Modern Greek, i.e. the language spoken in its common form (common modern Greek or modern standard Greek), belongs, like most European languages, to the Indo-European language family, with a cradle of origin probably in Anatolia. It is used today in Greece, the Republic of Cyprus and with varying degrees of proficiency in the Greek diaspora-homeland to a total of 13.4 million speakers based on 2012 data.
Like all languages, modern Greek is not limited to its common form, but also has its dialects (Tsakonian, Politiki, Greek or Low Italic, Pontic, Cretan, etc.). But surely the dialects are under the pressure of the community and are on a downward trend.
For many years in Greece, as in many parts of the world, there was social bilingualism. Administration, the written word, public life and education were dominated by the “cleaner”, an archaic form of the colloquial language, unmixed with other languages, free of foreign, mainly Turkish borrowings.
In the daily life of the citizens, however, the municipal was used, simpler, easier to use and closer to the lifestyle of the majority of socialites. The vernacular was formalized as a form of the Greek state in 1976. Here it should be noted that Greek borrowed and borrowed over the centuries from many languages (Semitic, Latin, Romance, Turkish, Slavic, French, etc.).
The Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters, arranged from A to Z and distinguished by uppercase and lowercase letters. The 24 letters give us 19 phonemes and to these are added the two-digit consonants g (or γγ), b, nd, ts, tz and the two-digit vowel u, shaping the total number of phonemes in the Greek language to 25.
In addition to the native population, there are also many aliens, foreigners who live in Greece and are users of Greek either rudimentarily or sufficiently. In any case, whether it is for communication reasons, or for work reasons, or for study reasons, or for reasons of better coexistence with the native element, the knowledge of Greek is for foreigners who wish to remain in Greece an important issue and for an additional reason; it is a basic condition for obtaining Greek citizenship (naturalization).
1. Centre for the Greek Language (EFNIL) – Greek Language Certification
- Levels:
- B1, B2, C1, C2
- Description: The Certificate of Attainment in Greek is used for professional purposes, for admission to Greek universities, for public sector employment, for obtaining a "long-term resident" permit, and for inclusion in the Seal of Biliteracy program in the USA. Exams are held every May, with an additional exam session in October for A2 and B1 levels, aimed at those needing the certification for professional reasons or for renewing their residence permit.
2. Certificate of Knowledge for Naturalization (Π.Ε.Γ.Π)
- Description: This certificate is a mandatory requirement for submitting an application for the naturalization of foreign nationals. Exams are held twice a year, and candidates must pass in the subjects of the Greek language, Greek history, geography, Greek culture, and the country's political institutions. The exam topics and answers for the tested subjects are available in the official Question Bank.
The Greek language is globally recognized and offers unique opportunities for foreigners who wish to learn it. At our institute, we provide preparation for certifications that are recognized internationally.
