Manolis Triantafyllidis

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

Manolis Triantafyllidis (Athens, 15 November 1883 – Athens, 20 April 1959)

Linguist, educator, and pioneer of the Demotic Greek movement

Manolis Triantafyllidis was one of the most prominent figures in the Greek language question and is considered a founder of modern Greek linguistics. His life and work are closely tied to the establishment and scientific documentation of Demotic Greek in education and public life.

Early life and studies

He was born in Athens in 1883, though his family came from Vyziki, Arcadia. He graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Athens in 1905. From a young age, he showed a deep interest in linguistics and pedagogy. In 1907, he went to Germany for postgraduate studies, first at the University of Munich and then at the University of Leipzig, where he studied under leading linguists of the time such as Karl Brugmann and August Leskien. There, he deepened his understanding of linguistics and became familiar with the latest theories of the historical-comparative method.

In 1910, he was awarded a doctorate in linguistics and remained in Germany for a short time, where he was also introduced to contemporary trends in pedagogy and school reform.

The Educational Association and involvement with the Demotic movement

In 1911, upon returning to Greece, he co-founded the Educational Association (Ekpaideftikos Omilos) along with Alexandros Delmouzos, Dimitrios Glinos, Ioannis Kakridis, and other reformist intellectuals of the time. This group became the principal engine for promoting Demotic Greek in education, advancing a radical reformist agenda based on the use of the vernacular language in schools, a psychological-pedagogical approach to learning, and the active engagement of students.

Triantafyllidis played a decisive role in shaping curricula and developing pedagogical theory. He was a close associate of Eleftherios Venizelos, particularly during his administrations in 1917–1920 and 1928–1932, when the principles of Demoticism were widely implemented in Greek education.

Academic career and scholarly work

In 1931, Triantafyllidis was elected Professor of Linguistics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. There, he developed extensive teaching and research work, founding a school of linguistics that gained international recognition. His contribution to the study of the history of the Greek language—its diachronic evolution, dialects, and the connection between Ancient and Modern Greek—was especially significant.

In 1938, he founded the Center for Modern Greek Studies, which was later named after him following his death and continues his mission. The center aimed to provide linguistic research and pedagogical support for education based on linguistic science.

The "Modern Greek Grammar" (1939)

In 1939, under the Metaxas regime, he was commissioned by the Ministry of Education to write a grammar of Demotic Greek for secondary education. The result was the renowned Modern Greek Grammar by M. Triantafyllidis, published in 1941. It remains to this day the main reference work for teaching the Greek language in schools.

This grammar was not just an educational manual; it was also a rigorous scientific work. Triantafyllidis adopted a descriptive approach, free from archaizing influences, and presented the structure of the living language with clarity and method. The work, the fruit of many years of study and scholarly rigor, established the linguistic approach to language teaching in Greece.

Other written works

In addition to Modern Greek Grammar, his major works include:

Our Language Question (1938), in which he analyzes the historical and theoretical aspects of the conflict between Katharevousa and Demotic.

Modern Greek Morphology and Modern Greek Syntax (published posthumously from his manuscripts).

Numerous articles, studies, and essays on language, language policy, education, and pedagogy.

Introductions and editorial contributions to school textbooks in Demotic Greek, helping to bridge scientific linguistics and classroom practice.

Ideology and legacy

Triantafyllidis was a Demoticist not only as a linguist but also as a citizen. He believed that the language of the people should also be the language of the state, education, and intellectual life. Though he faced fierce opposition from conservative and purist circles, his moderation, scientific credibility, and integrity earned him broad respect.

After his death in 1959, his work continued to profoundly influence the language policy of the Greek state. The Manolis Triantafyllidis Foundation, established in Thessaloniki, carries out significant scholarly and publishing work to this day.

Summary

Born: Athens, 15 November 1883

Died: Athens, 20 April 1959

Studies: Athens, Munich, Leipzig

Professor: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1931–1950)

Lifetime achievement: Modern Greek Grammar (1941)

Founder of: Educational Association (1911), Center for Modern Greek Studies (1938)