Insights into Cypriot-Greek attitudes toward multilingualism and multiculturalism in Cyprus
Journal
Journal of Mediterranean Studies
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
Abstract
This paper seeks to explore language attitudes toward multilingualism and multiculturalism in the Cypriot-Greek context by investigating different domains of society. The sociolinguistic situation in Cyprus is of particular interest since the island is a dynamic bidialectal and multilingual country attracting individuals from both the EU and other foreign populations especially over the last decades with the massive increase in immigration. This leads Cypriot- Greek users to forming particular attitudes toward the languages present in the Cypriot-Greek context. To examine these attitudes, data was collected through a questionnaire administered upon a sample of native Cypriot-Greek users living in the district of Larnaca; this was analysed quantitatively. Drawing on the results, Cypriot-Greek users seem to acknowledge the importance of learning additional languages especially for the domains of education, workplace and media.