Cyprus-Forum.com

[mafiot4e]

has any of you newcomers actually learned greek? at least tried? (how'd it go? )
is it only my thinking or knowing or at least trying to speak the language of the country you are living in is a sign of respect to the culture?
or the cypriots are now so used to speaking english to every 2nd person they dont mind?
as an excuse for "why the question" - most countries' residents actually think all other nations are obliged to speak their language once they're in the country. and they are right
all this has nothing to do with tourists...
an awkward wording but i hope u got the idea

[littlemiss]

Im still trying and its so so hard! My next plan is to learn as my child learns. The basic words are easy to pick up its just the sentance making im finding really hard, my best man at my wedding doesnt speak english so i teach him and he teaches me back we were singing head shoulders knees and toes to each other the other day to learn the body parts, lets say he picked it up easier than i did i cant even remember what head is now lol.

[bambina]

mafiot4e...after reading your posts it seems to me that i know you is the first letter of your name in russian E? anyway, about learning greek... last 2 summers and 1 winter i did have private greek lessons(with teacher, whose native language is russian).autumns and springs (when i was away)i tried not to forget what i'd learned already
i dont find that greek is hard language, especially when you have enough pracise. but next time, for sure, i will study it in group. because i know a lot now but i am shy to use it in every day life and i hope that group classes will help me to overcome this problem

[rotate]

Years ago we met a guy in the mountains, typically Cypriot with the big black moustache and dark complexion his Greek was so heavy/regional that my Cypriot (Famagusta) wife or I did not understand him. A couple of hours later we ran into him again and discovered that he was an Englishman from Norfolk

Had the same again but this time in the UK, my wife and her sister are collectors of antiques and other general rubbish, one Sunday morning they persuaded me that we should go bargain hunting at a car boot sale near Maidenhead in Berkshire. They spotted a stall with some stuff they liked and immediately set about discussing in Greek how they should beat the price down. My sister-in-law picked up an expensive piece of glass ware and then dropped it smashing it to bits when the the young Welsh girl selling the stuff spoke to her in perfect Greek. My sister-in-law paid for the damage and the girl? well she had been been educated in Greece as a child

It's great being English and understanding Greek, its amazing what you can find out as its the last thing anyone expects. Respectful it may be to learn Greek or for that matter Turkish but if your going to live here and make a life I reckon its essential!

[mafiot4e]

i just wondered...cuz i did have some vain attemps to learn at least some basic greek - to no avail, my greek is a ZERO
bambina - yep!! me allright!!! but hey - guessing only having read my posts...am i THAT obvious?!?
p.s. is it only me having trouble remembering people (i do that) or i dont know u - only u->me direction?..

[unique_earthling]

ego milas ligo ellinika ochi poli.

[RichardB]

I found the way to laern was being chucked in at the deep end.

I came over for the first time 27ish years ago and lived in Lemeso with no brits for miles (at that time anyway)

Didnt have any choice but to learn the language.

As rotate says its great fun because no one expects you to speek Greek.

Mind i think mine sounds a bit strange what with being an englisman speaking Greek with a Cypriot mountain accent but I get by ok

[mafiot4e]

richard
r u by any chance from norfolk?..

[RichardB]

richard
r u by any chance from norfolk?..

No originally from Nottingham but did a bit of work in Norfolk (Brancaster) a few years ago

[Snad]

I am trying to learn, but what a bloody nightmare it is. There are 5 different meanings for the letter E.
I shall persevere though and learn it if it kills me.
The only problem is you say Kalla mera (good morning) to a Cypriot and they go off at you hell for leather in Greek.
You have to tell them Segar Segar