Cyprus-Forum.com

[kafenes]

Natty, I presume the word Olan comes from the Turkish word Oglan meaning 'boy'.

I was thinking that too Kafenes, but their is a root word olmak=a happening (a verb). Olan is a weird one. we say "nedir olan yaptigin". Which means what on earth are you doing. The word "olan" seems to emphasise the question. I am asking myself also if in that sentence it could mean 'oglan' as you said, but yo can also say it to a girl. I will look it up for an explanation, unfortunately I left my 'bible' (the Redhouse) at work.

Olur, bekliorum.

[Natty]

Natty, Ombritera derives from emprotera compound word from en and protera, literally gone on before. Ancient Greek derivation.

As for Deniz' speculation about the word klidi, it derives from kleino, to lock, in Greek again and considering the variety of uses that verb and related noun have in GC dialect I would hazard that it was there all along and did not travel via the Arabs etc. Off the bat: kleidono, kleidomeno, tsakrokleidi (key made into fireworks launcher), and the uses it has in mechanics talk where all spanners etc are referred to by the noun kleidi, and kleidarithmos for combination to a safe etc.

I find Italian derived words fascinating considering how long ago we took them over and that we have no proximity to Italy. Cypriot probably has more Italian words than the dialects of Corfu and the other Ionian islands which were under Venetian rule longer and are so close to Italy. I notice also that Italian words are more often used in Troodos and that makes me wonder why. Did the last Venetians take refuge up there? There were some large feudal properties in the mountains, perhaps the owners who could not flee stayed behind and these Italian words are their legacy.

Thanks Nikitas, it seems my grandmother's rather knowledgeable when it comes to ancient Greek words. I reckon she could teach a student studying Ancient Greek a thing or two...

It's interesting that you should say that actually because my cousin’s family on her father’s side originate from a village in the mountains called Katodrys, and apparently there's a legend that the Villagers accentors were Venations fleeing from the Ottomans. My Mothers family also originate from a very small and very, very, very high mountain village called Odhou and my maternal grandparents use a ton of Italian words. In fact many moons ago they owned a Cafe in England, and for a period they had an Italian guy working for them. One day my Grandmother was speaking to my Grandfather, and this guy was able to follow almost exactly what she was saying. Actually my Grandfather only has to step outside the house and start speaking ‘mountain kipreika’ and someone nearly always comes up and asks him whether he’s Italian..

Hey, my dad was also fluent in Italian ..... and I just always assumed he must have picked it up whilst he was a POW in WWII.

I'm not sure my grandfather is what you would call fluent in Italian exactly, but he sure does use a lot of Italian words. Now that you mention it actually, he was also a POW in WWII, stationed at one point in Italy (Maybe my grandfather and your father new each other?? That's an interesting thought..) So perhaps that's why Italian words feature so much in his vocabulary. Although I'm pretty sure my grandmother wasn't a POW during WWII and she also uses many Italian words, but hey you never know, I certainly wouldn't put it past her, she's never one to let such a silly thing as convention get in her way...

It's only quite recently that I found out my Grandfather was stationed in Italy during the war. And the way I found out was rather surprising to say the least. We were in the middle of Sunday lunch when he suddenly started speaking Italian, and then as you can imagine it all came out.

That was a funny moment...

[denizaksulu]

Natty, I presume the word Olan comes from the Turkish word Oglan meaning 'boy'.

I was thinking that too Kafenes, but their is a root word olmak=a happening (a verb). Olan is a weird one. we say "nedir olan yaptigin". Which means what on earth are you doing. The word "olan" seems to emphasise the question. I am asking myself also if in that sentence it could mean 'oglan' as you said, but yo can also say it to a girl. I will look it up for an explanation, unfortunately I left my 'bible' (the Redhouse) at work.

Olur, bekliorum.

Benim tanidigim Ermeniler cok guzel Turkce konusurlardi. Annenden mi ogrendin?

[Filitsa]

Natty, I presume the word Olan comes from the Turkish word Oglan meaning 'boy'.

Thanks Kafenes, so my grandfather may be sticking the word 'boy' on the end of nearly all his sentences? Huh, interesting..I'll be sure to tell him next time I see him..

