#rumca

Pontic Greek was historically spoken throughout the Pontic region of Turkey on the Black Sea coast and in different countries around the Black Sea. However, following the genocide, most Pontic speakers fled or were forced to go to Greece, the USSR (Located today primarily in Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, and Central Asia due to deportations by Stalin) and the larger Pontic diaspora. There still is a Pontic speaking community in Turkey (They refer to the language as Romeyka or Rumca), but, as with a lot of minority languages, the language’s use is declining. Pontic is mainly spoken by the older generations, and while there are younger speakers, the main population of speakers is aging. To this day, Pontic culture and our language are in decline and threats of assimilation. In Greece, Pontic is seen as nothing but a dialect which leads to the state not recognizing it and a lot of speakers to be ashamed of it. The country sends modern Greek teachers out to Pontic communities abroad, further leading to this decline. In Turkey, the language is used mainly with family and friends, but children are taught Turkish throughout all of school and Turkish is used in formal settings. Many families and individuals will move from the Pontic speaking villages to the larger cities, where they can find work, better or higher schooling, etc. This is leading to a lot of people shifting to solely speaking Turkish. In Turkey and in Greece, the national language is greatly influencing the Pontic language. For example, I’ve been told that, in Turkey, Pontic speakers count only partially in Pontic and the rest in Turkish. He said that the numbers 1-5 are Pontic but the rest are Turkish. A similar thing takes place in Greece, but with the languages being closely related, it leads to the language being closer to modern Greek. They’ll insert Greek into general sentences, but the core of the language is inherently Pontic. Traditionally there are three dialects of Pontic; Western, Eastern, or Northern. These dialects have even further developed into other dialects/languages; notably Mariopolitan Greek (I’ll make a post sometime soon on this) in Ukraine and Caucasian Greek in Georgia and Armenia. My family is from Bafra (Πάφρα) in the Western regions of Pontos, but I have been able to find little no information on our culture, language, or anything really. I know bits and pieces of information, but, linguistically speaking, I’m completely clueless. In Bafra, Pontic was largely falling out of use and most people spoke Turkish, however, my family was one of the families to retain speaking Greek (until we fled to the US that is). The origin of the language in the broader Hellenic branch is debated, but it is believed to have developed out of Hellenistic Koine or Ionic Greek. Like its cousin to the south, Cappadocian, Pontic was largely cut off from other Hellenic languages during Ottoman rule. The Turks even attempted, and succeeded in some areas (mainly in the West), to ban the use of Pontic. This isolation and linguistic imperialism caused Pontic to retain many features of Greek that were completely lost in Modern Greek and take in influence from Turkish. Pontic is unique for retaining features like the infinitive and other seemingly archaic features compared to Modern Greek. Depending on the origin of the speaker, the language could be written with the Greek, Latin (Turkish based), or Cyrillic alphabets. 

Alphabets:

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Maps: 

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Examples of phonology, grammar, etc:

As aforementioned, Pontic retains many archaic features compared to the other Hellenic languages. It is often considered the closest language to Ancient Greek. One aspect Pontic retained was in its pronunciation. In Ancient Greek, η was pronounced as an ε, so in Pontic many words will use ε instead of η keeping with this change. For example, ἦτον in Ancient Greek became έτον, ἤκουσα became έκουσα. Similarly, in other varieties of Greek ω became ου, but in Pontic, that ω became an ο. For example, ζουμί in Greek is ζωμίν in Pontic (Ancient is ζωμίον). One thing that is very prevalent in Pontic is the retaining of the ending -ν where Greek largely either uses -ς or other endings depending on gender. For example, παιδίν is παιδί in Greek and χωρίν is χώρος (Ancient: παιδίον and χωρίον). 

On the note of the infinitive, In case you aren’t sure of what that means, English slightly uses it when we say “to” + a verb (think “to eat”) or the unconjugated verbs in the romance languages (manger in French, comer in Spanish, or manducare in Latin). Some of these endings and their ancient equivalents are; -εινε from -εῖν, -ήναι from -ῆναι, and -έανε from -εῖν to name a few. 

Examples:

The Lord’s Prayer 

Ουράνιε πατέρα μουν,ν' αγιάζ' τ' όνομα σ',να έρται η βασιλεία σ',το θέλεμα σ' να 'ίνεται,άμον 'ς σον ουρανόν και σην γήν.Τ' αναγκαίον μανάχα ψωμίν εμούνδώσ' 'μας οσήμερον,και σ'χώρεσον τα αμαρτίας εμούνάμον το σ' χωρούμε κι εμείςατείντ'ς τ' έβλαψαν εμάς.Μη θέκ'ς εμάς 'ς σον πειρασμόνκαι απεμάκρυνον απ' εμάς το κακόν.

