Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece (CHS Greece)
June 23–27, 2025 | 10 AM – 3 PM, Nafplio, Greece
Application Deadline: March 20, 2025
Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies (CHS) is seeking up to three students and/or faculty from Harvard University to attend the International Modern Greek Seminar for Classicists, a one-week introduction to Modern Greek designed for undergraduate and graduate students with at least a basic knowledge of Ancient Greek.
About the Seminar
This is a one-week introduction to the Modern Greek language directed at graduate and undergraduate students, as well as interested faculty, who have at least a basic knowledge of Ancient Greek language. The major objective of the program is to equip classicists with knowledge they can use to leverage their command of Classical Greek to gain a foothold in the modern language, essentially repurposing their Classical Greek for Modern Greek. Furthermore, the program explores the diachrony of Greek and familiarizes students with the continuities and discontinuities of the Greek language and culture.
The instruction is based on the similarities and differences between the ancient and modern forms of the Greek language. In the initial stage of teaching, the emphasis is placed on the words which are called ‘carry-overs’ (e.g. μέλι, κρέας, πίνω, μένω). These words have in Modern Greek approximately the same meaning as in Ancient Greek (according to the etymologies of the LKN, Λεξικό της Κοινής Νεοελληνικής). Additionally, their Erasmian (ancient) pronunciation generally corresponds to their Modern Greek pronunciation. Gradually, students are also informed about the differences between Ancient and Modern Greek, starting with the phonological differences and progressing to morphology to syntax. During the one-week course, they learn basic Modern Greek expressions and gain insight into the structure of Modern Greek. The program also includes lectures on the history of the Greek language including some discussion on diglossia (a total of approximately 25 teaching hours).
In 2025, the course will take place at CHS Greece in Nafplio, from June 23 to June 27 and is co-taught by Prof. Brian D. Joseph (Ohio State University), Prof. Jerneja Kavčič (University of Ljubljana), and Prof. Ioanna Sitaridou (University of Cambridge), and supported by the Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies. It was organized for the first time in July 2023 at the University of Athens and was held again in July 2024, with plans to make it an annual event.
Funding & Application
CHS will cover flight and accommodation expenses up to $2,200 per participant from Harvard University.
Interested students and faculty should submit their CV, a statement of interest, and their transcript (if applicable) to summergreece@chs.harvard.edu.
Applications are due by March 20, 2025.