www.talkcyprus.org

Leon · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 240 Location: England

I just thought it'd be interesting to see how good you F-BCs' (foreign-born Cypriots') Greek or Turkish is. Please answer the poll and elaborate by sending a reply :twisted:.

The 'I don't speak any Greek/Turkish' options also are for those who know just a few words of Greek/Turkish.

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

i'd say my greek is poor/average....

i speak 'gringlish' - you know...greek with english words thrown in here and there....also, my reflexive usage isnt always very good, and some of the words i use are villagey, or too much a direct translation of english. I could survive in cyprus by myself with my knowldge though...imo.

my grammer is usually correct...its my vocab i need to work on.

depurple · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 2876 Location: Australia

MY Greek is average BUT my Englsk is vary goot!

depurple · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 2876 Location: Australia

PS Don't for get my grandfather came to Australia in 1923 and my old-man is born here and so am I and so is my son and he speaks very good Greek and Indonesian:
I know people who were born in Cyprus came to Australia at 10 years and cant speak any Greek: That's My brother in law what a clown!!!

erolz · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 4195 Location: Kyrenia / Girne

My Turkish is appaling / non existant, which given I have a Turkish Cypriot father and have been living in Cyprus now for 3 years is pretty embarrasing really. About the only thing I can do in Turkish with even remote competance is swear and insult people :)

Not my fault really but this iw what your cousins teach you when you vivist on holiday from england and also it was when my father lost his temper, that he would resort to Turkish. So I got to know swear words and some limited 'angry Turkish' and that's about it really. Still comes in handy in 'traffic disputes' I guess :)

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

yeh...i think that goes for everyone...we all start with the swearwords our cousins teach us...we just carry on from there really...

cypezokyli · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 2344

is there any kind of racism in the north to Turkish Cypriots from abroad?

we call them in the south billies :oops: , which is really bad (especially Greek Cypriots from england).

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

i thought Greek Cypriots from the UK were known as charlies?

depurple · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 2876 Location: Australia

English is the bridge language in all the world now and will be because of Hollywood and the the Music industry: When you start getting everyone at Eurovision singing in English HEY what does that tell you????

erolz · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 4195 Location: Kyrenia / Girne

cypezokyli wrote: is there any kind of racism in the north to Turkish Cypriots from abroad?

we call them in the south billies :oops: , which is really bad (especially Greek Cypriots from england).

In the north 'UK Cypriots' are know as 'londrada' and are generally considered to be a bit louder, a bit brasher, a bit richer and flasher and bit more arrogant than cypriot cypriots (probably because they are?)

It's not really racism, per se, as I see it, but distinctions are made at times. Somebody might explain another persons behaviour along the lines of 'well he is a London Cypriot'. That kind of thing.

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

yeh..the same kinda thing in the south too...we aare seen as loud, brasher, richer, flashier etc....

maybe its jealously, maybe they are right? but usually it is seen in a negative light to be from the UK, i think, at least, not while your there spending your money of course ;) lol

Also, ive heard that british cypriots find it hard to integrate with normal cypriots, and so they only really mix/scialise with other british cypriots/foreigners....

apparently the cypriot cpyriots hate the way British cypriots go out every night an get drunk etc...

Mete · Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 1150 Location: Boston

Quote:
In the north 'UK Cypriots' are know as 'londrada' and are generally considered to be a bit louder, a bit brasher, a bit richer and flasher and bit more arrogant than cypriot cypriots (probably because they are?)

You mean "Londrali"...and it doesn't matter if that Cypriot is from London, Manchester or Liverpool...They're all Londrali :-) It's easy to spot Londoners because they speak Turkish with a British accent. They usually emphasize the wrong part of the sentences and the words...

garbitsch · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 767 Location: Cyprus

erolz wrote: cypezokyli wrote: is there any kind of racism in the north to Turkish Cypriots from abroad?

we call them in the south billies :oops: , which is really bad (especially Greek Cypriots from england).

In the north 'UK Cypriots' are know as 'londrada' and are generally considered to be a bit louder, a bit brasher, a bit richer and flasher and bit more arrogant than cypriot cypriots (probably because they are?)

It's not really racism, per se, as I see it, but distinctions are made at times. Somebody might explain another persons behaviour along the lines of 'well he is a London Cypriot'. That kind of thing.

Erol, Turkish Cypriot Londoners are not called "Londrada". That word means "in London". We rather call them "Londrali-londoner "

erolz · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 4195 Location: Kyrenia / Girne

garbitsch wrote:
Erol, Turkish Cypriot Londoners are not called "Londrada". That word means "in London". We rather call them "Londrali-londoner "

I told you my Turkish was rubbish :)

depurple · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 2876 Location: Australia

Hey the best interpreters are the Taxi Drivers: Man they can not only tell where you are from: Australia they can tell from which State Victoria: Also they can tell you ever brothel in Town! Incredible!