International Modern Greek Seminar for Classicists

 

 

Final Call

Deadline: April 20, 2025

 

Announcing the

International Modern Greek Seminar for Classicists

 

June 23–27, 2025 | 10 AM – 3 PM, Harvard University’s CHS Nafplio, Greece

 

The Cambridge Centre for Greek Studies, the University of Ljubljana, and the Ohio State University are pleased to announce the 2025 International Modern Greek Seminar for Classicists, a one-week introduction to Modern Greek designed for undergraduate and graduate students with at least a basic knowledge of Ancient Greek. The Seminar will be hosted and supported by Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece (CHS Greece).

 

About the Seminar

This is a one-week introduction to the Modern Greek language directed at graduate and undergraduate students, as well as interested faculty, who have at least a basic knowledge of Ancient Greek language. The major objective of the program is to equip classicists with knowledge they can use to leverage their command of Classical Greek to gain a foothold in the modern language, essentially repurposing their Classical Greek for Modern Greek. Furthermore, the program explores the diachrony of Greek and familiarizes students with the continuities and discontinuities of the Greek language and culture.

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 (ancient) 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 to morphology to syntax. During the one-week course, they learn basic Modern Greek expressions and gain insight into the structure of Modern Greek.

The program also includes lectures on the history of the Greek language and on the phenomenon of bilingualism (a total of approximately 25 teaching hours).

In 2025, the course will take place at CHS Greece in Nafplio, from June 23 to June 27 and is co-taught by Prof. Brian D. Joseph (Ohio State University), Prof. Jerneja Kavčič (University of Ljubljana), and Prof. Ioanna Sitaridou (University of Cambridge).

 

Application & Fee

We will accept up to 10 students. Interested students and faculty should submit their CV and a statement of interest to jerneja.kavcic@ff.uni-lj.si.

There is no tuition fee.

We also offer refreshments during lessons and some free meals and other cultural experiences curtesy of the sponsors.

Classics students from the universities of Cambridge, Harvard, Ljubljana, and Ohio State are eligible for scholarships and should apply to the lecturers at their institution who are organising the summer seminar.

For more information, please contact Professor Jerneja Kavčič (jerneja.kavcic@ff.uni-lj.si) or Professor Ioanna Sitaridou (is269@cam.ac.uk).

Applications are due by April 20, 2025.