Geography from the Pontic Wikipedia 

Ο Πόντος έx̌ σχήμαν αμόν το τοξάρ και ευρισκάται απαναφκά σο Βατούμι (πολιτεία τ' οσημερνού τη Γεωργίας) και σην Σινώπην απεσκές. Σα νότεα έx̌ σύνορα (σα 200-300 χιλιομέτρα) τα ψηλορραχέας τη Σκυδίση, τη Παρυάδρη και τη Αντιταύρονος (Ποντιακά Παρχάραι).

“Πάρθεν η Ρωμανία” 

Να αλί εμάς και βάι εμάς 

Πάρθεν η Ρωμανία

Επαίραν το βασιλοσκάμ'

Κι ελάεν η Αφεντινα

Μοιρολογούν τα εκκλησιάς κλαίγνε τα μοναστήρεα

Και Άη-Γιάννες ο Χρυσόστομον κλαίει δερνοκοπισκάται

Μην κλαις μην κλαις Άγ-Γιάννε μου μη δερνοκοπάσαι

Η Ρωμανία πέρασεν η Ρωμανία επάρθεν

Η Ρωμανία πέρασεν ανθεί και φέρει κι άλλο

“ΤΟ ΧΩΡΙΟ Μ’ ΝΟΝΙΖΩ” 

Εκάμωσα τ’ ομάτια μ’ και το χωριό μ’ νονίζω...

Αχά, όλον επάν σην κορφή, φανερούνταν όμον κουκούλια,

Στρωμένα όμον χαλί, πολλά όμορφα τα παρχάρια...

Αχά, ελέπω στέκω, νάμεσα σα ραχία πολλά κοιλάδια...

Έκλεισα τ’ ομάτια μ’ και το χωριό μ’ ελέπω, ακούγω, νοήζω...

Τ’ ορμία πολλά, απ’ επάν ασα ραχία κατηβαίνουν όμον τσάμια...

Να, έχουν σούρκουλας, καταρράχτες, λιμνόπα τα ποτάμια...

Γομάτο με χλωρά δέντρα τ’ όρος, αλάτια, τεζιά, σπεντάμια...

Αχά, φανερούνταν και τα κάστανα, τα κλερθία, τα δρύδια...

Εκάμωσα τ’ ομάτια μ’ και το χωριό μ’ ελέπω, ακούω, νοήζω...

Έκατσα κα’ σ’ έναν καικά’, ωπίσα μ’ τα καφούλια...

Κάτου στρωμένα τα φύλλα, τρυφερά όμον στρώμα...

Ούλος ο τόπος χορτάρια, χολχόνια, ουκ’ ελεπισκάται χώμα...

Αδά ότι θέλεις ευρίσκεις, ούλα κοντά, ούλα σημά...

Έκλεισα τ’ ομάτια μ’ και το χωριό μ’ ελέπω, ακούγω, νοήζω...

Να, ασα μακρά έρται η λαλία, το ποτάμι χιοχιονίζει...

Αχά, ακούεται και τ’ ορμί πα σατί τρέχ’ τραγωδοί...

Ο άνεμος κουνίζ’ τα κλαδία, ουλίζ’ τα φύλλα...

Λες κι όλος ο τόπος για τ’ εσέν’ ψιλοσιουρίζει...

Εκάμωσα τ’ ομάτια μ’ και το χωριό μ’ ελέπω, ακούω, νοήζω...

Τ’ όμορφα τσιρίζουν τα πουλίκας, λαλεί ο κούκος...

Θαρρώ σον ουρανό γυροκλώσκεται ο τρανός αϊτός...

Κάτου τα κοσσάρας κακανίζουν, λαλεί ο πετινός...

Κράζ’ η κορόνα, μνέζ’ η κάτα, ιλάζ’ ο σκύλος...

Έκλεισα τ’ ομάτια μ’ και το χωριό μ’ ελέπω, ακούγω, νοήζω...

Ολόγυρα μ’ τσιφίνια, κομάρια, γομάτο τσιτσέκια...

Αν θέλεις έπαρ’ φα’ στίπικας, δίρκαπας, ζεβίρια...

Φα και μαμίκας μήλα, χαμωκέρασια, φα όμνοστα μούρια...

Αλεξανδρί κουκούτσια, οξοκουκόυτσια, φα και μασούρια...

Έκλεισα τ’ ομάτια μ’ και το χωριό μ’ ελέπω, ακούγω, νοήζω...

Αχά, θαρρώ έναν πατσί ανοιβαίν στέκ’ τα σκαλοπάτια...

Επαλαλώθαν τ’ αγουροπαίδια, γελούν και σούρουν λόγια...

Εκείνε πα’ βοήζ’, ανασκάφτ’, υβρίζ’, ου’ στέκ’ και ατέ...

Ας το λέγουν εγροικώ, μούστας τα βυζία, όμορφα μερία, ίσα καλάμια...

