What Pontic Greek (Romaic) sounds like (Part 1)

This is the dialect of Pontic Greek (Romaic) spoken around Tonya, Turkey

[cema]

I'm not even Greek, but Serbian, and I find this video extremely fascinating. While they have Turkish names, those people still speak Pontic Greek despite being discriminated in the past and isolated for a long time and to see them having a proper conversation with a Greek speaker is amazing. This is a treasure for both Turkey and Greece and they should be united in efforts to save such a beautiful language and heritage.

[nikost]

My ancestors were Pontic Greeks who migrated to The Russian empire then (todays Abkhazia) almost two centuries ago. We were calling ourselves Romei and the language we were speaking Romeika. We are still using the language between us, it is our responsibility to pass the knowledge to our children, one of the most important elements that kept our cultural identity alive throughout the centuries.

[sasham]

My grandma is also Pontic Greek whose family migrated to Russia. Unfortunately, she was not taught the language - I’m assuming that’s the case for many people. Perhaps her mother forced her to assimilate by not teaching her Greek. She spoke broken Russian to her, which is quite sad. My grandmother faced a lot of discrimination for being Greek in Russia, even my own mother, many years later. That’s just how it was in Soviet Russia, I guess? Interestingly enough, she went on to learn Turkish later in life and became very fluent but lost the language with age. My mother acquired Greek citizenship and now we live in Cyprus :) In a way, we have reconnected with our roots.

[oldpvvm]

Ταξίδι στο παρελθόν, τι ωραία γλώσσα με αρχαιοελληνική χρόνια! Μπράβο τους που τόσα χρόνια την κράτησαν ζωντανή.

[melihcelik]

This is like an authentic way to learn some Pontian, it would be great if you could expand your archive on this Tom 😊

[nasourex]

It’s sad to see that this beautiful is dying.. I remember how my grandmother used to speak it

[kleanthis]

I understand every single word. My grandparents came from Samsuda (Amisos). My grandmother would speak in Pontic dialect, but swear in Turkish (esek subasu was the no 1 when I wasn't a good boy).

[setshootstrike]

Watching all of you communicate is beautiful and moving. Thank you for posting this!

[cecilyerker]

I love the mixture of old and new clothing and the cool old dudes willing to converse with you. People are mostly the same wherever you go.

Perfect translation, could not be better! We thank you very much for the hellenism in Asia Minor.

[AL-grhvc]

WOW this is so interesting..Kudos to the folks in Karadeniz for still speaking the Pontic language 💯👏👏👏

[phoebedarker]

Αχ οι μουσικές του Πόντου μιλάνε μέσα μου! Ευχαριστούμε!

[thefreestylefrEaK]

If you understand Greek you should be able to understand at least half of what he's saying. I've noticed Greek and Romaic speakers can have some level of communication no matter how broken it is.

[Unnecesary_Grik]

I'm Greek and i respect that they kept alive this dialect and not let it die after the greco-turkish population exchange since most people that remain were or became later muslim Greeks or pontic greek speaking turks.I don't dislike or spreading hate to the Turkish language but i highly appreciate the people that weren't afraid to talk with their language that their fathers and mothers learn them at repeat since ancient times 💪

[fzoemqy]

1:42 He Said : T'emon (τ'εμον) = my or mine

From the old greek: το ημών (to imon).

Example : my Mother = T'emon i Manan (τ'εμον η Μάναν) or simply, I Mana'm (η Μανα'μ).
But when you say in Plural, For example : (the) my (the) children = t'ema ta pedia (τ'εμα τα παιδία)
Or ... ta pedia t'ema en (τα παιδία τ'εμα εν)= the children are (the) mine.

T'emetera ta pedia (τ'εμετερα τα παιδία)= (the) Our children
T'emeteron to pedin (τ'εμετερον το παιδίν) = (the) Our child
From old greek: τα ημέτερα (ta imetera) or ημέτερον (imeteron) = Our

But you know, most Greeks use the Word pedin (παιδίν) = child, only For Male Childs, females are : koritsi (κορίτσι)

[vp]

Great videos!!! Θωμά, είσαι μεγάλος! Μπράβο!

[janmuftuoglu]

I loved the whole conversation between Tom and Mustafa 😂
Amazing video..! Keep going..! I am from Trabzon and I speak both Greek, Pontian Greek and Turkish..! If you need any help do not hesitate, I’ll be happy to help you..!

[ismaillefterov]

Bravo Tom. Very interesting video. So sad that the language slowly disappears because there is no teachers that can teach it in schools.

[GregVasquez]

wow. A wonderful video to familiarize myself with Pontic. Thank you!

[tasosfilippoy]

If my grandmother were alive you would be amazed. She couldn't speak nor Modern Greek nor Turkish, she could speak only Pontic Greek and her dialect(as her family's) was quite close to Byzantine greek but with huge differences at accent along with a good amount of persian and turkish loanwords.

Its pitty, the last fluent speakers of this dialect emmigrated to mainland Greece and with the pass of years, modern greek took over and the dialect is going to diminish itself. There are a few villages in northern Greece where the population still talks Pontic Greek but of course its the elders who do it. Young people may understand it but don't speak it.