Cyprus-Forum.com

[Kikapu]

Turkish Cypriots have a very unique and distinctive culture, and speak a dialect of Turkish that is very different from the mainland variety.

You got that right Tim.!

We TC's and Turks can tell the difference very easily, but as a outsider, can you.?? The fact that you have spent 12 years in Turkey, it might be too easy for you to recognize the difference than other outsiders I suppose.

[Oracle]

IMHO this is an interesting critical analysis from a Turkish or TC author about the difficulties and confusion of understanding a TC identity. Need I copy and paste further?

Ahmet An is a highly respected Turkish Cypriot researcher. Very interesting articles by him are published in the United Cyprus Party's monthly newspaper.

The text that you have provided a link to reads like a translation from Turkish. One has to question whether it is an authorised translation, and how accurate it is.

Turkish Cypriots have a very unique and distinctive culture, and speak a dialect of Turkish that is very different from the mainland variety.

Regional dialects are common place and forever fluctuating.

But Tim, would you expand on which cultural practices are (very ) unique to TCs?

[Tim Drayton]

Turkish Cypriots have a very unique and distinctive culture, and speak a dialect of Turkish that is very different from the mainland variety.

You got that right Tim.!

We TC's and Turks can tell the difference very easily, but as a outsider, can you.?? The fact that you have spent 12 years in Turkey, it might be too easy for you to recognize the difference than other outsiders I suppose.

I am pretty sure that I could stand on a busy street in the north of Cyprus and identify which passers-by are Turkish Cypriots and which are mainland Turks with almost 100% accuracy. This has partly to do with the socio-economic status and rural origins of most of the settlers, though. It would be much harder, for example, to distinguish between the younger generation of Turkish Cypriots and middle-class mainland Turks from the large cities.

[Oracle]

Turkish Cypriots have a very unique and distinctive culture, and speak a dialect of Turkish that is very different from the mainland variety.

You got that right Tim.!

We TC's and Turks can tell the difference very easily, but as a outsider, can you.?? The fact that you have spent 12 years in Turkey, it might be too easy for you to recognize the difference than other outsiders I suppose.

I am pretty sure that I could stand on a busy street in the north of Cyprus and identify which passers-by are Turkish Cypriots and which are mainland Turks with almost 100% accuracy. This has partly to do with the socio-economic status and rural origins of most of the settlers, though. It would be much harder, for example, to distinguish between the younger generation of Turkish Cypriots and middle-class mainland Turks from the large cities.

Subtle fashion choices although distinguishing groups of people are not necessarily "cultural".

For example you could distinguish a skinny Parisienne from a hearty Normandinian, but "skinny" is not cultural, but merely fashionable.

[Nikitas]

The difference in culture is more than just dialect and outlook. TCs have remained outside the protection of the Ottoman empire (and Turkey since 1923) and have developed what GCs have also developed, a means of preserving their identity despite the isolation from the "motherland". In a way both communities can be seen as time capsules which retained customs and language from way back.

This marks us both as mainlander plus. I have no doubt that both GCs and TCs are in many ways more Greek and more Turkish than their mainland cousins, and in turn this marks us in THEIR eyes as different, and suitable candidates for Grecofication or Turkification. They see us as needing their guiding lights. Well, my response is a loud PISS OFF to both motherlands. If they value their national identity then let them copy us, let them appoint a GC and TC minister of culture and education in each motherland and then we can talk about this cultural thing.

Trying to impose on us, who have held on to our respective cultural traditions for hundreds and thousands of years despite isolation and repeated conquests, is a joke. Those among us who are eager to follow mainland traditions for the sake of their interpretation of nationalism or patriotism are in fact doing the very opposite.

I see how in Greece a bulldozing system has been set up and how it razes all local customs and traditions to the perceived national standard, which is actually nothing more than the ways of behavior and values of a few city blocks in central Athens. I am sure that the same is happening in Turkey. It is time to shake off these "reformers".

[Oracle]

I really do not see how Greece is trying to impose cultural habits on the Cypriots.

Nikitas just because the TCs are fearing their erosion from the influx of backward settlers in the north ... there is really no need for us to tar the Greeks with similar guilt ...

[halil]

Who will stay and who will go?

I will stay

Oracle and Co will go

They came to Cyprus after 74

[Nikitas]

On a daily popular radio show they have poor imitations of a Cypriot accent. Which would be fine, except the character stereotype behind the accent is a half wit. Cypriot impersonations usually are portrayed as half wits. And this despite the fact that we have more graduates from overseas univerities than either Greece or Turkey (population percentage wise). Despite the fact that our administration is more efficient than either of theirs, that our economy is more dynamic than theirs.

But Cypriots are not the only ones. All signs of a provincial identity are the butt end of jokes- Pontians, Dodecanesians, mountain dwellers from Pindos- and it is not just a passing thing. Professor Babiniotis who redefined the Greek language has excluded all use of double consonants, excepting in pure ancient Greek words like Ellada and Thalassa, from the modern Greek language. Pronouncing double consonants as Cypriots and Dodecanesians do, and do so correctly, is now officially WRONG. Because this is the way a bunch of pooves from central Athens speak. The only provincial people who manage to hold on to their culture, and do so with pride and daring are people of Crete. But then they do not tolerate bullshit from anyone and that may be the reason for their cultural independence.

[Oracle]

Who will stay and who will go?

I will stay

Oracle and Co will go

They came to Cyprus after 74

Really did she? .... well that is about as accurate as all the other lies and rubbish you pass on.

I was not only born in Cyprus, I am one of the few people still living in my village who was actually born in this very same village.

If that is the only thing that will make you happy ... you are a very sad, bitter, twisted sicko!

However I know this is a further attempt by you to gather more personal information on me since you are obsessed.

[halil]

Who will stay and who will go?

I will stay

Oracle and Co will go

They came to Cyprus after 74

Really did she? .... well that is about as accurate as all the other lies and rubbish you pass on.

I was not only born in Cyprus, I am one of the few people still living in my village who was actually born in this very same village.

If that is the only thing that will make you happy ... you are a very sad, bitter, twisted sicko!

However I know this is a further attempt by you to gather more personal information on me since you are obsessed.

All foreigners , foreigner passport holders and their co's out of Cyprus .

who ever lived in Cyprus before 74 should stay .rest of them barra

barra to UK .....

we don't want stiring up's anymore ..... we are at peace process .....

no more black hens needed