Image via WikipediaThe Hellenic language is indeed the most perfect human achievement in the linguistic field. The uniqueness of the ancient language is so grand that dates back a very long way. It is the language perceived as the symbol of Western Civilization and described to be as the transition point between Eastern wisdom and Western science.
The language is one of the oldest languages in use today. It has a complex and varied history, spanning many centuries.
And I do not say this because I am an Hellene, it has had an enormous impact on all the modern languages we know and speak today, especially the English language. I will prove this point further down, but I want to firstly note that it is the first recorded Indo-European language, and the Hellenic alphabet was the first known language to include written vowels instead of just consonants.
We already know that many words, which involve science and academia are all of Hellenic origin. The impact of the language can be seen everywhere. So much so, that it prompted the University of California at Irvine to codify its riches in a Thesaurus entitled “Linguae Graecae”. The brainchild behind this project is none other than Professor of Classics, Marianne MacDonald (a non-Hellene by the way) and her research team! The authors testify that the thesaurus contain some 6,000,000 word-forms (lektikoi tipoi - orous) derived from the Hellenic language, whereas the English words only number 490,000 and only 300,000 are noted as technical terms.
Though its influence goes beyond what is presented here, it should be noted that there are roughly 50,000 Hellenic words in the English language (and even more that are recognized in the French language as well as many other European languages totalling - 500,000 words). In all, the Hellenic language contains approximately 70,000,000 words including, derivatives, medical terms and scientific expressions.
From Mathematics, {science}, Geometry to Philosophy, from Geology to Palaeontology, Poetry to Architecture, Aesthetics and art, to the names of motor vehicles such as Scorpion, Sigma, Astra, Echo, Magna, Apollo, Stratos, Kalon, Trios, Astina, Mira, Mentor, Triumph, Odyssey, Olympic Classic, Neon, Calais, Micra, Metra, Proton, Lexus, and Focus. It is only fair to say that the Hellenic language is spoken globally.
From the Zodiac signs in Astrology to Zoology from Anthropology to Astronomy, from the "Apollo" space Program, History & Geography, Physics, from Meter to Meteor and {Linkin' Park's album} "Meteor" are all derived from the Hellenic language.
From Glossary to Bibliography to the names of Stars and Planets, and from Idol to Idiosyncrasy as well as from Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Podiatrist, Physiotherapist, Chiropodist, Neurologist to Cardiologist to ECG (Electrocardiograph) in medicine, the Hellenic language is used by all citizens all over the globe.
From the Bible to Catholic, Orthodox, Apostolic, Christadelphians, Christians, to Mass, Eulogy, liturgy, Eucharist, Christ, canons, ecclesiastical, to Apocalypse to Apocrypha, from Comedy, Drama, Satyr, Theatre, Music, Hellenic and Hellenics can be found in every sphere of human existence.
Antarctica to the Arctic Circle are all Hellenic words, as are Democracy to Nano-technology, no wonder Julius {Caesar} maintained he was from Aphrodite's lineage and Marc Anthony underlined that he was of the lineage of Hercules.
From Calabria in Italy, to Alexandria in Egypt and from Ambouria & Neapolis in Spain up to the Yunnan province in China, and the Kalash in Northern Afghanistan (who by the way claim to be descendants of Alexander the Great) a form of the Hellenic dialect is still spoken.
From Basil to Daphne, Thyme and Mint, to Pharmaceuticals to Phantoms, from Pyrric Victory, Pandora's Box, Achilles Heal, Hoi Polloi, Elysian fields, Kyrie Eleison, Hippocratic Oath, Oedipus complex, Trojan horse, Troy, Platonic love, Herculean task, and Eureka up to the phrase "I Am the Alpha and the Omega" (from Jesus Christ) all stem from the Hellenic language.
And so on… and so on… and so on…
It's a difficult language with complex construction and grammar, trust me I know… after a decade here in Greece, I still make mistakes when I want to say something, but anyone can learn the language if they try. The really hard part is that it embraces Hellenic philosophy. Unless one studies ancient Hellenic and history, they will never realize and appreciate its profound uniqueness.
