Dialect of Chalkidiki
Encyclopedia
The Dialect of Chalkidiki, (Chalkidiki Greek), is a dialect of the Greek language spoken in Chalkidiki (Khalkidiki, Halkidiki, Greek Χαλκιδική).
Regarding the words, as in any other language
, the old dialect
(frοm the Greek "διάλεκτος" [diˈalektos]) of Northern Greece and especially of Chalkidiki Prefecture
, Greece
, is divided into three parts:
1. The extra Greek words used in the dialect
2. The extra words of foreign origin
3. The pronunciation
of the words, and the intonation
What prevails, however, and is heard is the pronunciation of the words is the “Vowel
Reduction
”.
The Greek language, as other languages of Mediterranean countries, has five basic sounds of vowels, five cardinal vowels:
[i], monophthongs or diphthongs ι, η, υ, οι, ει
[e], monophthong or diphthong ε, αι
[a], monophthong α
[o], monophthongs ο, ω
[u], diphthong ου
It is well known in linguistics
(pronunciation, phonetics
), that some vowels are created in the upper part of the cavity of the mouth
(high vowels) (in front [i], in the back [u]), others in the middle of the mouth (mid vowels
) (in front [e], in the back [o]), and others in the nether part of the mouth (low vowels) ([a]).
As a rule the sounds of vowels that are to be articulated in the middle or upper part, when they are not accented
(stressed), they are reduced, i.e. they tend to be created in the upper or uppermost part. As a result the sound [e] is reduced to [i], the sound [o] is reduced [u], and the sounds [u] and [i], in syllables (preceded by consonants), are reduced very much ([i] becomes [j], or even not sounded at all (lost) (not lost when with other vowels). One can find this also in other regions of the Greek mainland
Examples of Pronunciation:
Αύριο θα πάμε Θεσσαλονίκη, becomes: Αύριου θα πάμι Θισαλουνίκj [΄avriu θa ΄pami θisalu΄nikj]
Έχει δουλειές στον Αη-Μάμα και στον Πολύγυρο, becomes: [Εχj δλειές στουν Αj Μάμα κι στουν Πουλύγjρου]. [stu bu΄liɣjru]
Some Words and Phrases:
- Τι βολj; [ti volj], How are you?
- Τι φκjανjs; [ˈti ˌfkjɑnjs]. How are you doing? What are you doing
- Τι ρε φκjανjs; [ˈti re ˌfkjɑnjs]. How are you doing? What are you doing (when addressed to a man)
- Τι μαρί φκjανjs; [ˈti maˌri ˌfkjɑnjs]. How are you doing? What are you doing (when addressed to a woman)
- Δε νουγάει [ˈðe nuˌɣɑj], He does not understand/know
- Δεν ουρτονj [ˈðen urˌtonj], He does know anything
- Άφκη τουν [ˈɑfkji tun], Leave him, let him (go)
- Αει σαπέρα [ˈɑj sɑˈperɑ], Go away!
- Παjένου [pɑˈjenu], I am leaving, I am going
- Πλαλώ [plɑˈlo], I run, I am running
- Λαλώ [lɑˈlo], I speak loudly
- Πυρώνουμι [piˈronumi], I warm myself (by a fire, fireplace)
- Κραίνου [ˈkrenu], I speak loudly
- Ταχjά [tɑˈχjɑ], Tomorrow
- Του πάjνι [tu ˈpajni], He/she used to say
See: Varieties of Modern Greek
Regarding the words, as in any other language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
, the old dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
(frοm the Greek "διάλεκτος" [diˈalektos]) of Northern Greece and especially of Chalkidiki Prefecture
Prefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, is divided into three parts:
1. The extra Greek words used in the dialect
2. The extra words of foreign origin
Origin
Origin, origins, or original may refer to:- Beginning of the universe and life :* Abiogenesis, the study of how life on Earth arose from inanimate matter* Cosmogony, any theory concerning the origin of the universe...
3. The pronunciation
Pronunciation
Pronunciation refers to the way a word or a language is spoken, or the manner in which someone utters a word. If one is said to have "correct pronunciation", then it refers to both within a particular dialect....
of the words, and the intonation
Intonation
Intonation may refer to:*Intonation , the variation of tone used when speaking*Intonation , a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument*Intonation Music Festival, held in Chicago...
