Ethnologue 14 report for language code:GRK

GREEK: a language of Greece

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: GRK

ISO 639-1: el

ISO 639-2(B): gre

ISO 639-2(T): ell

Population

9,859,850 in Greece, 98.5% of the population (1986). Population total all countries 12,000,000 (1999 WA).

Region

Thoughout the country. Also spoken in 35 other countries including Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Canada, Congo, Cyprus, DRC, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan.

Alternate names

ELLINIKA, GREC, GRAECAE, ROMAIC, NEO-HELLENIC

Dialects

KATHAREVOUSA, DIMOTIKI, SARACATSAN.

Classification

Indo-European, Greek, Attic.

Comments

Katharevousa is an archaic literary dialect, Dimotiki is the spoken literary dialect and now the official dialect. The Saracatsan are nomadic shepherds of northern Greece. Greeks in Russia and Ukraine speak either Greek or Turkish and are called 'Urums'. The Karamanli were Orthodox Christian Turks who came from central Turkey. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. SVO. Bible 1840-1955.

Also spoken in:

Albania

Language name	GREEK
Population	60,000 in Albania, 1.8% of the population (1989).
Comments	Bible 1840-1994. See main entry under Greece.

Cyprus

Language name	GREEK
Population	578,000 in Cyprus (1995), 75% of the population.
Dialects	CYPRIOT GREEK.
Comments	The dialect is reported to be closer to Classical Greek than that spoken in Greece in some vocabulary and grammar, and to have many Arabic and Turkish loan words. National language. Christian. Bible 1840-1994. See main entry under Greece.

Egypt

Language name	GREEK
Population	60,000 in Egypt (1977 Voegelin and Voegelin).
Comments	Bible 1840-1994. See main entry under Greece.

France

Language name	GREEK
Dialects	CARGESE.
Comments	The Greek of Italy and that of Corsica are probably separate languages (R. Zamponi 1992). The last native speaker died about 1982 (Nick Nicalas 1997). The ethnic group speaks French. Bible 1840-1994. See main entry under Greece.

Italy

Language name	GREEK
Population	20,000 in Italy (N. Vincent in B. Comrie 1987).
Dialects	SALENTO, ASPROMONTE.
Comments	The Greek spoken in Italy and that of Corsica are probably two separate languages (R. Zamponi 1992). Mainly older speakers. Not used in schools. Investigation needed: intelligibility with Greek of Greece, Corsica. Bible 1840-1994. See main entry under Greece.

Romania

Language name	GREEK
Comments	The Karakatchan are Romanian nomadic shepherds who speak Greek. Bible 1840-1955. See main entry under Greece.

Turkey (Europe)

Language name	GREEK
Population	4,000 in Turkey (1993).
Comments	Nearly all Greeks have now emigrated from Turkey. There were 1,500,000 in Turkey in 1900. Bible 1840-1994. See main entry under Greece.