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Greek
# Paperback: 336 pages
# Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Educational Division (June 1, 1973)
# ISBN-10: 0340057939
# ISBN-13: 978-0340057933
The old version of TEACH YOURSELF GREEK, written by F. Kinchin Smith and T. W. Melluish and dealing with Classical Greek, was first published in 1947. It proves a very different work from the later version by Gavin Betts that remains in print.
Smith and Melluish wrote a book that was meant for those who wanted some basic knowledge of Greek to understand it's enormous influence on the English lexicon and who wanted to try at reading some simple prose before deciding on further study of the language. As a result, there are are no Greek composition exercises (= translation of English sentences into Greek), a hallmark of a rigorous introduction. Even accents have been left off the words to avoid burdening the learner. The tone throughout is humorous, though some of the jokes may now be difficult to get now that the British schooling tradition assumed in the book is no longer around. Of course, the book does have a daunting amount of paradigm tables, but these can hardly be avoided in the teaching of Classical Greek.
It's curious that the publishers of Teach Yourself didn't have this book updated and reissued as TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S ANCIENT GREEK, since it would make a fine companion volume to Teach Yourself Beginner's Latin.
If you just want to see what Classical Greek is like without it being assumed that you're committed to reading real prose--and poetry and drama as well--then this book of Smith and Melluish may be worth searching out on the used market. If you are a serious student, however, Betts' book is the one to get.
# Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Educational Division (June 1, 1973)
# ISBN-10: 0340057939
# ISBN-13: 978-0340057933
The old version of TEACH YOURSELF GREEK, written by F. Kinchin Smith and T. W. Melluish and dealing with Classical Greek, was first published in 1947. It proves a very different work from the later version by Gavin Betts that remains in print.
Smith and Melluish wrote a book that was meant for those who wanted some basic knowledge of Greek to understand it's enormous influence on the English lexicon and who wanted to try at reading some simple prose before deciding on further study of the language. As a result, there are are no Greek composition exercises (= translation of English sentences into Greek), a hallmark of a rigorous introduction. Even accents have been left off the words to avoid burdening the learner. The tone throughout is humorous, though some of the jokes may now be difficult to get now that the British schooling tradition assumed in the book is no longer around. Of course, the book does have a daunting amount of paradigm tables, but these can hardly be avoided in the teaching of Classical Greek.
It's curious that the publishers of Teach Yourself didn't have this book updated and reissued as TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S ANCIENT GREEK, since it would make a fine companion volume to Teach Yourself Beginner's Latin.
If you just want to see what Classical Greek is like without it being assumed that you're committed to reading real prose--and poetry and drama as well--then this book of Smith and Melluish may be worth searching out on the used market. If you are a serious student, however, Betts' book is the one to get.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1947
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 16, 2022
ὁ ... ἀνεξέταστος βίος οὐ βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ
"The unexamined life is not worth living"
Plato.
Ο άνθρωπος είναι ένα πολιτικό ζώο
"Man is a political animal"
Aristotle.
According to the authors, this is not a book for scholars nor for specialists. Because, "the syntax is but sketchily outlined", the Dual is omitted, the whole grammar is not included.
To study the book you don't need prior knowledge of Latin, or of any other inflected language. The book initial intentional was to "admit no made-up Greek". However, that wasn't accomplished.
There are extracts from the New Testament, Euripides, Strabo, Menander, Plutarch and other authors, including the tragedians. Once in a while phrases from modern Greek are inserted.
Greek is a living language and hasn't changed much over 2,000 years, the authors suggest. Accents have been omitted because even without them Greek is intelligible.
The authors consider what's most difficult in the Greek language: it's not syntax or the script, but the "large variety of verb forms and the number of irregular verbs".
The book was printed for the first time in 1947. I've got a 1966 edition.
"The unexamined life is not worth living"
Plato.
Ο άνθρωπος είναι ένα πολιτικό ζώο
"Man is a political animal"
Aristotle.
According to the authors, this is not a book for scholars nor for specialists. Because, "the syntax is but sketchily outlined", the Dual is omitted, the whole grammar is not included.
To study the book you don't need prior knowledge of Latin, or of any other inflected language. The book initial intentional was to "admit no made-up Greek". However, that wasn't accomplished.
There are extracts from the New Testament, Euripides, Strabo, Menander, Plutarch and other authors, including the tragedians. Once in a while phrases from modern Greek are inserted.
Greek is a living language and hasn't changed much over 2,000 years, the authors suggest. Accents have been omitted because even without them Greek is intelligible.
The authors consider what's most difficult in the Greek language: it's not syntax or the script, but the "large variety of verb forms and the number of irregular verbs".
The book was printed for the first time in 1947. I've got a 1966 edition.
March 24, 2008
The old version of TEACH YOURSELF GREEK, written by F. Kinchin Smith and T. W. Melluish and dealing with Classical Greek, was first published in 1947. It proves a very different work from the current version by Gavin Betts (TEACH YOURSELF ANCIENT GREEK).
