Is there a lot of difference between Greek language and Cypriot language?

Question

I live in Cyprus I'm english and learning convasational Greek/Cypriot and struggling any help would be appreciated Efaristo poli

Answer 1

It seems that Cypriot is a form of hybrid Greek/Cypress (ancient) national language? While it influenced the Greek language... It's not actually in use anymore... Scholars have had to use older Greek hybrid documents from 11BCE to relocate the Cypriot scripts....(According to Website #1)

Website #3 which details information on Cypress where you will find the Cypriots.....Uses 3 major languges Turkish, Greek and English.

"According to tradition, Greek settlers colonized Cyprus around the 12th century BCE, and they likely adopted the Cypro-Minoan script for their own use." Website #1

"The island of Cyprus has been a focus of cross-cultural interaction for many millenia. Its name stems from the root as the English (as well as Latin and Greek) word 'copper'. " Website #1

"The Cypriot script persisted into Classical times, and coexisted with the Greek alphabet......The Cypriot script was finally abandoned only after extensive Hellenization by Alexander the Great. " website #1

website #1 continues with more details on the Cypriot script.

"Greek is the official language of Greece where it is spoken by about 99.5% of the population. It is also, alongside Turkish and English, the official language of Cyprus. Because of the membership of Greece and Cyprus in the European Union, Greek is one of the 20 official languages of the European Union." Website #2

"Greek and Turkish Cypriots share many customs but maintain separate ethnic identities based on religion, language, and close ties with their respective motherlands. Greeks comprise 77% of the island's population, Turks 18%, while the remaining 5% are of other ethnicities." Website #3

Greek is the predominant language in the south, while Turkish is spoken in the north and by some Greek Cypriots, too. This delineation is only reflective of the post-1974 division of the island, which involved an expulsion of Greek Cypriots from the north and the analoguous move of Turkish Cypriots from the south. Historically, the Greek language was largely spoken by all Greek Cypriots and by many Turkish Cypriots too, given the fact that the Greek Cypriots formed the majority of the population. Turkish Cypriots use Turkish as VO language and as a rather distinctive dialect of Turkish." Website#3

"English is widely understood, and is taught in schools from the primary age. Many official documents are published in English as well as the official languages of Greek and Turkish." Website #3

Also, website # 2 lists... 7 Greek dialects (one is extinct):
Demotic Greek (Δημοτική)
Katharevousa (Καθαρεύουσα)
Tsakonian (Τσακωνικά)
Pontic (Ποντιακά)
Cappadocian (Καππαδοκικά)
Southern Italian (Κατωιταλικά or Griko)
Yevanic---the extinct variant.

I hope all of this helps you.
-Dawgy

Answer 2

I am not a native Greek speaker, therefore not the best expert. However, a good book to check out on the subject is "Cypriot Greek" by Brian Newton (1972). Upon reading his book, I get the impression that there is a modest difference between the Greek of Athens and Cyprus much like the difference between High and Low German. Brian Newton mention kattu as the Cypriot Greek word for cat even though in standard Greek it is gata or gatos. "I am in a hurry' is "Viazome" in standard Greek but Newton mentions the Cypriot variations in his book too: viazume, dhiazume, fkazume, thkazume, kazume etc.

I am told, that because of its relative isolation, Cypriot Greek still preserves some Ancient Greek roots and words not found in the Greek of Greece.

Answer 3

Hello! I would say no, since most of our vocabulary is the same. Only same words differ but not a great deal. As the books, tv programms etc are in Greek and not cypriot dialect, you can watch and see that there is not much difference. Good Luck though, Greek are not an easy language :-)

Answer 4

parakalo ! not much of a difference - but I am sure you know that each Island has its own little dialect going! so does Cyprus ,subtle but audible! ande ya - filarako