Language contact today: the case of the Muslim minority in northeastern Greece

Abstract

The Greek Muslim minority — comprising Turkish Speakers of Turkish origin, Pomak Speakers of Pomak origin, and Romany Speakers of Romany origin — is a typical example of an officially recognized homogeneous religious minority that is rather heterogeneous asfar as language, nationality, and geographic distribution are concerned. These multiethnic andmultilingual characteristics make this minority extremely interesting from a sociocultural and sociolinguistic point ofview. Although most are monolinguals, the majority actually live in an accelerating bilingual Situation. Not all of them, however, have the opportunity to promote their respective languages. Although the sociolinguistic Situation of the Greek Muslim minority seems balanced and stable, anything is possible in this ideologically sensitive geographical area. Manyfactors could jeopardize relations among the different Muslim groups as well as between minority members and their Christian compatriots.