The Griko Language The Italian Parliament recognised the Greek community in as a distinct ethnic group and a linguistic minority called “Grica linguistic minority of the Grico-salentino ethnic group”. is part of GRECIA SALENTINA, a countries association where many people speak griko

• (Kaliméra) • Castrignano dei Greci (Kastriniána) • Corigliano d’ (Choriána) • (Martána) • (Martiniána) • (Lipiniána) • (Sulítu) • Sternatìa (Chóra) • (Tsuddhínu) The Municipality of Sternatia has started a series of activities aimed at the preservation of the precious language tradition of which some of the local people are repositories: the GRIKO LANGUAGE. The aims are:

 to widen the knowledge of Griko, by reachining parts of the population which were once excluded;  to pass this tradition on to the new generations;  to avoid its extinction. Sternatia gives great importance to traditional heritage represented by Griko music, songs and poetry, organizing artistic events. Being an oral tradition, the only possibility for the Griko culture to survive relies on the action of all those who want to trascribe it in writing. GRIKO ENGLISH

Ùmme Yes Denghie No Kalime`ra Good Morning Kalini`fta Good Night Stasu kalo` (to a male), Stasu kali` (to a female), Stasi`te(sta) kali` (to a Good Bye group) Haristo` Thank You Prakalo` Please As kalo` Best Wishes Kalombra`i Good Evening Kalo`s i`rte (to a male), Kali` irte (to a female), Kalo`s i`rtate (or Kalo`s Welcome i`rtato) (to a group) Atteporna` (or Arteporna`) This Morning Artevvra`i This Evening Tuni'fta Last Night La mia felicità I màli charàmmu My happiness

Nel sereno roseo mattino 'S t'òrrio pornò àspro-rodinò In the quiet rosy morning il sole possente o mèan ìjo the powerful splendido poddhì kama spittarìzzi, splendid sun ascende lento ‘s tin anghèra satìa satìa nnènni slowly rises e il placido mare ce e quèta tàlassa and lights di fulgide stelle ze astèria ‘gomònni the unruffled sea accende. ka lamparìzzune ze àspri With twinkling stars. lumèra. Esulta il cuore mio My heart rejoices nella corsa veloce Cherète e kardìamu In the fast race sulla rotta di sfolgoranti stelle ce trèchonta ‘pài In the wake of sparkling che la mia veloce barca pànu i stra’ z'àstèria cha stars nel mare profondo lustrèune Which my fast boat spegne. ka i bàrchamu fèonta In the deep sea 'kàu 's ti tàlassa Extinguishes. Stelle sul mare 'sbìnni. la mia felicità? Stars above the sea, Astèria mmes to nnerò My happiness? In alto, e màli charàmmu? lontano e nel cuore, Above, il sole! Pànu, Far-away yet in my heart, làrga ce 's ti kardìa' The Sun! on ìjo!

Ernesto Aprile has written a number of folk plays and poems in Griko published in Italian and Greek magazines and texts.