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Lectures on the Greek Language Were Held at the Institute of Philology of PetrSU

03 April 2026

The Department of Classical Philology, Russian Literature, and Journalism hosted two meetings with Polina Rylik, PhD, a visiting lecturer from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The students gained a broader understanding of the vibrant diversity of the Greek language and discussed complex issues in its history.

The first lecture, given by Polina Rylik, a lecturer of the Department of Russian Philology and Slavic Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, was dedicated to the topic "The History of the Greek Language: The Problem of Periodization."

The future classical philologists, together with their lecturer, delved into the complex evolution of the Greek language—from the Mycenaean period and the Homeric dialect to the present day. Particular emphasis was placed on controversial issues in linguistics: the criteria for distinguishing stages of language development and the difficulties researchers face when attempting to draw clear boundaries between historical periods. The second lecture examined the multivariate nature of the Greek language, developing from the assertion that Greek is a living system. Students were clearly shown how the language coexists with established ancient expressions («Αχίλλειος πτέρνα»—Achilles' heel, "Moloών λαβέ"—Come and take it, "Foοβού τους Δαναούς και δώρα φέροντας"—Fear the Danaans bearing gifts) and various dialects. The audience was fascinated by the lecturer's presentation of the isogloss map, as well as by the discussion of the dialects of Karpathos, which have preserved archaic vocabulary and traces of Venetian and Turkish influence. The students also learned that the ancient Thracian dialect can be heard in modern Greek songs.

Meeting organizer, Associate Professor E.P. Litinskaya:

“We thank Polina Rylik for the engaging lectures and lively interactions! Such meetings deepen the study of classical Greek and broaden our students' professional horizons. After all, our department's classical studies focus on both ancient and modern Greek. This allows students not only to read ancient texts in the original but also to communicate fluently in modern Greek, understanding the patterns of language development.

E. P. Litinskaya,

PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Classical Philology, Russian Literature, and Journalism.