# questions on learning Greek and Hebrew

Category: Language and Culture

## Post 1 by LovesDefinitionIsGod (Veteran Zoner) on Friday, 24-Aug-2012 13:42:50

Hi. Do any of you have any advice you could give me on learning Biblical Greek and Hebrew. I am wanting to study it in college, but I'm not sure how it would turn out. Would I be able to learn these languages auditorialy? I would like to learn them in braille, but is there such a thing as braille Biblical Greek and Hebrew? I know there is braille modern day Greek and Hebrew. Thanks in advance for any help.

## Post 2 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Sunday, 09-Sep-2012 18:27:52

I honestly don't know, but I know my pastor (while she was going to seminary school..), had to learn it. Perhaps I can ask her?
Also, maybe try to talk with the instructor before signing up for the class if it's possible?
When I took a language class I would record the lesson. Be sure to ask promission first before you just record.
i hope this helps! It sounds really interesting! I wouldn't mind learning some words..to get the deeper meaning of the writing. if you like, we can skype (if you have it..) and we can go over your lesson and whatnot.
I don't know these languages, but sometimes saying them out loud to someone is helpful (and hopefully you'll find fellow students who will do this with you as well!)
God bless!

## Post 3 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Monday, 10-Sep-2012 13:13:36

I am learning Modern Greek. Right now, I'm in the intermediate level of Kathemiloumeni (the informal language). This uses the monotonic system, with one accent. But Katharevousa, which I also hope to learn, uses the polytonic system, with three accents, and the same holds true for ancient forms as well. I only know of one speech synthesizer which can handle polytonic, and even it doesn't do the best job. It also costs $100.
http://www.innoetics.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=7&Itemid=298&lang=en&vmcchk=1&Itemid=298
It will read things fine, but if you go letter by letter, it will tell you which have the tonos, but will ignore the other two accents, treating them as unaccented letters. All other synthesizers that I've seen can only read monotonic. When they come across polytonic text, they can neither pronounce things correctly nor read properly when going by letter.

## Post 4 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Monday, 10-Sep-2012 13:16:12

It would also be best if you get an actual Greek keyboard. English ones are fine for monotonic, but for those extra accents and marks, a real Greek keyboard will help you.

## Post 5 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Thursday, 13-Sep-2012 0:48:43

Tiffa, that is really interesting! Neat! what's your reason for learning modern greek? just curious..very cool! :)

## Post 6 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 14-Sep-2012 14:24:42

While I lack the blood, I am a strict Hellenic patriot. My ultimate dream in life is to move to Greece, to become a citizen, and to serve my country in whatever capacity is open to me. So naturally, learning our language is very important to me, as is preserving Hellenic culture and history, and promoting patriotism. If you find this interesting and are on Facebook, you may like these two essays. You may replace the www in the url with m to get to the mobile version of the site. Only if you wish to discuss them here, it probably is best that we make a new thread for it, so that we don't clutter this one and go off-topic.
My Greekness: How it Began
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150142441517371&refid=21
This next one is more about my views on American policy and attitude, than about me personally. But it may provide interesting background.
Don't Call Me An American
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=298229917370&refid=21

## Post 7 by mat the musician (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Friday, 12-Jul-2013 22:34:35

I attempted to learn Hebrew at some point, but had to drop it due to lack of time. Hebrew braille does exist, but I do not how you can learn it, since my teacher taught it to me, and i learned for such a brief period of time that i've forgotten it by now. When I was learning hebrew I learned it as most beginners do, having to insert vowels yourself, thus this learning methid may be easier than having vowels there for you. I don't know what braille displays support Hebrew, except that the Pronto notetaker does. I also sadly, have no source for downloading introductary hebrew-learning material. I learned by a book called Yesh Lanu lama (we have a lama), a children's book, with simple text and vocab and reading tests. This was custom-brailled, so I don't know of a way to download it. Hope this helps.