(:, :, : /0505/35) ( "', " &$ &" ) )% &! )$ &., &)! & '!, )*%!. # & "' &! 25 &&" % % %&, )", 4 )! (focus group discussions).

2008

(

:

,

:

,

:

/0505/35)

!

!

«

"

# $

%&

»

"'

!

"

.

(

'

"

( )

)

%

&

$

&

*

%

$

&

!

%&

(

+

)

&

( )

.

"

$

$

"'

) )

!

"

"

&

&

.

&

!

& $

"

&

!

,

*

*

$

,

&

)

!

.

$

$

$&

$

&

&

!

&

%

)

!

&

&

+

. H

$

!

)

!

"

$

!

!

)

*

&

.

&

"

"

'!

,

&

!

&"

& "

$

& !

&

,

&

)

$

: ( )

$

&

, (

+

)

$

& ) !

, ( )

$

&

!

, (

)

)

$

'

!

( )

$

&

.

#

'

&

"

&

' !

,

"

& $

+ + !

,

"

,

&

&

&

)

*

!

)

&

&

"

&

"

&

*

) )!

.

)

*

&

$

&

$

&

*

$

&

%

*

'$

"

&

"

&!

&

!

'$

& -

,

&

*

%

$&

!

)

"

&

!

"

!

!

.

"

%&

,

& !

' %

"

.

(

"'

,

"

&

$

&

"

)

)

%

& !

)

$

& .

,

&

)

!

&

' !

,

)

* %

!

.

#

&

"'

&

!

25

&

& "

%

%

%&

,

)

"

,

4

)

!

(focus group

discussions).

&

'

*

)

"

!

,

*%

,

,

"

,

&!

& )

& !

)

,

$

,

)

&

!

)

&

+

&

"

,

"'

,

* !

$

&

$&

+

$

&

$

*

"

.

/

"

)

!

*

%

: ( )

!

/

!

!

, (

+

)

& )

%

/

&

%

$&

, ( )

*

"

(

)

)

"

.

0"

&

!

*

$

%&

!

"

,

&

&

& !

+

"

&

& )

)

) )

$

,

$

$

.

0"

0 ,

"

,

&

)

(

*

!

«

-

»),

&

"

&

"

$

(

& !

&

& '

)

)

%

$

"

&

&

)

' !

)

"

&

"

&

"

$

,

) !

$

,

&

'

"

$

&

!

"

) ) )

"

&

!

&

&

&

%

«

$

%&

».

&

&

'

*

%&

'

&

%

$

,

)

)

,

&

*

&

.

(

’

&

&

) !

,

%

0"

0 ,

"

!

.

) *%

&

)

&

'

&

"

&

&

& ) !

,

!

&

!

(

'

!

&

$

&

)

%

&

),

*

!

$

&

$

%&

)

%

& '

%

"

&

&

!

!

,

&!

&

!

'

&

,

"

&

% '

“Lingua Franca”.

'

%&

& -

"

& +

%

"*

,

&

&

) &

&

"

&

&"

&

'

&

$

& "&

&

'

'

"

$

%

&

!

%

$&

.

(

&

:

1

"

&

!

*$

"

"

*

"

$

%&

:

( )

& *

!

,

&

%

!

&

)

"

(

& $

)

)

&

*

.

!

,

)

,

"

+

,

&

!

)

!

&

.

(

+

)

2&

!

,

&

$

'

%

"

&

!

&

&

*

,

( )

!

,

&

"

$

$

& +

!

&

!

&

!

&

&

!

&

"

"

)

"

&

+

&

!

& -

,

(

)

)

!

,

&

,

&

"

'$

&

& "

%&

,

"

&

!

'

!

&

January 2008

Executive Summary

“The Future of Language in Cyprus”

The research project entitled

“The Future of Language in Cyprus” (“

"

# $

%&

”)

has been completed with a small delay. The project’s objectives were to

examine (a) the challenges and opportunities relating to the use of the language in Cyprus

(b) reach conclusions and (c)present recommendations. Through the ages language has

contributed a significant role in the evolution and development of humanity. It is the primary

means of communication, recording and transfer of knowledge, tradition and history. A

common language unites people while its absence pushes them apart and creates

communication problems and misunderstandings, it helps create and sustain states and

enable policy formation.

The theoretical approach begins with the exploration of five thematic units that form a

multidimensional perspective of language: (a) language and culture, (b) language and

education, (c) language and technology, (d) language and politics. A literature review was

carried out for each thematic unit covering books, articles in academic and professional

sources, newspapers and respected internet sources. Throughout the process the outcome

of the work was assessed in conjunction with the European and local perspectives.

Next attention was focussed on qualitative forms of inquire through personal interviews and

focus group discussions as a means to further explore views, opinions and expectations

relating to the research work. In total 25 personal interviews using semi-structured,

open-ended questionnaires were carried out. Every effort was made that the respondents

included people from a wide spectrum of social, demographic and educational levels as well

as people working for the government and other competent bodies, writers, poets, linguists,

librarians and educators. The members of the four focus groups were made of (a) parents

and grandparents, (b) educators of all three levels, writers and poets, (c) tertiary level

students and (d) secondary level students.

The analysis of the findings of the research brings out the fact the language in Cyprus is an

integral part of Cyprus and it is influenced by the interaction of forces and processes, both

internal and external to Cyprus. Among other factors the Mass Media, the influence of the

language spoken in mainland Greece {Koini Demotiki (

)

), Neoeliniki koini (

) using the phonology of the “Athenian” koini (

-

) }, the

influence from foreign languages, a phenomenon that was always present, especially in the

case of English, come together into an amalgam of a language that could be called “the

language of Cyprus”. There is also a clear need for Cypriots to use the language, (the koini

Elininki and Dialect) properly both in its written and verbal forms. Towards this effort the

educational system, culture and the Mass Media have a significant role to play.

Alongside preserving tradition there are other goals that need to pursued such as the

integration of foreigners into the local educational system, society and state (while at the

same time they retain their own culture, customs and language), the extension of hospitality

to foreign travellers and the promotion of Cyprus as an international business centre, were

business communication is carried out mainly but not exclusively in English the “Lingua

Franca” of the day. The accession of Cyprus into the EU imposes a higher level of extrovert,

multicultural behaviour that goes beyond the correct use of the local language into the

appropriate use of foreign languages and appreciation and understanding of other people’s

cultures and customs. This could lead to improved communication and understanding among

people.

Conclusion:

With reference to the future of the language in Cyprus the research draws four major

conclusions:

(a) Underpins the value of the dialect (and the local linguistic characteristics) to the local

culture and the need to preserve it as a living language in both the written and verbal forms.

At another level the dialect is basically the link between the two major communities in Cyprus

and to that extent its significance grows even more,

(b) Underlines the need to promote the correct use of the language (koini neoeliniki) as the

main means of communication in the written and verbal forms,

(c) Recognises the immediate need for learning and using other languages in promoting

communication in the context of a multicultural society fully intergraded in an international

environment and in the context of the EU,

(d) Accepts the need to actively support the integration into the Cypriot society people from

other countries that chose to come and live in Cyprus. This integration process should

function in parallel with the preservation of their own culture, customs and language.