"English is always found at the top of the pyramid, whereas home languages are rarely given any value – unless, of course, they happen to be one of the prestigious western European languages like French[, ]German or Spanish."
Great article @pkaratsareas!https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/fragile-future-cypriot-greek-language-uk …
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"[In] Cyprus, Standard Greek [is] the official language, the high variety used in education, administration, and formal media. Cypriot Greek, the local vernacular, is the low variety that is [...] as a first language, but which is only [acceptable for] everyday communication."
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"Speakers of Cypriot Greek report that they perceive speakers of Standard Greek as more intelligent, more educated, politer and more modern [&] they associate Cypriot Greek with a rural way of life and a low level of education. Some even consider it an ‘incorrect’ language."
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‘When I was in the first grade, one day I was late and there was no chair for me to sit. I said to the teacher, “I don’t have a tsaéra [Cypriot Greek for ‘chair’].” The teacher gave me a nasty look. [...] I realised I did not speak correctly, I spoke in a mistaken way.’
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Wow — my life. I grew up in Cyprus though. But this all rings true for both communities, even though as the article says it's in some ways worse in the paroikia. 
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