What happened to the greeks in Naples?

Question

I know that there is some towns in Southern Italy where they speak a Dialect of Doric Greek, but are there Greek speakers in Naples? Is it likely that I will meet any Greeks in Naples? Is there still Hellenic Culture there? Sorry for spitting out all these questions but I get on the plane soon so yeh... Thanks!

Answer 1

I do not know about Naples, but in villages and cities in Calabria, there are people who speak the Griko language and/or Greek as it is spoken in Greece today.

http://noctoc-noctoc.blogspot.com/2007/0...

This is a village where the Griko language is spoken. So it would be a good thing if you could also go to Calabria...

ADDED: Yes zoltan, it's amazing... I went to Galliciano 3 years ago with a Greek friend who was born and raised in another of those villages. And an old lady talked to us and you could hear so many ancient words that survive ... For example, for the word "here" they say "ώδε" instead of "εδώ".

And about the αξιοπρέπεια, yes, I think that it's exactly what caracterizes those people.

But sadly, I do not know about Naples...

Answer 2

I have also read and seen documentaries on the Greek speaking communities in the mountains of Italy...most humbling.

Answering Zoltan's question, there are places in Russia, mountainous as in Italy where Pontian is still spoken by the older generation.  I remember seeing a documentary by a Greek academic who visited some of those areas and the old ladies were singing songs from primary school as that is the last thing they learned before Stalin clamped down on the teaching of foreign languages in 1947.

Answer 3

wow..ELAINE...  your amazing... you search made me cry from joy... i knew there where scattered greek speaking calabrians.but very few ..but what made me cry from joy was the words in the article...(this is homers greek)  the fact that it can be transmuted from father to son for so long is mind bogling... h AXIOPREPIA ton ellinon.. thanks for the link ...wink..):)..and to the asker give her all the points....lol ...have a good trip....ps ..i wonder if there is an area in the crimea(black sea/ russia)  where they still speak a form of ancient greek?