The most common words and expressions of the Cypriot dialect were recorded and incorporated into the first digital mobile and web application, called CYPRUSAYS.
The app’s goal is to help Cypriots living abroad, as well as foreign-language speakers on the island, learn the Cypriot Greek dialect.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The idea for this innovative app came from Cypriot Efi Athanasiou, who was born and raised in Sydney, Australia.
“We went to Greek school every weekend. At home we spoke Cypriot Greek, and at school we spoke Greek, and our teacher told us, ‘That’s wrong, that’s not right.’ I had the idea six years ago, and it’s been live for a year.”
Together with her husband, Kostas Athanasiou—who is of Greek descent— they joined forces and sought help from linguists and academics to bring their idea to life.
“Linguists from universities in Cyprus—without them, nothing would have been possible. They responded to us, we got to know them, and they’ve been a huge help.”
The app has been up and running for the past 10 months and has surpassed 22,000 downloads. Most users are in Cyprus and England, followed by Australia, the United States, and Greece.
“There are many people who work, study, and want to learn the Cypriot dialect; they’re learning Greek.”
Through the lessons, cyprusays users have the opportunity to read and hear how each Cypriot word is pronounced by native speakers.
