A Language Archipelago: Linguistic Variety and Contact in Cyprus

A conference in celebration of International Greek Language Day
Schedule, Speakers, and Topics

February 24-25, 2024

Opening remarks by
Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou
Deputy Minister of Culture, Republic of Cyprus
&
His Excellency, Evangelos Savva,
Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the United States

Speakers:

Spyros Armostis, Lecturer in Linguistics, University of Cyprus
Chryso Hadjidemetriou, Research Analyst, RWS Group – Life Sciences
Elena Ioannidou, Associate Professor in Language Education, University of Cyprus
Matthias Kappler, Associate Professor in Linguistics, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia
Dimitra Karoulla-Vrikki, Associate Professor in Sociolinguistics, European University of Cyprus
Marilena Karyolemou, Professor in Linguistics, University of Cyprus
Chryso Pelekani, Special Scientist at the Language Centre, University of Cyprus
Maria Petrou, Independent Scholar

Schedule & Topics
You can view the conference schedule, including presentation titles and descriptions here. To download it, click here.

The conference A Language Archipelago: Linguistic Variety and Contact in Cyprus delves into the intricate linguistic tapestry of Cyprus, exploring it as a dynamic zone where diverse languages have not only co-existed but also intersected, leaving an indelible mark on one another. Renowned experts, including both established scholars and emerging voices in the field, provide a comprehensive overview and introduction to the linguistic ecosystem of Cyprus, offering insights into the major linguistic varieties of the island and their interaction. Organized in honor of International Mother Language Day, the conference aligns with the global effort to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity, advocating for the enrichment that multilingualism brings to our global community.

The program promises a wide array of topics, covering in-depth analyses of prevalent dialects like Cypriot Greek, Cypriot Turkish, Cypriot Arabic, and Gurbetcha. It further probes into the nuanced facets of linguistic interchange, prevailing ideologies, and policy-making within the Cypriot milieu, including code-switching practices among Cypriot Armenians, the dynamics of translanguaging, and the prominence of various languages in civic spaces. Participants will engage in stimulating dialogues that will decode the complex web of linguistic exchanges characteristic of Cyprus, offering insights into the forces that influence the distinctive dynamics of language in this region.

Join us in this intellectual journey that celebrates the richness of Cyprus’s linguistic landscape and contribute to the global dialogue on the importance of preserving and understanding linguistic diversity.

In case you missed the conference, the recordings are available below:

Day 1:

Day 2:

The conference is held under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in the United States, and the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus in Los Angeles. It is organized by the UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture and it is cosponsored by Thesaurus Linguae Graecae®, the Narekatsi Chair in Armenian Studies, the UCLA Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, and the UCLA Center for World Languages, with the support of the UCLA Promise Armenian Institute. This program is made possible thanks to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).