『그리스어야 놀자』(김창락, 서울: 분도출판사, 2022)

Abstract

This paper briefly reviews the Greek-Korean lexicon, Let’s Play with Greek Vocabulary (GEURISEOYA NOLJA in Korean) in the context of the author’s career and introduces its strengths and weaknesses.BR This book not only has 744 pages but is also bigger in size than regular books, giving the impression that it would be difficult to study Greek with it. However, it is the work of an English teacher-turned-New Testament professor, carefully designed for use by beginner-level Greek students.BR It aims to help students who want to learn Koine Greek acquire their Greek vocabulary as quickly and easily as possible. To achieve this goal, the author includes almost all the Greek words in the New Testament, and introduces them in the 24 chapters ordered according to letters of the Greek alphabet. Furthermore, he uses three creative methods to help students, that is, association, analysis, and illustrations.BR First, association method utilizes the similarity of pronunciation or meaning between a foreign word and a native word to memorize the word. Second, analysis method analyzes the components of foreign words by etymology to memorize them together. Third, illustrations vividly bring up the image the author presents.BR Despite its many strengths, it lacks the Greek word index. It is not so difficult to find words because chapters are arranged in alphabetical order. But within each chapter, it can be a little inconvenient to find them as they are not arranged in alphabetical order and some words are repeated here and there. It will be more helpful for students if there is an index at the end of the book.BR In conclusion, this book will be useful and helpful for Koine Greek learners.