CYPRIOT ACADEMY

[filio]

[The Cypriot]

[cypezokyli]

the cypriot , imo the examples you have given are not the best ones bc :
bira - is the right pronanciation bc we write it with mi and pi . so the letter "b" in english is equivalent to mi + pi in greek. in that u r right.
but , botiri - is the wrong pronunciation bc we write it with just a pi.


the same with gazin

as you also mentioned , some sounds in the Greek Cypriot dialect can not be written with the english pronunciation of the latin alphabet (or the greek) , so you had to make some choises. and i might even agree with you that these choise might have been the best ones under the conditions of the "english alphabet"

there is no point in continuing this discussion , bc the most important thing is the audience you guys are addresing. and since you aim at a worldwide audience then i can not make such critisism , only say : continue the good work.

my proposal would not be to restructure the whole work. too much effort is put into it to change that imo.

my small suggestion would be:
perhaps you could improve the list where the pronunciation of those two or three letters, is presented,the same way you do it with "z" - where you say , it sounds like the french "j".
where the english pronunciation is not sufficient you have used the french one. this is exactly what i am saying.

so why dont you do that for the pi , tau , and kappa ( you will have problems with gamma ). so you can just say : "we use "b" for the greek "pi" for reasons of simplicity. keep in mind neither the english "p" or "b" can represent that sound , bc it sounds like ... and put an example."
just like the "z" sound

that would mean ofcource that you should find a new way for writing bira.
bc in Greek Cypriot dialect we have three distinct sounds : π , ππ , μπ
ποτήρι
ππαράς
μπύρα
and you guys are just using two: p for ππ and b for both π and μπ.

[The Cypriot]

If you listen carefully to traditional Cypriot speakers (as opposed to mainland Greeks), there is really no discernible difference between the b in bira or the b in bodirin or baglavas. There is of course certainly a difference though between these b's and the p in pushtis or pezevengis.
 
Those attached to the nasal quality of certain b, g and d sounds could perhaps write mb, ng and nd. But it seems odd to be writing things like mbira, mbar, ngazin and ndomada, which seem to reflect a mainland Greek speech style not indigenous to Cyprus. The difficulty mainland Greeks have in articulating a non-nasal voiced b, g and d is almost as strange as their seeming inability to form the ch, sh and j sounds so ubiquitous in Cypriot.
 
For the normal gamma sound, we use gh, just as for the delta sound we use dh and for the French j sound we use zh. In these cases we make the h do the work it does in the English sh. Extending the analogy we also use xh for the ksh sound, as in xhurafin. For chi we generally simply write h as this seems to best serve the presentation of words like hara, which we wouldn't want people to think was pronounced kara (if we wrote khara) or tshara (if we wrote chara).
 
It might help us in all sorts of ways (including in bridging the gulf with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots) if we thought of Cypriot as a sufficiently distinct form of language from modern mainland Greek that, in transliterating our native vernacular, we weren't hamstrung by modern Greek spelling conventions suited to the somewhat different norms of mainland Greek pronunciation.

[repulsewarrior]

Cypriot, you make me laugh again. Thank-you.

[The Cypriot]

Mia Lemeshani
Girl from Limassol

Mia Lemeshani, mia Lemeshani,
Mia Lemeshani, Banaya du Jiku mu.
Mia Lemeshani, mia Lemeshani,
Mia Lemeshani, vasilija psindri.

Enje thelo ’yo balathkia, me rialia medrida.
Na men mu gamnen yinathkia, maniha na m’ aghaba.

Mia Lemeshani, mia Lemeshani,
Mia Lemeshani, Abostole Andrea mu.
Mia Lemeshani, mia Lemeshani,
Mia Lemeshani, anjelogamodi.

Enje thelo ’yo balathkia, me rialia medrida.
Na men mu gamnen yinathkia, maniha na m’ aghaba.

Girl from Limassol, girl from Limassol,
Girl from Limassol, Holy Virgin of Jikos.
Girl from Limassol, girl from Limassol,
Girl from Limassol, lovely basil plant so small.

