Nikas wrote:catharine wrote:And there is a clear implication in the Curtius extract that he might have avoided the Macedonian dialect as being somewhat "barbarian" and un-Greek. Though apparently this didn't stop him vilifying Philotas for not using it!
Yes, your raise a good point.
The whole Curtius passage, is well, somewhat odd. Firstly, if we read the Curtius extract literally, the only thing we can say for certain based on what is in there is that Alexander avoided the Macedonian dialect so more of the assembled troops could more easily understand him (the key is the Latin "quos facilius") and that Philotas can't speak his native dialect. What makes the passage odd though is simply the context. For one, we are told that this trial is taking place in front of Macedonians:
'
The Macedonians are going to judge your case,' he (Alexander) said. 'Please state whether you will use your native language before them.'
So, if it is in front of Macedonians and since we presume they should all understand their own dialect, then why has Alexander not been speaking Makedonisti up to this point?:
[35] 'Besides the Macedonians,' replied Philotas. 'there are many present, who, I think, will find what I am going to say easier to understand
if I use the language you yourself have been using, your purpose, I believe, being only to enable more people to understand you.'
So, we have to make an assumption that there are "many present" who have to "more easily understand". Who are these people? I don't believe we are amiss in saying that it is the other Greeks, or heck perhaps a Persian or two? Alexander is not speaking "Makedonisti", that we have determined, so what is he speaking? Well, if he is trying to communicate with everyone present and for lack of a better suggestion (Illyrian, Thracian, Latin anyone?) then he must logically be speaking standard Greek, meaning of course Athenian Greek.
But here is the rub. If the case is being tried by the Macedonians, and really only they are ultimately going to judge Philotas, then by necessity they too would have to understand what Philotas is going to say, which is most likely standard Greek, meaning of course the Athenian type. Now, when I say the Macedonians, from what I recall this is the body of the Macedonian army, or at least a good representation thereof, so basically all social classes and all geographic areas of Macedon should be represented? (If anyone knows otherwise please correct me). Yet they could all understand standard Greek?
I guess with extreme difficulty I can pick up on Irish, Texan or Australian
[36] Then the king said: 'Do you see how offensive Philotas finds even his native language? He alone feels an aversion to learning it. But let him speak as he pleases - only remember that he is as contemptuous of our way of life as he is of our language.' So saying, Alexander left the meeting.
I can't help but draw the analogy, that Philotas is being labelled as almost a snob to good for everyone else if you know what I mean. I guess it's like me trying to effect a proper English (England that is) accent in my neck of the woods, but be unable, or unwilling, to speak my local dialect. The laughter I would be subjected to…
Like I said, an odd passage.