The Greek alphabet is one of the oldest writing systems still in use, with 24 letters that include characters not found in any other modern European script. Translating Greek documents presents unique challenges beyond simple language conversion. The transliteration of Greek names into Latin characters is a frequent source of errors, as multiple romanization systems exist and Greek authorities have historically been inconsistent in how they render names on official documents. A single Greek name like Ευάγγελος might appear as Evangelos, Euangelos, or Evagelos depending on the document and era.
Older Greek documents, particularly those from before the 1982 language reform, may use polytonic orthography (πολυτονικό σύστημα) with additional diacritical marks including the rough breathing (δασεία), smooth breathing (ψιλή), circumflex accent (περισπωμένη), and iota subscript (υπογεγραμμένη). Civil registry records from the early and mid-20th century frequently use this system, and translators must be able to read and accurately interpret these older forms. Furthermore, some documents use the formal register Katharevousa (Καθαρεύουσα) rather than the modern Demotic Greek (Δημοτική) that became the official language in 1976, affecting vocabulary and grammatical structures throughout the text.
DoVisa translators specializing in Greek documents are trained to handle all script variations, including polytonic orthography, Katharevousa phrasing, and inconsistent name transliterations. We cross-reference name spellings against the individual's passport and other identity documents to ensure consistent romanization throughout the translation. For handwritten civil registry entries — common in Greek municipal archives — our translators have experience deciphering the distinctive cursive Greek handwriting styles used by registrars across different periods and regions of Greece.
