Pontic Greek is a dialect of Greek that originated in the Pontus region, which is located along the northeastern coast of modern-day Turkey, near the Black Sea. It was historically spoken by the Pontic Greeks, an ethnic Greek population that lived in the area for centuries before being displaced due to events such as the Greek-Turkish population exchange of 1923. Here are some key aspects of the dialect:

1. Origins and History

• Pontic Greek descends from Ancient Greek, particularly from the Ionic and Koine Greek varieties.
• Due to the region’s long history of Greek settlement, the dialect preserves many archaic features not found in Standard Modern Greek.
• It has been influenced by languages like Turkish, Laz, Armenian, and Persian due to contact with neighboring communities.

2. Linguistic Features

• Phonetics & Phonology: Pontic Greek retains some sounds that were lost in Standard Modern Greek. For example, it often preserves the ancient Greek pronunciation of certain consonants.
• Grammar: It has different verb conjugations and noun declensions compared to Standard Modern Greek.
• Vocabulary: Many words in Pontic Greek come from Ancient Greek but also include borrowings from Turkish and other regional languages.

3. Geographical Distribution

• Today, Pontic Greek is mainly spoken by descendants of Pontic Greeks in Greece (especially in northern regions like Macedonia and Thrace), as well as in the Pontic Greek diaspora (Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, and the U.S.).
• Some small communities in Turkey still speak a variety of Pontic Greek, especially in isolated mountain villages.

4. Cultural Aspects

• Pontic Greeks have a rich cultural tradition, including unique folk music, dances (such as the serra and tik dances), and storytelling traditions.
• The dialect has been used in poetry, folk songs, and even modern plays and literature.

5. Current Status

• Pontic Greek is classified as an endangered language since most younger generations tend to speak Standard Greek instead.
• Efforts have been made to preserve it through academic research, cultural associations, and online resources.