Cypriot Greek - History and Literature

History and Literature

The modern Cypriot dialect is not an evolution of the ancient Arcadocypriot dialect, but evolved from Koine; it belongs to the Southeastern group of Modern Greek dialects, along with the dialects of the Dodecanese and Chios (with which it shares phonological phenomena such as gemination and intervocalic lenition). Cyprus was cut off from the rest of the Greek-speaking world from the 7th to the 10th century A.D due to Arab attacks. It was reintegrated in the Byzantine Empire in 962 to be isolated again in 1191 when it fell to the hands of crusaders. This isolation developed a lot of linguistic characteristics distinct from Byzantine Greek.

The legislation of the Kingdom of Cyprus in the Middle Ages was written in the dialect. Other important medieval works are the chronicles of Leontios Makhairas and George Boustronios, as well as a collection of sonnets in the manner of Francesco Petrarca.

In the past hundred years, the dialect has been used in poetry, major poets being Vasilis Michaelides and Dimitris Lipertis. It is also traditionally used for folk songs and poetry, including τσιαττιστά (battle poetry, a form of Playing the dozens) and the tradition of ποιητάρηες (bards). In the late 70ties Minister of Education Chrysostomos A. Sofianos upgraded the status of the Cypriot dialect by introducing it in education. More recently it has been used in Reggae by Hadji Mike and rap by several Cypriot hip hop groups. DNA (Dimiourgoi Neas Antilipsis), a hiphop group from Cyprus, released an album named "sihnotites" with 2 tracks in Cypriot. (See also Music of Cyprus).

Locally produced television shows, usually comedies or soap operas, make use of the dialect. For example Vourate Geitonoi (βουράτε instead of τρέξτε), Oi Takkoi (Τάκκος being a uniquely Cypriot name), and Istories tou Horkou (χωρκού rather than χωριού). The 2006 feature film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest features actor Jimmy Roussounis arguing in the Greek Cypriot dialect with another crew member speaking Gibrizlidja about a captain's hat they find in the sea. Peter Polycarpou routinely spoke in the Greek Cypriot dialect in his role as Chris Theodopolopoudos in the British television comedy series Birds of a Feather.