I’m not looking for a castle, I’m not interested in wealth.
She should spare me any hassle, and just love me for myself.

Girl from Limassol, girl from Limassol,
Girl from Limassol, Saint Andrew the Apostle.
Girl from Limassol, girl from Limassol,
Girl from Limassol, she’s an angel-fashioned doll.

I’m not looking for a castle, I’m not interested in wealth.
She should spare me any hassle, and just love me for myself.

[The Cypriot]

Lulla mu, Marulla mu
Lulla dear, Marulla dear

Epses i nihta ’shionizen, Lulla mu, Marulla mu,
Je da bulia ’markosan.
J’ eyoni mes’ st’ angalia su, Lulla mu, Marulla mu,
Griodin en enosa.

Epses i nihta mia idun, Lulla mu, Marulla mu,
Je bopse thkio ’yenigan.
J’ en i gami su, muzuru, Lulla mu, Marulla mu,
J’ exifanerothigan.

Nosta b’ aghabithigamen, Lulla mu, Marulla mu,
Epefta j’ en egammun.
J’ elalun, Banaia mu! Lulla mu, Marulla mu,
I alli bos vastahnun?

Is don yiron dis thalassas, Lulla mu, Marulla mu,
Na ba’ na orkistumen.
J’ ospo ’sh’ i thalassa neron, Lulla mu, Marulla mu,
Na men bohoristumen.

Last night was such an icy night, Lulla dear, Marulla dear,
And all around birds did freeze.
But lying in your tender arms, Lulla dear, Marulla dear,
I bore the cold with great ease.

Last night was but a single night, Lulla dear, Marulla dear,
Tonight is now a second.
And with your sorrows, dark-skinned girl, Lulla dear, Marulla dear,
I’ve now become accustomed.

When we first fell so deep in love, Lulla dear, Marulla dear,
I’d lie awake, oh so late.
And I would cry, Holy Virgin! Lulla dear, Marulla dear,
Can others cope in this state?

Down by the shoreline of the sea, Lulla dear, Marulla dear,
Let’s swear an oath together.
While water is still in the sea, Lulla dear, Marulla dear,
Bonded we’ll be for ever.

[filio]

thank the cypriot!..
i thought it was "roulla mou maroulla mou.."
anyway
there are two song that o would love to find the lyrics of. they go somethign like:

"psindrii vasilitzia mou tzai matzourana mouu..(2)
esi tha me xoriseis ampo tin mana mouuu (2)"

and

" to gia semi sti portan souu giasemi mouu
tzirta na to kladepsw aa.."

merci

[The Cypriot]

I will check about 'Lulla/Rulla'. We are working on 'Yasemi'.... Meanwhile.....


Psindri vasilija
Slender basil

Psindri vasilija mu je mandzurana mu,
Esi tha me horisis abo din manan mu.

Psindri vasilija mu je garkiofillin mu,
Fer’ mu do maulon su gonda sta shili mu.

Ela na se filiso je ghliora na bas,
Na men se dhi ganenas je bi bos m’ aghabas.

Ela na se filiso je fila me j’ esi,
Je an do moloiso, moloa do j’ esi.

Ela na se filiso, melahrinulla mu,
Na svisis da lambra mu bo ’sh’ i gartulla mu.

Ela sto barathirin, gori, do yallenon,
Na dho do brosobon su do simidhallenon.

Ela sto banathirin, grifa dis manas su,
Je game bos bodizis din mandzuranan su.

Foris babucha mavra, gori, je drizusin,
J’ emenan din garkian mu din eraizusin.

Eshis elian sta shili j’ eyo sto maulon.
Ela na se filiso, bullin bedamenon.

Psindri vasilija mu je aerusa mu,
Stin dhiblin don vizhon su na ’dan i susa mu.

My sweet and slender basil, my marjoram so fair,
You’re the one who’ll cause me to leave my mother’s care.

My sweet and slender basil, my carnation so fine,
Bring that little chin of yours up to these lips of mine.

Come here and let me kiss you, then quick be on your way.
For nobody must see you, and that you love me say.

