Cyprus-Forum.com

[quattro]

Unlike people from other nations, the majority of our compatriots – those of the Orthodox Christian persuasion – seem to prefer to be considered ‘Greek’ or ‘Greek Cypriot’, as opposed to simply ‘Cypriot’. (Though in their own language they would proudly declare themselves ‘Gibrei’.)

We think there are a number of reasons for this need to be Greek.

First, security and identity. After centuries of foreign oppression, Cypriots have understandably wanted to affirm an attachment to what they perceive to be a greater, more glorious, stronger grouping. Now of course, at long last, we are attached to a wider community, where Cypriots – of all persuasions – can be European.

Then there’s religion. But it should be noted that the Church of Cyprus, like that of Russia, is actually autocephalous within the family of Orthodox Churches. Indeed Cyprus was the first Roman province to convert to Christianity.

What about language? After all, most of us speak Greek (or something akin to it). But do Americans regard themselves as English? Do Austrians want to be seen as Germans? And weren’t all Cypriots happy to speak the principal vernacular of Cyprus before division took root?

How about culture? But if we’re honest there’s little to distinguish traditional ‘Greek Cypriot’ and ‘Turkish Cypriot’ culture and values. (OK, one group may eat less pork for religious reasons, but then some people ‘go the whole hog’ these days and become vegetarians!)

Ethnicity? This is almost certainly wrong on genetic grounds. The frequent appeals to both communities for bone marrow donors show Cypriots share more genes with each other than with the populations of either Greece or Turkey. We look the same, for goodness sake!

History? But which history do we go for? Cyprus has been inhabited for over 9,000 years and has been occupied by almost every significant power in the region and beyond. The island hasn’t been part of a Greek state for the best part of a thousand years – that’s if you count the Byzantine Empire, which at the time described itself as Roman. Perhaps it’s time to move on and be ourselves.

Finally, we come to nationalism – a need to emphasise our supposed difference from Cypriots with a Muslim background. But doesn’t needing to be ‘Greek’ cause our Muslim compatriots to need to be ‘Turkish’? And if some of us must look to Greece, aren’t others forced to look to Turkey? But what if we were both simply ‘Cypriot’ and looked to Europe and the world?

Will we ever learn that only the need to be Cypriot can truly unite us and our homeland? And isn’t unity what we all want?

There. By now, people on both sides are probably upset. Unless perhaps, like us, they’re on the Cypriot side.

[Cap]

Funny how we curse them amongst ourselves..

But when faced by foreigners... 'I'm Greeeeeek, I'm a direct descendent of Alexander the Great!'

Have you noticed how we change our dialect in the presence of Greek people?
Have you noticed the humble subservient attitude some of our brethren portray in the presence of Greek people?
That 'you're superior' adoring look in the eye when speaking to them?

It's infuriating to me.

[Bananiot]

Only those with a poisoned mind will get upset, quattro. The rest of us, are happy to be just good human beings.

[ZoC]

no... i don't.

[quattro]

The principal vernacular and traditional lingua franca of Cyprus is Cypriot (or Gibreiga), which is rooted in the ancient Greek used throughout the eastern Mediterranean before the time of Christ. Also spoken on the island is Gibrizlija, introduced by the Ottomans in the sixteenth century, as well as pockets of Armenian and of the sadly almost extinct Sanna (Cypriot Maronite Arabic).

The principal Cypriot vernacular contains many distinct forms of archaic origin not found in the present-day language of Greece. In addition the serial occupations endured by Cypriots over the centuries have left their mark in the form of a vivid multicultural vocabulary: extensive Ottoman, English, French, Italian and other foreign influences have been absorbed to create a powerfully evocative and expressive language. Spoken throughout Cyprus for many generations, Cypriot is also familiar to expatriate Cypriots in the UK, Australia, America and elsewhere.

Important historic texts have been written in what is essentially Cypriot, notably the Assizes (the laws introduced to the island by the Crusaders in the Middle Ages) and Leontios Makhairas’s Chronicle of Cyprus in Frankish times. Despite this, and despite a rich poetic and folk tradition, Cypriot has never achieved proper recognition as a written language variety in its own right. Cypriot has been in decline since the 1950s as a result of the polarisation of the ‘Greek’ and ‘Turkish’ communities of Cyprus. Divisive educational policies and the media have marginalised Cypriot, as well as Gibrizlija, in favour of standardised language forms from the respective ‘mainlands’.

The diminished status of the Cypriot language most particularly affects the newer generations of international Cypriots, who find themselves alienated from their mother tongue. When they try to learn the language of their parents and grandparents, they are introduced to unfamiliar ‘correct’ forms. They are made to feel ashamed of the supposedly vulgar way they speak at home. Not surprisingly, many Cypriots brought up outside Cyprus are unable to communicate effectively or confidently in their ancestral language.

The Cypriot language traditionally used in Cyprus is a cornerstone of Cypriot heritage. The Cypriot Academy seeks to take a leading role in rediscovering and dignifying this distinctive language, making it accessible to Cypriots internationally. To this end the Cypriot Academy has devised a standard means of writing Cypriot using the internationally recognised Latin alphabet.

[yialousa1971]

The principal vernacular and traditional lingua franca of Cyprus is Cypriot (or Gibreiga), which is rooted in the ancient Greek used throughout the eastern Mediterranean before the time of Christ. Also spoken on the island is Gibrizlija, introduced by the Ottomans in the sixteenth century, as well as pockets of Armenian and of the sadly almost extinct Sanna (Cypriot Maronite Arabic).