But there are very few that do. Recognizing its significance, a brilliant Hellenic economist, who also served as an interim non-party Prime Minister, Xenophon Zolotas, (1904 – 2004), made headlines in the United States in the mid 20 century when he voiced both his speeches in Hellenic.
On September 26, 1957, Zolotas addressed the members of the International Reconstruction and Development Bank in the Hellenic language, but did use the necessary acronyms, modifiers, conjunctions and what not in English in order that it make sense, The result: Hundreds of esteemed academicians were left in complete awe! His speech, was so unique, that it later made headlines in the New York Times as well as the Washington Post, but it also impressed his colleagues to such an extent that the President of the of the World Bank Eugene Black invited him to be the formal speaker at the World Bank’s second meeting on October 2. 1959, with the promise that the speech once again be given in the Hellenic language, and Zolotas gladly accepted…
First speech - September 26, 1957
"I always wished to address this Assembly in Hellenic, but realized that it would have been indeed too “Hellenic” to all present in this room. I found out, however, that I could make my address in Hellenic which would still be English. With your permission, Mr. Chairman, l shall do it now, using with the exception of articles and prepositions, with only Hellenic words."
" Kyrie,
I eulogize the archons of the Panethnic Numismatic Thesaurus and the Ecumenical Trapeza for the orthodoxy of their axioms, methods and policies, although there is an episode of cacophony of the Trapeza with Hellas.
With enthusiasm we dialogue and synagonize at the synods of our didymous Organizations in which polymorphous economic ideas and dogmas are analyzed and synthesized.
Our critical problems such as the numismatic plethora generate some agony and melancholy. This phenomenon is characteristic of our epoch. But, to my thesis, we have the dynamism to program therapeutic practices as a prophylaxis from chaos and catastrophe.
In parallel, a panethnic unhypocritical economic synergy and harmonization in a democratic climate is basic.
I apologize for my eccentric monologue. I emphasize my eucharistia to you Kyrie, to the eugenic and generous American Ethnos and to the organizers and protagonists of this Amphictyony and the gastronomic symposia.''
Second speech - October 2, 1959
"Kyrie,
It is Zeus' anathema on our epoch for the dynamism of our economies and the heresy of our economic methods and policies that we should agonise between the Scylla of numismatic plethora and the Charybdis of economic anaemia.
It is not my idiosyncrasy to be ironic or sarcastic but my diagnosis would be that politicians are rather cryptoplethorists. Although they emphatically stigmatize numismatic plethora, energize it through their tactics and practices.
Our policies have to be based more on economic and less on political criteria.
Our gnomon has to be a metron between political, strategic and philanthropic scopes. Political magic has always been antieconomic.
In an epoch characterised by monopolies, oligopolies, menopsonies, monopolistic antagonism and polymorphous inelasticities, our policies have to be more orthological. But this should not be metamorphosed into plethorophobia which is endemic among academic economists.
Numismatic symmetry should not antagonize economic acme.
A greater harmonization between the practices of the economic and numismatic archons is basic.
Parallel to this, we have to synchronize and harmonize more and more our economic and numismatic policies panethnically.
These scopes are more practical now, when the prognostics of the political and economic barometer are halcyonic.
The history of our didymous organisations in this sphere has been didactic and their gnostic practices will always be a tonic to the polyonymous and idiomorphous ethnical economics. The genesis of the programmed organisations will dynamize these policies. I sympathise, therefore, with the aposties and the hierarchy of our organisations in their zeal to programme orthodox economic and numismatic policies, although I have some logomachy with them.
I apologize for having tyrannized you with my hellenic phraseology.
In my epilogue, I emphasize my eulogy to the philoxenous autochthons of this cosmopolitan metropolis and my encomium to you, Kyrie, and the stenographers."
Quite impressive weren’t they?
The inevitable conclusion… the Hellenic language is indeed the creation of people with superior thought and mental consistency.
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