The Italian city of Naples commemorated International Greek Language Day with events to highlight the timeless contribution of Greek to world history.
After a two-year lull due to the pandemic, philhellenes, academics and members of the Greek Italian community at Maschio Angioino, a medieval castle located in front of Piazza Municipio and the city hall in central Naples to celebrate the occasion.
The Ambassador of Greece in Italy Ms. Eleni Souranis sent a pre-recorded video message whereas the Secretary General of Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy Mr. Yiannis Chrysoulakis was present.
Professor George Babiniotis gave a lecture with the theme “My passion, my language” at the Marie Blanche Library. Babiniotis is a Greek linguist and philologist best known as the author of the Dictionary of Modern Greek, which was published in 1998.
Naples-based Professor Korinthios first proposed Greek language day
Professor Jannis Korinthios, a Diaspora Greek in Italy who is the author of a dictionary of the Ancient Greek language, introduced the lecture.
Korinthios is the man who proposed the celebration of Greek Language Day in 2014.
The proposal was also supported by most municipalities in Greece, on the initiative of the president of the Central Union of Greek Municipalities (KEDE), Giorgos Patoulis.
When he spoke to Greek Reporter recently, Korinthios expressed his certainty that the Greek language is not under threat by the internet or the existence of multiple social media platforms.
Rather, he stated that “The Greek language is threatened by the indifference of those who must protect it: the schools, universities, homes, media, and our public services.
“The Greek language is ancient and yet alive… it is a valuable legacy and the cornerstone of the identity both of Hellenism and of European education.”
The International Greek Language Day was established in 2017 after a joint ministerial decision of the Greek Government, with the unanimous approval of the Greek Parliament.
During the events in Naples, three short films on the Greek language made by the Department of Graphic Design and Visual Communication of the University of Western Attica were shown to the audience.
Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Graphic Design and Visual Communication Apostolos Papapostolou presented the films that were based on essays submitted by children of the Greek Diaspora.
They were transformed into audio-visual animation narratives by the research team of Associate Professor Spyros Siakas of the University of Western Attica.
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