ZBORNIK - Matica srpska

approximately fifty-eight per cent. In the most comprehensive American
dictionary, that of Merriam Webster, one in every four words
is of Greek origin.
The tremendous influence of Greek is also evident in many
fundamental terms which survive identical in English, e.g. analysis,
synthesis, problem, hypothesis, method, theory, music, melody, orchestra,
rhythm, harmony, theater, drama, tragedy, comedy, poetry,
lyrism, democracy, tyranny, anarchy, despotism, idea, logic, dilemma,
program, system, symbol, phrase, dialogue, energy, mystery,
phenomenon, dogma, symmetry, crisis, syllogism, philosophy etc. If
these Greek abstract nouns and words used in Science, Politics, Literature
and Philosophy were removed from English vocabulary, serious
problems of communication would inevitably be created, and,
as it is widely accepted, abstract nouns offer significance and richness
to a language.
Likewise, when words used in colloquial English, enter the field
of science, the Greek term is also adopted. For instance: earthquake
— seismÃj, seismograph, seismology / insect, ¿ntomo — entomology.
There are, moreover, certain key-words used in all scientific
branches, such as lÃgoj forming Biology, Anthropology, Technology,
terminology, nÃmoj forming Astronomy, Agronomy, mçtron
— meter used in dynamometer, thermometer, skÃpio — scope in
microscope, telescope etc. furthermore, English and French form a
variety of compound using a wide range of Greek prepositions, such
as ana — analysis, anti — antibiotic, apo — apology, dia — dialogue,
epi — episode, epidemic, epithet, cata — catalogue, catastrophe,
cataclysm, meta — metaphor, metaphysical, para — paragraph,
peri — periodic, perimeter; Greek adjectives, such as aniso-,
aristo-, archaeo-, thermo-, psychro-, mono-, mega-, micro-, palaeo-,
neo-, pseudo- etc. form a great number of compounds.
A most important observation concerning the respect for the
correctness of both spoken and written Greek refers to the preservation
of grammatical rules. Thus, the Greek plural is preserved in
English in words such as hepatitis, phalanx, Cyclops etc. Similarly,
the preservation of rough breathing (=, H) in English in words such
as Hellas, hemisphere, Hellespont etc. helps to keep alive the etymology.
Furthermore, a remarkable amount of proper names are
Greek: Alexander, Andrew, Christopher, Helen, Eugene, Margaret
etc. Proverbial Greek phrases are translated into English and used in
the same context, such as Parthian shots, under the aegis etc.
Some of the reasons for such a wide reception of Greek in English
are: first, the richness and variety of Greek vocabulary. As the
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