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/lit/ - Literature

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10017203 No.10017203 [Reply] [Original]

How long would it take to learn ancient greek well enough to read Homer?

>> No.10017244

2-3 years.

t. I've done it.

>> No.10017258

>want to read Homer
>spend 2 years learning Ancient Greek
>find out afterwards that there are already English translations
Bummer

>> No.10017266

>>10017258
> and yet still know Ancient Greek
The problem?

>> No.10017268

>>10017258
>reading a translation of Homer
Might as well read the wikipedia page.

>> No.10017276

>>10017268
>reading Homer
>not listening to it

>> No.10017281

>>10017203
Well, first of all, the Greek you're usually taught in university is Attic Greek. Attic refers to the peninsula where Athens is located. Homeric Greek, I can't remember where it's from, but it's not from Attica. Homeric Greek's also older. Anyway, it'll require a little extra work to learn Homeric Greek, just warning you.

Personally I gave up after two weeks of Greek. Too much of a brainlet. Latin was much easier.

>> No.10017325

>>10017281
Homeric is Ionic and Aeolic. Homeric Greek is difficult but not much more difficult than attic or dorian (at least for a native English speaker.).

Anyways, to answer OP's question I've been studying Greek for a year and I still am not proficient enough to read Hesiod or Homer without constantly checking grammar and vocabulary, it will take some time. If you know a bit of Latin it makes the beginning stretch easier as some of the vocab is similar and you won't be freaked out by conjugations and declensions.

>> No.10017332

I'm going to start taking classes in less than a month.

>> No.10017363

these idiots are NOT reading Homer in two years, they prob couldnt read it in English

>> No.10017371

Erasmus learned Greek in three years of night and day studying, but he had a 180IQ and nothing else to do...I'm afraid it's not going to happen unless you're <15 years old or have your life to give to studying.

>> No.10017671
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10017671

>>10017371
>he had a 180 IQ