BJohnson

source: Libération

author:  Jacques Pezet December 27, 2019 at 7:01 am

translation: GoogleTranslate/doxa-louise

Is Boris Johnson's  recitation of the "Iliad" in Ancient 

Greek correct?

A 2013 video showing Boris Johnson proclaiming the beginning of Homer's poem aroused admiration, but also taunts from Internet users.

Question asked by Paul on 12/25/2019

Hello,

Since Monday, a video exhumed from Boris Johnson has aroused the fascination of many Internet users and commentators on British news, since we see him reciting a passage from the Iliad of Homer in ancient Greek. The incident dates from August 2013 , when he participated, as mayor of London, in the Melbourne Writers Festival.

The rediscovery of these images was first shared on social networks by Internet users surprised or proud to see that the current British Prime Minister is a cultivated and literate man, far from the eccentric image of the "clown" Bojo,  bulldozer driver and Love Actually fan .

But secondly, admiration was replaced by mockery, when people posing as Hellenists or experts in Ancient Greek said that Boris Johnson's performance was of poor quality or incomprehensible. This negative assessement from Internet user Yiokasti Mouratidi, who presents herself as a Greek student, has been shared more than 35,000 times: “As a native Greek person who studied Ancient Greek, the Iliad and the Odyssey (and other texts in ancient Greek) for four years in high school (as part of the compulsory program of Greek public schools), I can confirm that I understood absolutely nothing about what he said. ”

Boris Johnson doesn't recite too badly

To verify Boris Johnson's performance, CheckNews  contacted Manon Brouillet, lecturer in Greek language and literature at the University of Picardy. The researcher believes that:  “The former mayor of London has a rather good memory. He recites the first 36 verses of the Iliad, but it is true that there are errors: he forgets verses 8, 15, 16, 18 to 23 and 32, and he makes some mistakes in Greek which, for me, clearly indicate that he does not understand or not very well the Homeric text (there is at least one moment when his forgetfulness, verses 18 to 23, makes him say a sentence which has no meaning, but that he has retained its declamatory style (with includes an emphatic pronounciation at the beginning of the two lines of the heroes.) In short, in my opinion, he does not recite too badly but does so without understanding everything. "

About pronunciation, Manon Brouillet specifies that Boris Johnson "Pronounces Greek in English, it is the" normal "pronunciation on the other side of the Channel, and also of the Atlantic, which explains why we can read on Twitter Greeks who say that they do not don't understand anything. They probably wouldnèt understand me either! ”
Also interviewed, the Hellenist and theater director, Philippe Brunet confirms: “The memorization and interpretation of Boris Johnson are quite good, apart from a few cuts or small errors. Of course, the pronunciation reflects a certain state of British teaching and practice of ancient Greek. In any case, I have not heard any political leader in France attempt an equivalent recitation. ”

cordially

Jacques Pezet

https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2019/12/27/boris-johnson-recite-t-il-correctement-l-iliade-en-grec-ancien_1771098