Hellenismos e variazione dialettale.

By the term hellenismós the Greeks primarily referred to “Greek-speak- ing” people, contrasting them with those who spoke “Barbarian” languages. Moreover, hellenismós specifically denoted speaking and, importantly, writing in proficient Greek, adhering to grammatical correctness and stylistic appropri- ateness. This contribution aims to delve into the definitions of hellenismós by examining its contrasts with other linguistic terms and concepts. Additionally, it explores the issue of dialectal variation from the viewpoint of ancient gram- marians, incorporating modern discussions on the status of Greek dialects. Such an approach challenges the notion of a monolithic and unchanging Greek language, as would be inferred from a certain idea of the Byzantine koiné, and scrutinizes the Greeks’ awareness of linguistic variation and multilingualism.