Page:Christian Greece and Living Greek.djvu/268

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246 CHRISTIAN GREECE AND LIVING GREEK. reproach, replied: "I shall be very much obliged to this gentleman if he will mention even one single Slavonic word found in the modern Greek language." The Slavonic is en- tirely restricted to the designations of habita- tions, hills, landscapes, waters, and even then it appears only in occasional places and by no means in all Greece. In spite of a long-continued intercourse, the Albanese have, if possible, left still less traces in the Greek language. It is somewhat different concerning the Turk- ish language. The Turkish dominion was for centuries very effective and oppressive ; it can- not, therefore, seem strange if words of the offi- cial language have permeated the language of the conquered people. We find some Turkish words for Turkish things, as for instance, ytovpTi for a certain preparation of milk, Tzddcpi for a Turkish preparation of rice, just as beefsteak, the English dish, is called by this name in all countries. In the written language, however, nearly everything of foreign origin has been carefully avoided. It is true the works of the modern Greek writer are not of so much beauty as the works of the classical period, but the language is not to