Speaking with the plants – Cappadocian Greek Collection

Description: The farmer Panagiotis Giltidis describes his childhood with his grandparents from whom he learned the Cappadocian dialect of Misti and refers to some customs. He is a good speaker of the Cappadocian dialect (Misti variety) and tells us about his grandfather, his tasks in the fields and watermelon production. When his grandfather came to Greece, agricultural work was very hard since there were no machines, cars or irrigation systems. The grandfather's connection to nature and his cultivation was so strong that he used to speak to his plants, believing they could become more productive. He advised his grandson to do the same in his future life as a farmer. The forefathers of our interlocutor came from Misti village (Konaklı, Niğde Province, Turkey) in Cappadocia and within the framework of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923 they settled in Neo Agioneri (Kilkis regional unit, Greece), where most of them switched to the Standard Greek language. The village of Neo Agioneri is famous in the region for its agricultural cultivation, especially watermelon production.

Cite as: Mi ða fitá na g'æladʒévis - Speaking with the plants. Narrative in Cappadocian Greek, Misti Variety; performer: Panagiotis Giltidis; interview/transcription/translation: Thede Kahl, Sotirios Rousiakis; editor: Valentina Paul; retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID: capp1239GRV0016a

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The Commission Vanishing Languages and Cultural Heritage (VLACH) aims to contribute to the academic knowledge of the world’s linguistic diversity by investigating nondocumented and lesser-documented languages and varieties. VLACH is committed to develop strategies of language maintenance and to nurture cultural heritage in close collaboration with the diverse communities involved in the VLACH projects.

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Видео Speaking with the plants – Cappadocian Greek Collection канала Vanishing Languages and Cultural Heritage