The Language of Television and National Identity in Cyprus

Abstract

The present article examines the relationship between the language(s) used in television programmes on Greek-Cypriot television channels and the national or ethnic identity of Greek-Cypriots, after the Turkish invasion of 1974. In a globalising world, with Cyprus sharing in the homogenisation processes, the shift of preferences of Cyprus audiences, in the last five years, from the English-language to Greek and Cyprus productions in the Greek Demotic and the Cyprus Dialect (broadcast in complementary or even competitive relationships), present interesting insights into the connection of television language with the national or ethnic identity of Greek-Cypriots. The article also renders further evidence that the notion of nationhood fading away into globalising processes, is not only premature, but in the case of Cyprus, quite unrealistic, as indigenous territorial, political and national problematics, illustrate the particular complexities existing in the globalisation processes which are universally developing today.