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From: bnevin@CCH.BBN.COM (Bruce Nevin)
Newsgroups: mod.computers.laser-printers
Subject: `italic' in Greek
Message-ID: <8611200039.AA12371@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: Mon, 17-Nov-86 12:34:29 EST
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Posted: Mon Nov 17 12:34:29 1986
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Ellenika kurta is indeed a transliteration of the modern Greek
expression for `italic Greek'.  The adjective is more properly
transliterated kyrta, with an accent on the final syllable.  It is
native stock, not a loan word from Italian--some wag could write a bit
of doggerel indeed, were that the coda to this tale!.  It means `curved,
bent'; the verb of which it is a participle is kyrto `I bend, turn,
curve' (omega with circumflex--MGk uses first person singular as
citation form, the infinitive inflection having been replaced in
function by a subjunctive construction).  

More formally, the Greek phrase for `italics' is `kyrta stoiXeia'
([kirta' stichi'a], ch as in Bach) where stoiXeia by itself means `first
principles, elements', but in proper context, as stoiXeia tou alphaBetou
[stichi'on tu alfavi'tu], means `letters, type'.  Similarly, given the
context, `Ellinika kyrta' (or, less literately, `kurta') means `italic
Greek [letters or type]'.  The elided noun stoiXeia is understood
because it agrees with the neuter plural inflection of the two
adjectives, and because context requires it.

I suspect this is as much as anyone wants to know about how to ask for
italics in Greek.  Now, as for `pass the salt, please' . . .

	Bruce