BTW, I was looking through the 'What you look like thread' and I came across the very nice picture that you posted of yourself (I personally think you have blue eyes with a hint of green ). This is a bit of a random question, but has anybody every said that you look a bit like the Greek singer Pasxalis Terzis?

I thought the same.

[Natty]

Well hello there Denise, how are you my dear?

Olan is a weird one. we say "nedir olan yaptigin". Which means what on earth are you doing. The word "olan" seems to emphasise the question.

In the GC dialect it seems it's also used to emphasise, usually that you're quite exasperated with a certain situation...If that makes any sense….

[kafenes]

Natty, I presume the word Olan comes from the Turkish word Oglan meaning 'boy'.

I was thinking that too Kafenes, but their is a root word olmak=a happening (a verb). Olan is a weird one. we say "nedir olan yaptigin". Which means what on earth are you doing. The word "olan" seems to emphasise the question. I am asking myself also if in that sentence it could mean 'oglan' as you said, but yo can also say it to a girl. I will look it up for an explanation, unfortunately I left my 'bible' (the Redhouse) at work.

Olur, bekliorum.

Benim tanidigim Ermeniler cok guzel Turkce konusurlardi. Annenden mi ogrendin?

Benim ana chok guzel Turkche gonushur. Is that correct?

[kafenes]

Natty, I presume the word Olan comes from the Turkish word Oglan meaning 'boy'.

Thanks Kafenes, so my grandfather may be sticking the word 'boy' on the end of nearly all his sentences? Huh, interesting..I'll be sure to tell him next time I see him..

BTW, I was looking through the 'What you look like thread' and I came across the very nice picture that you posted of yourself (I personally think you have blue eyes with a hint of green ). This is a bit of a random question, but has anybody every said that you look a bit like the Greek singer Pasxalis Terzis?

I thought the same.

Yes, I've been told many times before even though I am much taller, and that my voice is a cross between Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and Michael Bolton plus many other combinations. I don't understand why people have to compare it with someone else's. My voice is my voice.

[Natty]

Natty, I presume the word Olan comes from the Turkish word Oglan meaning 'boy'.

Thanks Kafenes, so my grandfather may be sticking the word 'boy' on the end of nearly all his sentences? Huh, interesting..I'll be sure to tell him next time I see him..

BTW, I was looking through the 'What you look like thread' and I came across the very nice picture that you posted of yourself (I personally think you have blue eyes with a hint of green ). This is a bit of a random question, but has anybody every said that you look a bit like the Greek singer Pasxalis Terzis?

I thought the same.

Glad I'm not the only one Filista...



I've posted a picture of him so other forum members can see what I'm talking about..

And just to avoid confusion, that's a picture of Pasxalis not Kafenes...

[Natty]

Natty, I presume the word Olan comes from the Turkish word Oglan meaning 'boy'.

Thanks Kafenes, so my grandfather may be sticking the word 'boy' on the end of nearly all his sentences? Huh, interesting..I'll be sure to tell him next time I see him..

BTW, I was looking through the 'What you look like thread' and I came across the very nice picture that you posted of yourself (I personally think you have blue eyes with a hint of green ). This is a bit of a random question, but has anybody every said that you look a bit like the Greek singer Pasxalis Terzis?

I thought the same.

Yes, I've been told many times before even though I am much taller, and that my voice is a cross between Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and Michael Bolton plus many other combinations. I don't understand why people have to compare it with someone else's. My voice is my voice.

Well said Kafenes..

I can imagine you have a beautiful voice; I'd love to see you perform. Do you perform mainly in Paphos?

[Natty]

Natty, I presume the word Olan comes from the Turkish word Oglan meaning 'boy'.

I was thinking that too Kafenes, but their is a root word olmak=a happening (a verb). Olan is a weird one. we say "nedir olan yaptigin". Which means what on earth are you doing. The word "olan" seems to emphasise the question. I am asking myself also if in that sentence it could mean 'oglan' as you said, but yo can also say it to a girl. I will look it up for an explanation, unfortunately I left my 'bible' (the Redhouse) at work.

Olur, bekliorum.

Benim tanidigim Ermeniler cok guzel Turkce konusurlardi. Annenden mi ogrendin?

Does Cok guzel mean Very good?