What prevails, however, and is heard is the pronunciation of the words is the “Vowel
Vowel
In phonetics, a vowel is a sound in spoken language, such as English ah! or oh! , pronounced with an open vocal tract so that there is no build-up of air pressure at any point above the glottis. This contrasts with consonants, such as English sh! , where there is a constriction or closure at some...
Reduction
Vowel reduction
In phonetics, vowel reduction is any of various changes in the acoustic quality of vowels, which are related to changes in stress, sonority, duration, loudness, articulation, or position in the word , and which are perceived as "weakening"...
”.
The Greek language, as other languages of Mediterranean countries, has five basic sounds of vowels, five cardinal vowels:
[i], monophthongs or diphthongs ι, η, υ, οι, ει
[e], monophthong or diphthong ε, αι
[a], monophthong α
[o], monophthongs ο, ω
[u], diphthong ου
It is well known in linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
(pronunciation, phonetics
Phonetics
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech, or—in the case of sign languages—the equivalent aspects of sign. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds or signs : their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory...
), that some vowels are created in the upper part of the cavity of the mouth
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
(high vowels) (in front [i], in the back [u]), others in the middle of the mouth (mid vowels
Mid vowel
A mid vowel is a vowel sound used in some spoken languages. The defining characteristic of a mid vowel is that the tongue is positioned mid-way between an open vowel and a close vowel...
) (in front [e], in the back [o]), and others in the nether part of the mouth (low vowels) ([a]).
As a rule the sounds of vowels that are to be articulated in the middle or upper part, when they are not accented
Accent
-Speech and language:* Accent , pronunciation characteristic of a certain locality* Accent , of a word* Stress , tone levels and emphasis used in many languages for words or grammar* A diacritical mark is also known as an accent....
(stressed), they are reduced, i.e. they tend to be created in the upper or uppermost part. As a result the sound [e] is reduced to [i], the sound [o] is reduced [u], and the sounds [u] and [i], in syllables (preceded by consonants), are reduced very much ([i] becomes [j], or even not sounded at all (lost) (not lost when with other vowels). One can find this also in other regions of the Greek mainland
Examples of Pronunciation:
Αύριο θα πάμε Θεσσαλονίκη, becomes: Αύριου θα πάμι Θισαλουνίκj [΄avriu θa ΄pami θisalu΄nikj]
Έχει δουλειές στον Αη-Μάμα και στον Πολύγυρο, becomes: [Εχj δλειές στουν Αj Μάμα κι στουν Πουλύγjρου]. [stu bu΄liɣjru]
Some Words and Phrases:
- Τι βολj; [ti volj], How are you?
- Τι φκjανjs; [ˈti ˌfkjɑnjs]. How are you doing? What are you doing
- Τι ρε φκjανjs; [ˈti re ˌfkjɑnjs]. How are you doing? What are you doing (when addressed to a man)
- Τι μαρί φκjανjs; [ˈti maˌri ˌfkjɑnjs]. How are you doing? What are you doing (when addressed to a woman)
- Δε νουγάει [ˈðe nuˌɣɑj], He does not understand/know
- Δεν ουρτονj [ˈðen urˌtonj], He does know anything
- Άφκη τουν [ˈɑfkji tun], Leave him, let him (go)
- Αει σαπέρα [ˈɑj sɑˈperɑ], Go away!
- Παjένου [pɑˈjenu], I am leaving, I am going
- Πλαλώ [plɑˈlo], I run, I am running
- Λαλώ [lɑˈlo], I speak loudly
- Πυρώνουμι [piˈronumi], I warm myself (by a fire, fireplace)
- Κραίνου [ˈkrenu], I speak loudly
- Ταχjά [tɑˈχjɑ], Tomorrow
- Του πάjνι [tu ˈpajni], He/she used to say
See: Varieties of Modern Greek
Varieties of Modern Greek
The linguistic varieties of Modern Greek can be classified along two principal dimensions. First, there is a long tradition of sociolectal variation between the natural, popular spoken language on the one hand and archaizing, learned written forms on the other. Second, there is regional variation...