalk nodded to his fellow. The ripple of mirth danced over the surface like a scarcely perceptible breath of air. The shadow chased the sunshine, and the sunshine the shadow. A sigh came out of the forest and a deeper wave moved gently away to the distance. The thrill of joy, the message of' defiance, the moan of the disconsolate spirit, the paean of battle, the shout of victory, every mood and every emotion which the mind of man in his most vigorous estate is capable of experiencing, swept in rolling billows across the pulsating bosom of this beautiful speech. The tongue of the Greeks was, in its kind, as preeminent as their literature. The one was the counterpart of the other. So wonderful in its completeness is the grammatical structure of the language that it has been made, not without good reason, the foundation of linguistic study in nearly all the universities of the world. The historian, Curtius, in summing up the structural elegance of Greek, thus assigns to its true place the speech of the Hellenic race: ‘If the grammar of their language were the only thing remaining to us of the Hellenes, it would serve as a full and valid testimony to the extraordinary natural gifts of this people, which, after with creative power appropriating the material of their language, penetrated every part of it with the spirit, and nowhere left a dead, inert mass behind it-of a people which, in spite of its decisive abhorrence of every thing bombastic, circumstantial, or obscure, understood how to accomplish an infinity of results by the simplest means. The whole language resembles the body of an artistically trained athlete, in which every muscle, every, sinew, is developed into full play, where there is no trace of timidity or of inert matter, and all is power and life.’ “ ---------------------------------- {1That is, five cases multiplied by three numbers, by three genders, by three degrees of comparison= 135 adjectival forms. N.-Vol. 1-29.}- RETURN TO MAIN PAGE PLEASE! |
| The Nest of the Hellenic Mind |
