PETER MACKRIDGE
St. Cross College Oxford
The majority of ethnic Greeks who are leaving the Soviet Union in order to settle in Greece are Pontians. These people originate from the eastern half of the southern shores of the Black Sea. This article attempts to deal briefly (a) with the relationship of their dialect with other varieties of Greek and (b) with the question whether Pontic is a dialect of Greek or a separate language. The conclusion drawn is that Pontic is a modern Greek dialect, albeit far removed from today's standard language, and that those who are involved in teaching standard Greek to Soviet Pontian immigrants in Greece would be assisted in their task if they bore in mind the similarities and differences between these two versions of Greek rather than teaching the standard language as if it were a totally foreign language.
Πηγή: Oxford Journals