Formal / λόγιος Register Awareness
Modern Greek carries TWO registers side by side: everyday δημοτική (the living spoken language) and a formal / λόγιος layer inherited from καθαρεύουσα, the archaising written Greek whose RESIDUES survive on signs, documents, laws and news - the very texts a learner must READ. The B2 goal is RECEPTIVE: recognise the formal register and CHOOSE the right one for a context - never PRODUCE καθαρεύουσα (everyday δημοτική is always correct for your own Greek). (1) REGISTER PAIRS - an everyday word beside its formal counterpart: παίρνω ↔ λαμβάνω (“receive”, «Λάβαμε την αίτησή σας»), λέω ↔ δηλώνω (“state/declare”), μπαίνω ↔ εισέρχομαι (“enter”, sign ΕΙΣΟΔΟΣ). The formal connectors εντούτοις / συνεπώς / αφενός…αφετέρου are themselves the λόγιος members of their families. (2) FORMAL SYNTAX & FROZEN PHRASES - genitive-heavy constructions and fixed καθαρεύουσα residues met whole, never inflected: εν τω μεταξύ (“meanwhile”), επί τόπου (“on the spot”), εξ αιτίας / εξαιτίας (“because of”); and old -ον neuter endings on signs (εισιτήριον for εισιτήριο, γραφείον for γραφείο). Read them as their modern forms; write plain δημοτική.
The rule
Modern Greek carries two registers side by side: everyday δημοτική (the living spoken language) and a formal λόγιος layer inherited from καθαρεύουσα, the archaising written Greek whose residues survive on signs, documents, laws and news. This entry is receptive: recognise the formal register and choose the right one for a context - you never produce καθαρεύουσα, and needn’t (plain δημοτική is always correct for your own Greek). (1) Register pairs - an everyday word beside its formal counterpart: παίρνω ↔ λαμβάνω (“receive”, Λάβαμε την αίτησή σας), λέω ↔ δηλώνω (“state/declare”), μπαίνω ↔ εισέρχομαι (“enter”, sign ΕΙΣΟΔΟΣ). The formal connectors εντούτοις / συνεπώς / αφενός…αφετέρου are the λόγιος members of their families. (2) Formal syntax & frozen phrases - genitive-heavy constructions and fixed residues met whole, never inflected: εν τω μεταξύ (“meanwhile”), επί τόπου (“on the spot”), εξ αιτίας / εξαιτίας (“because of”); and old -ον neuter endings on signs (εισιτήριον for εισιτήριο, γραφείον for γραφείο). Read them as their modern forms; write plain δημοτική.