Page Type: languageTsakonian | Ethnologue

TSD ISO 639-3

Tsakonian

A language of Greece

ISO 639
tsd
Alternate Names
Tsakonia
Population
1,500 (2010 M. Kisilier).
Location:
Peloponnese region: Arkadia regional unit, Leonidio and Prastos towns; Kastanitsa, Melana, Pramatefti, Sapounakeika, Sitena, and Tyros villages.
Language Status
8a (Moribund).
Classification
Indo-European, Greek, Doric
Dialects
Northern Tsakonian (Kastanista-Sitena), Southern Tsakonian (Leonidio-Prastos), Propontis Tsakonian (Vatka-Havoutsi). Southern Tsakonian has at least four subdialects: Prastos-Agios Andreas, Tyros-Sapounakeika, Melana-Pramatefti, and Vaskina. Tsakonian was derived from the Doric dialect spoken in Lakonia by ancient Spartans. Northern and Southern are reportedly mutually intelligible, but Propontis was more distinct, and more similar to standard Greek [ell]. Not inherently intelligible with modern Greek (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977). Lexical similarity: 70% or less with standard Greek [ell].
Language Use
Monolinguals existed in 1927. Few use Northern dialect. Most use Southern Tsakonian. Propontis Tsakonian has had no remaining speakers since 1970. Older adults only. Shifted to Greek [ell].
Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar.
Other Comments
Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Peloponnese region: Arkadia regional unit, Leonidio and Prastos towns; Kastanitsa, Melana, Pramatefti, Sapounakeika, Sitena, and Tyros villages.