After the Turkish occupation of the north in 1974, Cyprus was split into two linguistic states. The Turkish speaking north, and the south which speaks both Greek and Turkish.
Greek Cypriots have a distinct dialect, but standard modern Greek is used for official government business.
Turkish Cypriots speak Turkish, even in a distinct dialect, although it is not as far from the Turkish standard as Cypriot Greek is from the Greek standard. That’s partly due to Cyprus’s separation from mainland Greece in the late middle ages for hundreds of years.
Maronite Arabs and Armenians on the island likewise speak Greek Cypriot. Those communities were forced to pick either Turkish or Greek as part of the new Constitution in 1960. They try to preserve their own languages as well.
Other notable languages spoken in the south are English, Russian and Armenian. It is estimated 76% of the southern Cypriots can speak some English.
Related Posts
-
Its a good thing to at least try to learn some Greek, even if only…
-
The Cyprus Wine Museum If you are having a holiday in Cyprus and like to…
-
For centuries Cyprus has learned how to become self-sufficient in homegrown produce. Today it is…
-
Some people think they may get bored living in Cyprus. Well, we disagree because we…
-
The Potamos Tavern on the River Liopetri. Eating Out in Cyprus Eating out around Cyprus…
-
Visitors to Cyprus who like to frequent pubs and clubs will not be disappointed with…