[ilds] Durrell's Languages

[Anna Lillios]

Durrell's Greek was excellent, but he spoke with an accent.  I've heard
him speak demotic Greek, which he spoke with gusto, but not the formal
language.

                                                                        
                                   --Anna 

Dr. Anna Lillios
Associate Professor of English
Department of English
University of Central Florida
P.O. Box 161346
Orlando, Florida 32816-1346

Phone: (407) 823-5161
FAX: (407) 823-6582
>>> slighcl <slighcl at wfu.edu> 05/26/08 2:53 PM >>>
On 5/26/2008 7:30 AM, James Gifford wrote:
>  Stephanides, 
> recalling Durrell and Nancy moving to Kalami on Corfu writes,
>
> "At first my services as interpreter were rather in demand, but it was

> amazing how soon Lawrence and Nancy picked up Greek.  On subsequent 
> visits I discovered that they understood the local brand of patois 
> better than I did myself!"
I would enjoy hearing any first hand accounts from listserv members who 
recall conversing with Durrell in French or in Greek.   We have a 
dwindling supply of witnesses, and preserving the record is important.

But from what I have read in memoirs, from what I have listened to on 
audio, and from what I have watched in several lengthy videos of Durrell

speaking French, Durrell was quick and sympathetic in ear and in tongue,

the sort of language learner who prospers rapidly at the cafe and at the

cocktail party. 

Send along any French media on Durrell that you have, Marc. 

Until then, here is a brief sample of Durrell talking later in life, ten

days before his 70th birthday.

        fiche média [be patient with the adverts and the slow stream]
        Lawrence DURRELL
        Radioscopie
        RF - 17/02/1982 - 00h55m00s
       
http://www.ina.fr/archivespourtous/?vue=notice&from=fulltext&full=Lawrence+durrell&num_notice=3&total_notices=4

C&c.

-- 
**********************
Charles L. Sligh
Department of English
Wake Forest University
slighcl at wfu.edu
**********************