Which is correct: “I’m smug” or “I’m smug”? Where did the expression “take it, take it” come from? What is “recommended” and what is “recommended”?

At a time when the use of the Greek vocabulary is becoming increasingly “poor”, spelling is based on the automatic correction offered by mobile phones, and punctuation is used on a case-by-case basis, two female philologists from Northeast Greece, Christina Karathanasis and Eleni Drakakithey are trying to reverse the negative data.

Each of them has created their own social media page and uses smart cards and short videos to remind their online friends in a simple and understandable way about aspects of the Greek language that they either don’t know or have already forgotten to use. .

“My name is Christina Karathanasisbut in recent years I introduce myself as Christina, n Philologist-ina– tells “K” a 33-year-old philologist from Orestiada, who graduated from graduate school in the use of technology in distance education. “Initially, the Philologist_in page was created in order to offer educational material to students and teachers during the quarantine period. Since then, the page has grown and developed. Now the audience does not have a certain age and identity. Anyone who loves Greek becomes a member of this group.she adds.

on instagram, over 50,000 users from all over Greecefollow Philologist_ina’s regular publications dedicated to rare wordsV errors that are common in speaking or writingbut also in common, everyday expressions, the origin of which many do not know.

“The reaction is extremely positive and gives me the strength to continue. Otherwise, I would not have found the point in these efforts. Every day I receive messages and I try to answer them all. This strengthens the interaction of this community and opens the way for further research,” he notes.

“I share my love for the Greek language”

During the same period, the 27-year-old philologist began her own related project Eleni Drakaki who lives in Komotini. Wanting to get closer to the students of the public school where she works during those difficult days of quarantine, as well as to become more active and creative, she used Instagram to “create” a dynamic page, which she called Philologina. For about three years, over 100,000 usersthey came to follow her, learning through her page the basic rules for the proper use of the Greek language.

“I never imagined the reach of an Instagram profile where I just share my love for the Greek language,” she tells K. Mr Drakakis. “This is a profile open to anyone who wants to learn something new or remember something old. Posts not only about grammar, syntax and vocabulary, but also about the magical world of books that I adore. With online friends, we exchange ideas and opinions about new or old book releases, as well as favorite authors,” she adds.

“Lexipenia is the biggest language crisis”

What does “extreme” mean? Eleni Drakaki asked in one of the latest videos she posted on her Instagram page, giving the answer to her online friends with a short quiz. In many of her posts, she insists on presenting words that are now much less commonly used in everyday conversation.

“I believe that the biggest crisis our language is facing today is lexipenia,” he emphasizes. “If we accept that young children are the main representatives of the problem of language poverty, let’s ask ourselves why. Does the fruitless memorization of school lessons mechanize their thinking, and therefore their language? A strong tendency towards xenomania and mimicry? Maybe. Therefore, it is very important to improve, first of all, the methods of conducting lessons and to interest children in new practices used in modern schools.”

Lack of interest in Greek

The problem of using poor vocabulary, mainly by students, is also indicated Christina Karathanasis. However, this, according to him, can be solved if someone wants to improve it. She shifts her thoughts elsewhere. “Personally, I am concerned about the lack of interest among young children in Greek and learning. This, too, is a consequence of our time, as every day young people receive a flurry of incentives through technology. That is why it is necessary to create a modern and innovative environment in which critical thinking and creativity will develop,” the young philologist explains, noting that this was her motive for creating “Philologist-in”.

Internet project Karathanasis found a place in the midday broadcast of public television “I saw you in the morning at noon.” Last year, the philologist joined the team of the show, in which every day she presents a new video about the correct use of the Greek language. The experience, he says, is exciting, as he can now reach a new audience, the television audience, by introducing them to the Greek language through gallops and fun games.