Smith and Melluish wrote a book that was meant for those who wanted some basic knowledge of Greek to understand it's enormous influence on the English lexicon and who wanted to try at reading some simple prose before deciding on further study of the language. As a result, there are are no Greek composition exercises (= translation of English sentences into Greek), a hallmark of a rigorous introduction. Even accents have been left off the words to avoid burdening the learner. The tone throughout is humorous, though some of the jokes may now be difficult to get now that the British schooling tradition assumed in the book is no longer around. Of course, the book does have a daunting amount of paradigm tables, but these can hardly be avoided in the teaching of Classical Greek.
It's curious that the publishers of Teach Yourself didn't have this book updated and reissued as TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S ANCIENT GREEK, since it would make a fine companion volume to Sharpley's TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S LATIN.
If you just want to see what Classical Greek is like without it being assumed that you're committed to reading real prose--and poetry and drama as well--then this book of Smith and Melluish may be worth searching out on the used market. If you are a serious student, however, Betts' book is the one to get.
Smith and Melluish wrote a book that was meant for those who wanted some basic knowledge of Greek to understand it's enormous influence on the English lexicon and who wanted to try at reading some simple prose before deciding on further study of the language. As a result, there are are no Greek composition exercises (= translation of English sentences into Greek), a hallmark of a rigorous introduction. Even accents have been left off the words to avoid burdening the learner. The tone throughout is humorous, though some of the jokes may now be difficult to get now that the British schooling tradition assumed in the book is no longer around. Of course, the book does have a daunting amount of paradigm tables, but these can hardly be avoided in the teaching of Classical Greek.
It's curious that the publishers of Teach Yourself didn't have this book updated and reissued as TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S ANCIENT GREEK, since it would make a fine companion volume to Sharpley's TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S LATIN.
If you just want to see what Classical Greek is like without it being assumed that you're committed to reading real prose--and poetry and drama as well--then this book of Smith and Melluish may be worth searching out on the used market. If you are a serious student, however, Betts' book is the one to get.
January 31, 2023
I tried and still am using this book as a reference in order to learn ancient Greek. The author's teaching style is great and simple, but some of the early questionnaires and tests goes from fairly easy to quite arbitrary and abstruse. An example of this is section 5, where you are made to combine a duo of Greek terms to match to an English term, into an English text in what is a quite bizarre and involved scenario, not exactly tailored to a total beginner (hector's misadventure is a particularly bad one). I might say that would have arranged the structure of this book rather differently. On the plus side, the grammar itself is well explained, the author, on this side of the equation, does not take the reader's knowledge of linguistics for granted, and takes the time to make the subject as beginner friendly as it is possible. Also, and most importantly, the author seems to have fun teaching his subject which is reflected in the way the author presents his subject.
September 23, 2023
"Greek (Teach Yourself Books)" by F. Kinchin Smith is a valuable resource for beginners interested in learning the Greek language. Smith's clear explanations and practical exercises make the complex language accessible. The book covers essential grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, enabling readers to grasp the fundamentals. While it may lack in-depth cultural insights, its straightforward approach is ideal for self-learners. However, advanced learners may find it lacking in depth. Overall, "Greek (Teach Yourself Books)" serves as a solid introduction to Greek, offering a foundation for further study.
April 5, 2019
Got this because it was only 50p and I'm short of funds. I do love the charming old yellow covers on these paperbacks too.
I have the modern TY Ancient Greek, but I've ground to a halt because of the lack of vocabulary lists after chapter 4. Not a help for beginners. I was hoping for a slower pace with this. There is a lot of help with the vocabulary, and perhaps a combination of the two will help.
I guess in the 1950s, people learning Ancient Greek were more focussed on biblical and New Testament Greek, as it's used in a lot of examples. The newer edition, I've just noticed, has no biblical examples whatsoever, which is curious. It's actually a help with some of the vocabulary, as for example, angelos means messenger in Ancient Greek, ekklesia means assembly and hymnos means song, and with a bit of context, you can memorise meanings more easily.
Although I like some parts of it, the front couple if chapters can be a little basic. Also, now that I'm getting more knowledgeable about grammar, it seems quite deficient in more arcane details (e.g. Fear verbs, clauses of result etc). The more modern book has grown on me, although it requires you put in a hell of a lot of work.
I have the modern TY Ancient Greek, but I've ground to a halt because of the lack of vocabulary lists after chapter 4. Not a help for beginners. I was hoping for a slower pace with this. There is a lot of help with the vocabulary, and perhaps a combination of the two will help.
I guess in the 1950s, people learning Ancient Greek were more focussed on biblical and New Testament Greek, as it's used in a lot of examples. The newer edition, I've just noticed, has no biblical examples whatsoever, which is curious. It's actually a help with some of the vocabulary, as for example, angelos means messenger in Ancient Greek, ekklesia means assembly and hymnos means song, and with a bit of context, you can memorise meanings more easily.
Although I like some parts of it, the front couple if chapters can be a little basic. Also, now that I'm getting more knowledgeable about grammar, it seems quite deficient in more arcane details (e.g. Fear verbs, clauses of result etc). The more modern book has grown on me, although it requires you put in a hell of a lot of work.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews