The Greek Language as a Thought Instrument

The expressive power of the Greek language was refined over centuries along with the development of the Greeks' unique political and philosophical experiments, resulting in a language especially suited for articulating abstract principles. Indeed, the ideas behind western political institutions, philosophy, and science can be found in specific features of Greek language. This lecture considered the historical, philosophical, and linguistic developments that created the Greek language, and discussed the consequences of the decline of the use and teaching of Greek in Greece, Europe, and America. Joseph Conlon, PhD is Professor of Classics, Director of the Greek Program, and Dean of Graduate Studies at Ralston College in Savannah, Georgia. He specializes in language acquisition and pedagogy and is also a translator of literature written in the katharevousa form of Greek.