Languages
The official language of Greece is Greek, spoken by 93% of the total population as their primary language, and by almost all as a second language at least. Additionally, there are a number of linguistic minority groups that are bilingual in a variety of non-Greek languages, and most of these groups identify ethnically as Greeks. The most common of all these dialects, the groups that speak them and the regions where they are considered native are:
| Dialect | Spoken by | Estimated population | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greek dialects | |||
| Cretan | Cretans | 600,000 | Crete |
| Maniot | Maniots | 25,000 | Mani (southern Peloponnese) |
| Pontic | Pontians | 200,000 | Macedonia |
| Sarakatsanika | Sarakatsani | 80,000 | Central Greece, Thessaly, Epirus |
| Tsakonian | Tsakonians | 1,200 | Tsakonia (eastern Peloponnese) |
| Other languages | |||
| Bulgarian/Macedonian Slavic | Slavic-speakers of Greek Macedonia | 10,000-250,000 | Macedonia |
| Bulgarian | Pomaks | 35,000 | Thrace |
| Turkish | Turks of Western Thrace | 128,380 | Thrace |
| Aromanian, Megleno-Romanian | Aromanians | 40,000–200,000 | Epirus, Thessaly, West Macedonia |
| Romani | Roma | 40,000–160,000 | mainly in Thrace |
| Arvanitika | Arvanites | 30,000–140,000 | Attica, southern Euboea, Boeotia, Peloponnese |
Read more about this topic: Demographics Of Greece
Famous quotes containing the word languages:
“People in places many of us never heard of, whose names we can’t pronounce or even spell, are speaking up for themselves. They speak in languages we once classified as “exotic” but whose mastery is now essential for our diplomats and businessmen. But what they say is very much the same the world over. They want a decent standard of living. They want human dignity and a voice in their own futures. They want their children to grow up strong and healthy and free.”
—Hubert H. Humphrey (1911–1978)
“The trouble with foreign languages is, you have to think before your speak.”
—Swedish proverb, trans. by Verne Moberg.
“The very natural tendency to use terms derived from traditional grammar like verb, noun, adjective, passive voice, in describing languages outside of Indo-European is fraught with grave possibilities of misunderstanding.”
—Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897–1934)