The principal Cypriot vernacular contains many distinct forms of archaic origin not found in the present-day language of Greece. In addition the serial occupations endured by Cypriots over the centuries have left their mark in the form of a vivid multicultural vocabulary: extensive Ottoman, English, French, Italian and other foreign influences have been absorbed to create a powerfully evocative and expressive language. Spoken throughout Cyprus for many generations, Cypriot is also familiar to expatriate Cypriots in the UK, Australia, America and elsewhere.

Important historic texts have been written in what is essentially Cypriot, notably the Assizes (the laws introduced to the island by the Crusaders in the Middle Ages) and Leontios Makhairas’s Chronicle of Cyprus in Frankish times. Despite this, and despite a rich poetic and folk tradition, Cypriot has never achieved proper recognition as a written language variety in its own right. Cypriot has been in decline since the 1950s as a result of the polarisation of the ‘Greek’ and ‘Turkish’ communities of Cyprus. Divisive educational policies and the media have marginalised Cypriot, as well as Gibrizlija, in favour of standardised language forms from the respective ‘mainlands’.

The diminished status of the Cypriot language most particularly affects the newer generations of international Cypriots, who find themselves alienated from their mother tongue. When they try to learn the language of their parents and grandparents, they are introduced to unfamiliar ‘correct’ forms. They are made to feel ashamed of the supposedly vulgar way they speak at home. Not surprisingly, many Cypriots brought up outside Cyprus are unable to communicate effectively or confidently in their ancestral language.

The Cypriot language traditionally used in Cyprus is a cornerstone of Cypriot heritage. The Cypriot Academy seeks to take a leading role in rediscovering and dignifying this distinctive language, making it accessible to Cypriots internationally. To this end the Cypriot Academy has devised a standard means of writing Cypriot using the internationally recognised Latin alphabet.

You must be a Turk?

[yialousa1971]

Funny how we curse them amongst ourselves..

But when faced by foreigners... 'I'm Greeeeeek, I'm a direct descendent of Alexander the Great!'

Have you noticed how we change our dialect in the presence of Greek people?
Have you noticed the humble subservient attitude some of our brethren portray in the presence of Greek people?
That 'you're superior' adoring look in the eye when speaking to them?

It's infuriating to me.

You need re educating!

[quattro]

The principal vernacular and traditional lingua franca of Cyprus is Cypriot (or Gibreiga), which is rooted in the ancient Greek used throughout the eastern Mediterranean before the time of Christ. Also spoken on the island is Gibrizlija, introduced by the Ottomans in the sixteenth century, as well as pockets of Armenian and of the sadly almost extinct Sanna (Cypriot Maronite Arabic).

The principal Cypriot vernacular contains many distinct forms of archaic origin not found in the present-day language of Greece. In addition the serial occupations endured by Cypriots over the centuries have left their mark in the form of a vivid multicultural vocabulary: extensive Ottoman, English, French, Italian and other foreign influences have been absorbed to create a powerfully evocative and expressive language. Spoken throughout Cyprus for many generations, Cypriot is also familiar to expatriate Cypriots in the UK, Australia, America and elsewhere.

Important historic texts have been written in what is essentially Cypriot, notably the Assizes (the laws introduced to the island by the Crusaders in the Middle Ages) and Leontios Makhairas’s Chronicle of Cyprus in Frankish times. Despite this, and despite a rich poetic and folk tradition, Cypriot has never achieved proper recognition as a written language variety in its own right. Cypriot has been in decline since the 1950s as a result of the polarisation of the ‘Greek’ and ‘Turkish’ communities of Cyprus. Divisive educational policies and the media have marginalised Cypriot, as well as Gibrizlija, in favour of standardised language forms from the respective ‘mainlands’.

The diminished status of the Cypriot language most particularly affects the newer generations of international Cypriots, who find themselves alienated from their mother tongue. When they try to learn the language of their parents and grandparents, they are introduced to unfamiliar ‘correct’ forms. They are made to feel ashamed of the supposedly vulgar way they speak at home. Not surprisingly, many Cypriots brought up outside Cyprus are unable to communicate effectively or confidently in their ancestral language.

The Cypriot language traditionally used in Cyprus is a cornerstone of Cypriot heritage. The Cypriot Academy seeks to take a leading role in rediscovering and dignifying this distinctive language, making it accessible to Cypriots internationally. To this end the Cypriot Academy has devised a standard means of writing Cypriot using the internationally recognised Latin alphabet.

You must be a Turk?

YOU must be elam kolopaido

[quattro]

Funny how we curse them amongst ourselves..

But when faced by foreigners... 'I'm Greeeeeek, I'm a direct descendent of Alexander the Great!'

Have you noticed how we change our dialect in the presence of Greek people?
Have you noticed the humble subservient attitude some of our brethren portray in the presence of Greek people?
That 'you're superior' adoring look in the eye when speaking to them?

It's infuriating to me.

You need re educating!

You need brain wash elam boy (sorry you had that )

[yialousa1971]

Funny how we curse them amongst ourselves..

But when faced by foreigners... 'I'm Greeeeeek, I'm a direct descendent of Alexander the Great!'

Have you noticed how we change our dialect in the presence of Greek people?
Have you noticed the humble subservient attitude some of our brethren portray in the presence of Greek people?
That 'you're superior' adoring look in the eye when speaking to them?

It's infuriating to me.

You need re educating!

You need brain wash elam boy (sorry you had that )

Your another one of GR's fags.