Opinions - Testimonies

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• Jacqueline de Romilly, professor at the Sorbonne (1957), first woman professor at the Collège de France (1973), member of the French Academy (1988), honorary Greek citizen (1995) and Ambassador of Hellenism (2000):
  
  Dear Sir, I strongly wish that accents be preserved... read it
• ✝Peter Fraser, emeritus lecturer at Oxford University:
  
  I was glad to hear about your Movement for the reintroduction of the polytonic system of accentuation... read it
• Alain Segonds, directeur de recherche du CNRS, directeur général des Éditions Les Belles Lettres:
  
  Cher ami, j'avais longuement traîné à vous écrire sur cette délicate question [des accents], non que... read it
• Gregorios Sifakis, prof. emeritus of classical Greek philology at the University of Thessaloniki and New York University:
  
  Why do I insist on the polytonic accentuation system? A short—as well as precise—answer would be:... read it
• Zyranna Zateli, writer:
  
  I use accents and breathings in my writing because, first of all, I like them and love them... read it
• Vangelis Hadzigiannidis, writer:
  
  I remember I was in the swimming pool for my weekly hydrotherapy session, when... read it
• Yorgos Brounias, writer:
  
  I would say, now that I’m asked about it—because before I considered it as a fact without too many explanations—... read it
• Carlos Steel, professor of ancient philosophy, University of Leuven:
  
  I am a scholar in ancient Greek philosophy and an editor of ancient Greek texts in numerous prestigious international series... read it
• Concetta Luna, researcher at Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa (Italy):
  
  Like millions of other Italians who went through the Classical Lyceum (high school), I learned ancient Greek... read it
• Philippe Brunet, professor of ancient Greek at Rouen university:
  
  The decision to switch from the polytonic to the monotonic system belongs to the Greeks and I have no right to interfere into their choices, but I can... read it
• François Patte, mathematician-sanskritist, professor at Paris V University:
  
  Some years ago I went to see a greek newspaper and was very astonished... read it
• Vernon E. Kooy, Retired Philosopher and Font Designer - Hastings, Nebraska, USA:
  
  By legislating in favor of the monotonic system, Greek has been “dummied down” short and simple... read it
• Phidias N. Bourlas, computer engineer:
  
  Twenty years later I found my beloved, lost, polytonic system again!... read it
• Chrissostomos Papaspyrou, chemist/linguist, educator at the Athens Special Lyceum for the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing:
  
  I’m deaf. When I was three years old, I permanently lost my hearing. I don’t remember anymore... read it
• Nikos Dimitriadis, classical scholar:
  
  The goal of the Organization for the Internationalization of Greek Language is to widespread Greek language in the whole world, to people of Greek origin as well as to foreigners. By the term “internationalization” we mean that we are trying to widespread the language, that we support its teaching to those who wish to get acquainted with it, that we transfer its contents and value so that it may become known both as communication tool and as cultural value, as proven throughout the centuries.

  In the frame of this noble—as we consider it—intention of ours, we support the conservation of the polytonic system, wherever it is accepted and useful, while recognizing the difficulties implied by its potential full re-introduction in our written language.

  The monotonic system has been established by presidential decree 297/1982, after discussions at the parlement on January 11th, 1982. The way it has been voted has disturbed a big part of Greek population. There has been no argumented decision based on discussions with the Academy of Athens, Universities, or other organizations of intellectual prestige.

  After publication of the decree its application has started with many difficulties, there have been changes in schoolbooks and teaching of ancient Greek has been degraded. And although a few years later the error of diminuishing the number of hours of ancient Greek teaching has been recognized and there has been an effort of re-introduction of ancient Greek into the educative programme, Greek language has not recovered from the damage it has undergone. Ancient Greek is taught, but not enough and not to all pupils with the same intensity and method. Ancient Greek is not a superfluous course nor a museum piece. It is the mother of our current language, from which young people can learn concepts, reasoning, aesthetics, humanism, sciences and civilization. The (polytonic) system of accentuation is part of our linguistic heritage and has never obstructed the education of our youth, has never acted against progress in the field of technology and sciences, has never taken valuable time from our childrens’ preparation to face their responsabilities in society. Teachers in Greece speak more and more about the linguistic poverty by which pupils express their thoughts in written and spoken word.

  Many citizens of this country complain about degradation of language in mass media. The abolition of the polytonic system has not brought the expected progress.

  It may even has contributed to its decay. Our demand is to respect at least those who wish to express themselves in the polytonic system, not to forbid them to have the right of expression in the way they are used to and which is appropriate for them. It is a very simple demand. It does not cause trouble and does not hurt our language. And then there are also young people who, for various reasons, want to follow the traditional writing system. Let language evolve naturally without laws and regulations that violently change its natural flow. Greek language has proven its endurance, flexibility and dash, and thanks to these features it can renew itself in a creative way!

• Dimitrios Filippou, engineer:
  
  First of all I have to say that I am not a follower of the polytonic system, but... read it
• Nikolaos Ventouras, computer engineer:
  
  The arguments of both the (so-called) progressists as of the (so-called) rightists all start from... read it
• Yannis Gekas, private sector employee:
  
  I was born after the establishment of the monotonic system and so I was taught polytonic... read it
• Andreas Stalidis, mathematician - analyst:
  
  I will not speak about the reasons why the polytonic system should be re-introduced. There are well-argumented analyses on that, by worthy people... read it
• Yorgos Valsamis, director of ellopos.net:
  
  The wealth of the Greek language grown through all the periods of Greek history, doesn’t mean just a larger amount of words... read it
• Katerina Sokratidou, employee in a shipping agency:
  
  When the monotonic system was introduced I was in secondary school, which means that I have already been taught accents for about 7 years. At start... read it
• Nikos Theodorou, mathematician:
  
  I got acquainted with the polytonic system very young, in primary school, when my mother... read it
• Jacob J. Adams, high school student:
  
  Our world is one of many choices.  We choose what to eat and what to wear.  We choose our careers and hobbies.... read it
• Hadjinikolaou Dimitrios, teacher of English language:
  
  Why I do not approve of monotonous, spiritless spelling. ... read it
• Avgoustinos Tsirimokos, reporter:
  
  ... read it
• Nikolaos Papadopoulos, sports teacher:
  
  ... read it
• Archimidis Anagnostou, (doctor, microbiologist):
  
  ... read it
• Ioannis Vamvakas:
  
  EN1... read it
• Dimitris Tabaoglou Computer engineer:
  
  EN1... read it
• Maria Kontarini, employee in the private sector, retired:
  
  EN1... read it
• Dimitris Armaos, Philologist, poet, essayist:
  
  EN1... read it
• Yannis Flytzanis, Student in Law:
  
  ... read it
• Athina Antoniadou, Conservation of antiquities:
  
  ... read it