Come here and let me kiss you and kiss me in return,
And if I must confess it, then so must you in turn.

Come here and let me kiss you, my girl of olive skin,
So you can put the fire out that burns my heart within.

Come closer to the window, girl, to the glass get near,
So I can see your lovely face, so creamy and so clear.

Come closer to the window, avoid your mother’s eye.
Watering your marjoram can be your alibi.

Those black shoes that you’re wearing, girl, what a noise they make.
And all the time I hear them squeak, my heart’s about to break.

You have a mole on your lips, I have one on my chin.
Come here and let me kiss you, my bird upon a wing.

My sweet and slender basil, the breeze upon my face,
Within your bosom’s cleavage let me my cradle place.

[The Cypriot]

As I suspected...

'Rulla' is a variant of 'Lulla' in the song 'Lulla mu Marulla mu.'

[The Cypriot]

Gori Hristinu
Lovely Christina

Ethela na 'mun aerudhin,
Na 'rkume banda singonda su,
Na men afiso me muyudhin,
Gori Hristinu, na su gondepsi mian foran.

Mide gunubin na se grusi,
Mide liobirin na su vlasi,
Na' n omorfiteri j' i blasi,
J' esu yemadi bu haran.

Ethela na 'mun aerudhin,
Bandu na se vuro xobiso,
Mide brostathin na s' afiso,
Gori Hristinu, na xomagrisis, ra goru.

Yadi bu din m’azulan spazo,
Inda na su do boyiriso?
Eyo goru[e]s ya n' aghabiso,
En fiarkume ganenu.
 
Ethela na 'mun aerudhin,
Na dhogo mesa stin monin su,
Bo 'nna se delia manishi su,
Gori Hristinu, horis na barun mirothkian.

Je dode jinda galli dodes,
Na da rufiso na da fao.
J' an nosun xero bu' nna bao.
Fkenno bu mian harammathkian.


I’d like to be a gush of air so
That I can always get close by you,
Won’t even let a tiny house fly,
Lovely Christina, to come up near you just one time.

Nor a mosquito come and bite you,
Nor the hot sun to let it smite you.
To make the whole world lovely like you
And fill your heart with a joy so fine.

I’d like to be a gush of air so
That I could always run behind you,
Won’t let you stray where I can’t find you
Lovely Christina, never go too far please, my doll.
 
‘Cos it’s my jealousy I fear
How can I make it crystal clear?
For me to fall in love with someone,
I couldn’t trust a living soul.

I’d like to be a gush of air so
Up to your bedroom I could roam,
When you are totally alone.
Lovely Christina, without them even keeping track.

And then what lushness would I find there
I’d lap it up in one big go
And if they wake my escape I’ll know,
I’ll slip away through some fine crack.

[filio]

thank you have never heard the last one before..
ok this is the best one ever..

sorry to keep asking you for things but one more..
we used to dance this at school . i don't remember how the words go. all i remember is

" steile me mana gia nero, na sou to fero drosero ,
tzi an men sto fero drosero, tin nioti mou na men xaro,
or
steile me mana gia nero, na sou to fero drosero
tzi an den to fero deire me steile me manaaa steile mee"

the story line is this girl that wants to go to the water source to bring water and meet this handsome guy, she is talking to her mother begging her to let her go. she takes with her the small water pot(?) ,"kanata",(carafe?) , and goes there but she is dancing(?) with the handsome Cypriot and ooooopp the kanata break .. and she is in big trouble..

[cypezokyli]

i think it is called the dance of kouza

[The Cypriot]

Yes, my friends, it's another classic...

Stile me sto neron
Send me for water

Stile me, mana, sto neron,
Na su do fero dhroseron.
Na su do fero dhroseron,
Stile me, mana, sto neron.

Ela, mavruka, sto neron,
J’ eyo stin vrisin gartero.
Ya na mu dhogis do filin,
Ya dhe su spazo do stamnin.

J’ an se rodis’ i mana su,
Gori mu, bu ’n i stamna su?
Bes dis bos ’barabadises,
Din stamnan su bos ’tsakises.

