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Influence of the ancient Greek rhetors on the linguistic theories of Adamantios Koraes

Λογοτεχνία - Μουσική / Literature - Music

• Rotollo, Vincenzo

The learned hellenist Adamantios Koraes was passionately concerned with the “question” of Modern Greek language. Influenced by the Enlightenment ideas, he was inclined to adopt progressive theories as far as culture and education were concerned.As to the question of language, which between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th was debated between the supporters of the “demotiki” and those of “katharevousa” he choose the “famous” middle course.The purpose of this article is to determine the influence of Greek philosophers and rhetors on Koraes, who was fed with classical culture and thought it useful to draw on themes and evidence from ancient authors for his linguistic theories. The classical authors Koraes mainly drew on are Aristotle, the Stoic philosophers, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, the author of the treatise De Sublimitate (traditionally ascribed to Longinus), Apollonius Dyscolus, Apollonius of Tyana. The philological works of Koraes are examined as well as his letters, rich in critical, cultural and linguistic remarks. The matters on which Koraes quotes ancient authors and warmly recommends their study concern Ancient and Modern Greek language, syntax, style, selection and position of words, clarity in exposition, study of etymology, and meaning of words, individuality of literary creation.

• Languages and Literature
• History and Archaeology

• Λογοτεχνία

αρχαία ρητορική, Ελλάς