Is “Ancient Greek” a mother tongue in Modern Greece?
Frankly I am tired of hearing Greeks boasting of how they can speak, read and write in the language of the so-called Ancient Greeks, but I don´t mind. What I do mind however, is when they call me ignorant for not being able to see the connection that Modern Greeks are related to the so-called Ancient Greeks because they both speak the same language. Almost every e-mail I receive from Greeks makes the statement, “how can I not see that the Greek people today speak the very same language people spoke 2,500 years ago?” Many claim they can understand every word on stone inscriptions made 2,500 years ago. I believe them! Now suppose I picked up an Egyptian tablet from 5,000 years ago written in hieroglyphs and was able to read and understand every word, would you believe me? Yes you would! But what if I told you because I can speak, read and write Ancient Egyptian I am a direct descendent of the Ancient Egyptians? Would you still believe me? Maybe? What if I told you I learned to speak, rea
