Myths about the Cypriot dialect were effectively dispelled recently at the Second Science Café, organised by the University of Cyprus (UCY) with the support of the Bank of Cyprus (BoC). The event shed light on this integral aspect of the island’s linguistic identity, on February 29, at Aglantzia’s Caffè Nero. Hosts and facilitators were UCY Lecturer in Linguistics Spyros Armostis and author Antonis Georgiou.
Dr Armostis underscored the significance of such dialogues in terms of engaging the public in scientific and artistic discourse, challenging entrenched misconceptions about language. He highlighted the enduring appeal of discussing dialects, indicating a widespread interest in understanding their value to society.
For his part, author Georgiou expanded on the individual’s freedom to select a linguistic medium that best facilitates self-expression, regardless of consequences, such as limited readership or critical reception. He stressed that literary merit stems from the effective use of language rather than solely its form.
Both Armostis and Georgiou fielded numerous thought-provoking questions from the audience, addressing a range of topics, including language usage in education, the Cypriot dialect’s capacity to convey complex ideas, its relationship with modern Greek, and the importance of its preservation.
About the facilitators
Armostis is a distinguished scholar who holds a PhD and MPhil in Linguistics from the University of Cambridge, and who specialises in phonetics, phonology, socio-linguistics, and clinical linguistics. His extensive research spans a range of linguistic domains, including Cypriot Greek and Cypriot Arabic; he actively contributes to academic and linguistic organizations.
Georgiou, a Limassol-based lawyer, boasts a prolific literary career, with his works garnering both national and international acclaim. His contributions to Cypriot literature have drawn prestigious awards, as well as theatrical adaptations of his novels.
The University of Cyprus organises Science Cafés to foster informal interactions between scientists and the public, to democratise knowledge and combat misinformation. Such initiatives are part of UCY’s broader efforts in science-based communication, and also include the Science Talks podcast series on Spotify, which covers various scientific topics, including linguistics and the Cypriot dialect.
Follow the Science Talks podcast channel here.
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