Tsakonian
A language of Greece
| Population | 1,200 (1981 J. Werner). 300 are shepherds. |
| Region | Kastanitsa, Sitena, Prastos, Leonidi, Pramatefti, Sapounakeika, Tyros, Melana towns, possibly Korakovunio; Peloponnesos east coast. Isolated in summer in east Peloponnesus in mountains west of Leonidi; in winter Leonidi town area. |
| Language map |
Greece and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia |
| Alternate names | Tsakonia |
| Dialects | Northern Tsakonian (Kastanista-Sitena), Southern Tsakonian (Leonidio-Prastos), Propontis Tsakonian (Vatka-Havoutsi). Derived from the Doric dialect spoken in Lakonia by ancient Spartans. Northern and Southern are reportedly mutually intelligible, but Propontis was more distinct, and more similar to Standard Greek. Not inherently intelligible with modern Greek (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977). Lexical similarity: 70% or less with Standard Greek [ell]. |
| Classification | Indo-European, Greek, Doric |
| Language use | Monolinguals existed in 1927. Few use Northern dialect. Most use Southern Tsakonian. Propontis Tsakonian has had no remaining speakers since 1970. Also use Greek [ell]. |
| Language development | Dictionary. Grammar. |
| Comments | Children attend Greek schools in winter, including kindergarten. Pastoralists. Christian. |
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