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I was cautioned against using this approach too much when I studied Classical Greek and Latin in college. There are two potential problems, as I understand it.
by violiner 12y ago
I was cautioned against using this approach too much when I studied Classical Greek and Latin in college.
There are two potential problems, as I understand it. First, learning a language, particularly an ancient language, involves learning ancient words for things that have no analog in modern life, whereas translation involves mapping those very things onto their closest equivalent in a modern language. It would be too easy using the interlinear method to start thinking that the Greek word 'krater' means a bowl or cup, when really it is a specific type of bowl used for mixing wine. That can really only be learned by consulting a dictionary, and probably a few pictures.
The second issue is only really a problem for people who are particularly familiar with the text in translation - it's very very easy to start mentally reciting the translation you're familiar with instead of actually parsing the original text. This is one reason that Attic Greek is preferred to Koine (New Testament), even though Koine is generally simpler. Even a secular person usually has enough familiarity with the Bible to make this an issue.
I certainly wouldn't say that this method can't be used profitably, but rather that one should be careful not to fall into those particular traps. The same criticisms could be made to relying on the Loeb editions.
Also, minor nitpick: The New Testament isn't really written in Classical Greek, it's in Koine. Going from Koine to any classical dialect is going to be much more difficult than going from any classical dialect to Koine, due to the simplified grammar and vocabulary of Koine Greek.
- walterbell 12y agoWhat was the recommended approach?
- violiner 12y agoTo read a text as you would one in a modern language - look up words when you need to in order to understand a passage, learn what you can from context, etc. Do your best to read instead of translating - those are fundamentally different activities. I'd like to reiterate that using interlinear translations or Loeb editions wasn't a contraindicated practice, per se. There are just certain problems inherent in the practice that we were advised to look out for. It is certainly a useful tool sometimes. I think what it all comes down to is what I mentioned above: reading a text and translating a text are fundamentally different. Both require you to interpret a text, but translating a text - particularly an ancient text - require you to interpret it in more and in different ways. So if you're relying heavily on a translation to understand a text you're using tools that mediate between you and the original more than, say, a reference grammar and a lexicon.
- nemo 12y agoBack in grad. school in Classics the professors called students who depended on the inter-text translations the "Loeb Rangers." Also, while it's true that you're better off learning Attic first, learning some Koine can give some the vocab. and conceptual grounding in the inflections to get a handle on Attic, so long as you don't stick with Koine for years it's not such a bad approach.
- violiner 12y agoMy Greek professor called them the Loebomenoi.