Speech by George Nikitiadis in the Hellenic Parliament on the Grandeur, Uniqueness, and Global Reach of the Greek Language
During a joint session of the Parliamentary Committee on Cultural Affairs and the Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad, Dodecanese MP George Nikitiadis of PASOK, in his capacity as First Vice President of the latter committee, delivered a deeply emotional address in celebration of World Greek Language Day.
Nikitiadis described the establishment of this day as a great national success with international resonance, underlining PASOK’s active role in achieving it through parliamentary initiatives beginning in 2024.
The session, held on Monday, May 12, was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis-Michail (Yiannis) Loverdos, Greece’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO George Koumoutsakos, and emeritus professor of linguistics and former rector of the University of Athens, George Babiniotis.
Nikitiadis opened his speech with a personal reflection:
“Allow me, ladies and gentlemen, to express a unique kind of ‘fanaticism’ I permit myself – my profound love for the Greek language. I am not a man of obsessions, but when it comes to Greek, I find it impossible not to feel this way. Perhaps because, as a bilingual individual, I can more clearly perceive its grandeur and uniqueness.”
He emphasized UNESCO’s recognition of the Greek language, reminding participants that on May 18, 2024, PASOK’s parliamentary group had formally proposed the establishment of February 9th as World Greek Language Day in a letter addressed to the then Speaker of Parliament (now President of the Republic) Mr. Tasoulas. The letter, as quoted by Nikitiadis, stated:
“A truly global celebration modeled after those of other languages would be a small tribute to the vast contribution of the Greek language to world culture.”
He also highlighted the instrumental role of Professor Babiniotis, noting that his scholarly article attached to the proposal powerfully underscored the need for global recognition of the language.
Nikitiadis illustrated the global resonance of Greek by recalling the legendary 1959 speech of Xenophon Zolotas:
“It is not my idiosyncrasy to be ironic or sarcastic but my diagnosis would be that politicians are rather cryptoplethorists…”
He reminded the audience that Zolotas delivered an entire speech in English using only Greek-derived words, to an audience of high academic and political standing.
Reflecting on the expressive richness of Greek, Nikitiadis remarked:
“I loved my parents and my friends, but I was in love with my wife – not them. Try to convey that in English. You can’t. The word ‘love’ covers both. But are they the same? Clearly not. Eros and agape are distinct, and only Greek makes that distinction.”
On the ideological nuance of Greek, he added:
“When we held power, we created paroikies (settlements), never colonies, unlike other nations. In our language, ‘paroikia’ and ‘apikia’ are distinct. In English, both are translated as ‘colony’ or perhaps ‘community’ – but the meaning is entirely different.”
Nikitiadis concluded by briefing the committees on PASOK’s initiative to request a joint session dedicated to the pressing issues facing Greek-language education abroad. The party called for the attendance of the Minister of Education, Religion, and Sports Ms. Zaharaki, the Deputy Foreign Minister for Greeks Abroad Mr. Loverdos, and representatives of certified Greek education institutions to address the challenges affecting the diaspora.
Closing his speech, he made a heartfelt appeal:
“It is not just our duty to preserve and cultivate our language, but to spread it. We owe it to the millions of Greeks abroad and to future generations.”
He concluded by reading, word-for-word, the poem “The Greek Language” by Nikiforos Vrettakos:
“When someday I leave this light,
I will rise like a murmuring stream!
And if by chance I meet angels in the blue corridors,
I will speak to them in Greek,
for they do not know any languages…
they speak to each other with music.”
“That,” he finished, “is our language. It is music itself.”
