‘Asserting the dignity of our words’: envisioning Cypriotness through local vernaculars

While language is widely recognized as one of the elements upon which nations have been built, emphasis has been placed on codified languages, rather than the uncodified vernacular spoken within a particular territory. Drawing on thematic analysis of qualitative surveys and political documents, this paper examines how Cypriot Greek, a local language variety, is claimed by counter-hegemonic perspectives in Cyprus to foster a sense of collective belonging designating the island as an independent cultural entity. By highlighting how such perspectives challenge the hegemony of Greek Cypriot nationalism, the paper underlines that uncodified vernaculars can shape senses of national belonging.