Έκλεισα τ’ ομάτια μ’ και το χωριό μ’ ελέπω, ακούγω, νοήζω...

Ε Ώκενα μ’, ε φουκαράενα μάνα μ’, ε αγάπη μ’, ε ψή μ’, ε χώμα μ’, ε αίμα μ’,

Όντα είμαι σην εγγάλια σ’, εξέρεις, άλο ου’ φοβούμαι καϊνέναν...

Κ’ ετότε ομορφότερος είναιται ο ντουνιάς, ομνοστότερη η ζωή...

Και να έξερνες, ε οροσπίκα μ’, ε δανίστρα μ’ εσένα αγαπώ άλο τίναν...

Έκλεισα τ’ ομάτια μ’ και το χωριό μ’ ελέπω, ακούγω, νοήζω...

Videos:

The Sound of the Pontic Greek language/ dialect (Numbers, Phrases & Sample Text)

WIKITONGUES: Asimenia speaking Greek and Pontic

Miltiadis Tsalouchidis (Μιλτιάδης Τσαλουχίδης)

Archaic Greek in a modern world 

Reframing the Phylogeny of Asia Minor Greek: The View from Pontic Greek

A Disappearing Language - Pontic Greek, Romeyka

Romeika Trağothiyas (Rumca Şarkılar)

İnsanlarımız

ROMEİKA (Rumca, Pontiaka) Belgesel / Documentary 

ROMEYİKA’NIN TÜRKÜSÜ / SONG OF ROMEİKA (DOCUMANTERY -2009)

Music:

Playlist (It’s public so add Pontic songs if you know of any)

I highly recommend the album “Romeika” by Apolas Lermi 

Some resources:

Pontic Greek on Wikipedia

Wikipedia in Pontic Greek

Pontos World’s page on the language (They have info on the different villages, history, culture, and the language. Specifically, they have a large Greek-Pontic dictionary, lessons, and other info) 

Wiktionary dictionary  

Glosbe Greek-Pontic 

Glosbe English-Pontic (You can probably find other on there by switching the language, I primarily just use Greek-Pontic though)

Pontic-Turkish dictionary 

Tarih, yalnızca imparatorlukların yükselişi ve çöküşüyle değil, aynı zamanda dillerin küresel dolaşımıyla da şekillenir. İngilizcenin dünya dili hâline gelmesinde King George V döneminden itibaren Britanya İmparatorluğu’nun kurumsal etkisi belirleyici olmuştur. Bu tarihsel miras, daha sonra Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nin ekonomik, askerî ve kültürel üstünlüğüyle birleşerek İngilizceyi küresel…

Emiyaze ston ilon

Andos edon aşkemos

Aforoz nedir? Aforoz ne demek? Aforoz etmek ne anlama geliyor? TDK’ya göre aforoz ne demektir? #Anathema #Aforoz #toplum #Rumca #Gündem #ÖğretmenDüşmanıCHP #fırattahemşireyeçözüm Bülent Arınç #GelecekNesillerİçin

Dilimize Rumca’dan geçen aforoz kelimesinin ne anlama geldiği merak ediliyor. TDK’ya göre aforozun 2 anlamı var. Peki aforoz ne demek? Aforoz nedir, nerelerde kullanılır? Aforoz etmek ne manaya geliyor? TDK’ya göre karşılığı nedir?

Aforoz kelimesi mecaz anlamda ve dini terim olarak kullanılan bir kelimedir. Peki aforoz nedir? Aforoz etmek ne anlama geliyor? Hangi dinde aforoz etmek vardır? Aforoz…

Tin Patrida'm Exasa (Yurdumu Kaybettim) 

 Thn patríða m' éxasa 

Éklapsa kai pónesa 

Lúoumai ki aroþumẃ, ói ói 

N' anaspálw ki eporẃ 

 Nakarat: Mían ki állo shn zwh́ m' 

So pegáði m' shn aulh́m' 

Néropon as épina, ói ói 

Kai t' ommátia m' épluna 

 Tá tafía m' éxasa 

Nt' éþapsa ki enéspala 

T' emetérts anastorẃ, ói ói 

Kai so psuópom kouvalẃ 

 Nakarat Ekklhsías érhma 

Monasth́ria akánthla 

Pórtas kai paráþura, ói ói 

Epémnan akrónuxta 

 Türkçesi: Yurdumu kaybettim Ağladım yaralıyım Ağlıyorum ve bekliyorum, oy oy Unutamam. Nakarat : Başka sefer hayatımda Mallarımda, bahçemde. Su içmek isterim, oy oy Ve gözlerimi yıkamak. Mezarlarımı kaybettim Gömdüğüm kişileri ve unutmadım. Halkımı hatırlıyorum, oy oy Onu canımda taşıyorum. Nakarat... Kiliseler ıssız, Monastırlar mumsuz, Kapılar ve pencereler, oy oy Açık bırakıldılar.