Stile me, mana, sto neron,
Na su do fero dhroseron.
J’ an dhen do fero dhroseron,
Din niodin mu na men haro.

Stile me, mana, sto neron,
Na su do fero gatharon.
Stile me, mana, stile me,
J’ an dhen sto fero dhire me.

Na bas, gorulla mu hrisi.
Na bas, gorulla mu hrisi.
Na bas, gorulla mu hrisi,
Ma nakon brosehe j’ esi.

Stin vrisin evrethigamen,
J’ esfihtangaliastigamen.
Mazin en b’ orkistigamen,
J’ ebrodofilithigamen.

Mana mu, ’barabadisa.
Mana mu, ’barabadisa.
Mana mu, ’barabadisa,
Je do stamnin mu ’tsakisa.

Dhen ine barabadiman.
Dhen ine barabadiman.
Dhen ine barabadiman,
Bara ’ne niu angaliasman.

Send me for water, mother, do.
I’ll bring it back so cool for you.
I’ll bring it back so cool for you.
Send me for water, mother, do.

Come for some water, dark girl, too,
And by the spring I’ll wait for you.
Either I steal a kiss and hug,
Or else I’ll break your water jug.

And if your mother asks to know,
Your jug, my girl, where did it go?
Just say you tripped on your way back,
And that’s what caused your jug to crack.

Send me for water, mother, do.
I’ll bring it back so cool for you.
If I don’t bring it cool for you,
A joyless youth I’ll have to rue.

Send me for water, mother, do.
I’ll bring it back so clear for you.
Please send me, mother, send me do.
If I don’t bring it hit me too.

You go, my precious daughter fair.
You go, my precious daughter fair.
You go, my precious daughter fair,
But please just take a little care.

The spring’s where we came face to face,
And there so tight we did embrace.
To become one we made a wish,
And we shared our first ever kiss.

Mother, I tripped on my way back.
Mother, I tripped on my way back.
Mother, I tripped on my way back,
And that’s what caused my jug to crack.

There was no trip, I know too well.
There was no trip, I know too well.
There was no trip, I know too well.
It’s in a young man’s arms you fell.

[The Cypriot]

Do skuluguin
The litte worm

Evrexen mes din avlin mu
J' ebeza me da bila
J' idha mesa bu do homa,
Thkio maduthkia yelasta,
Thkio maduthkia yelasta.

Idan enan skuluguin
J' idan obos din glostin.
Ivren mian michan dribuan
J' ebrosbathan na hosti,
J' ebrosbathan na hosti.

Skuluguin, skuluguin,
Bu bais horis vraguin?
Emba mesa stin fulian su,
Men bonisis da lema su.

Ebiasa do bu don nurin
Don filuin don mitsin,
Ebexa lion mida du
J' eglisa don sto botsin,
J' eglisa don sto botsin.

J' irten eso i arfi mu
J' embixen des baurkes,
Iben do je du jiru mu
J' edhogen mu batsarges,
J' edhogen mu batsarges,

Skuluguin, skuluguin
Enna sghapso enan lukuin
Mes din landa na se hoso
Don belan ya na ghlidoso.

Skuluguin, skuluguin
Bu bais horis vraguin?
Emba mesa stin fulian su,
Men bonisis da lema su.

It was raining in my garden
As I played a marble game,
When I saw two eyes so joyful
From inside the earth they came,
From inside the earth they came.

It was just a little wormy
That was like a piece of string
It had found a hole so tiny
And was trying to riggle in.
And was trying to riggle in.

Worm so happy, worm so happy
Where you going without your nappy?
Get off home and shut your door
So your throat won't get all soar.

I picked it up by its tail
My newfound little star
Played around with it a little
Then I shut him in a jar,
Then I shut him in a jar,

Then my sister came back home
She did start all her bleating
And she went and told my daddy,
Who gave me a big beating
Who gave me a big beating.

Worm so happy, worm so happy,
I'm going to dig a hole, my chappy
In a puddle for you to lay,
So no trouble comes my way.

Worm so happy, worm so happy
Where you going without your nappy?
Get off home and shut your door
So your throat won't get all soar.