February 9 has officially been declared as International Greek Language Day and is a day for Greeks and non-Greeks to celebrate the vital role the Greek language has played in world culture.

The Greek language and culture, spread over 35 centuries, provide an unbroken link between modern-day Greeks and their ancestors.

Unlike Latin, Greek is a living language currently spoken by more than 11 million people in mainland Greece and several million Greeks worldwide.

We must all realise that Greek and Chinese are the only languages spoken today whose origin was known more than 3,500 years ago.”

Adrados acknowledges the role of languages of the ancient world, such as Egyptian, Sumerian, Hebrew and Arabic. However, if judged on the influence exerted over other European languages, he said: “Greek is the first language in the world. The Greek language is alive in Greece and has a second life; its alphabet, vocabulary, syntax and literature are present in all languages.”

February 9 has been selected as the day to celebrate the Greek language because it coincides with the Commemoration Day of Greece’s “national poet” Dionysios Solomos.

This initiative aims to highlight the fundamental role played by the Greek language in world culture throughout the centuries and encourage the Greeks of the diaspora and anyone who wishes to get involved and learn about Greek culture, to systematically research and learn about it.

Happy International Greek Language Day!