Emmanuel Kriaras facts for kids
Emmanuel G. Kriaras (born November 28, 1906 – died August 22, 2014) was a Greek expert in words and languages. He was known as a lexicographer (someone who writes dictionaries) and a philologist (someone who studies languages and literature). He was a respected professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Kriaras was a student of Jean Psychari and strongly supported the use of demotic Greek, which is the common, everyday form of the Greek language.
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Early Life and Studies
Emmanuel Kriaras was born in Piraeus, Greece, in 1906. His family came from the island of Crete. He spent his early childhood on the island of Milos, which is part of the Cyclades islands. In 1914, his family moved to Chania, Crete, where he finished his high school education. He then went on to study at the University of Athens starting in 1924. He finished his studies there in 1929, graduating from the School of Philosophy.
A Life Dedicated to Language
Kriaras began working in the medieval archives of the Academy of Athens in 1930. He became a principal there in 1939. While working, he also continued his studies, doing research in Munich (1930) and Paris (1945–1948).
Research on Erotókritos
Part of his research focused on Erotókritos. This is a very famous romantic poem from the early 1600s. It is considered a highlight of literature from Crete during the Renaissance period. Kriaras published his work on this poem in 1938. It was called Essays concerning the sources of Erotókritos. This important work earned him his doctorate degree from the University of Athens.
Professor and Dismissal
In 1950, Emmanuel Kriaras was chosen to be a professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He taught about medieval Greek language and literature. He also taught medieval Greek history and modern Greek language studies. However, in 1968, he was removed from his job. This happened because his political views were different from the government's views at the time.
Important Dictionaries
Kriaras wrote many important works about language. One of his most significant projects was the Lexicon of Medieval Greek Demotic Literature 1100-1669. This is a huge dictionary of words used in Greek literature from the Middle Ages. It has been published since 1968 and is now available in a shorter, two-volume edition. In 1997, he gave his medieval dictionary and all his research notes to the Centre for the Greek Language in Thessaloniki.
Another very important book he created is the Greek Dictionary of the Modern Demotic Language, Written and Oral, published in 1995. This is considered one of the most trusted dictionaries for modern Greek. Kriaras dedicated his life to studying and promoting the Greek language, especially the everyday "demotic" form.
In 2006, to celebrate his amazing work and his 100th birthday, the University of Thessaloniki gave him a special award called the "Golden Aristotle."
Later Years and Death
Emmanuel Kriaras passed away on August 22, 2014, in Thessaloniki, Greece. He was 107 years old when he died from a heart attack.
