language
The Greek language got a different personality in Paxoi and new rules were introduced into Grammar. The vocabulary is enriched by many Homeric, Phoenician, Ancient Greek, Byzantine, Venetian (the majority), French and English words, some in their original form and some corrupted or Hellenicised.
What is most intriguing is the discovery of some words in the dialect of Paxoi that exist in the vocabularies of distant and dead languages. For instance, the word kousouri, that means basket, sounds like the word kousourou in Quechua and kaser in Sumerian, meaning the exact same thing.
The "Vendario of Words from Paxoi", includes a rather large recording of local words, as well as elements of the idiomatic grammar. What is most characteristic is the "singing" way in which the natives speak. It's similar to that of Corfu, but the difference lies in the fact that in Paxoi it is the end of the word that's stressed, while in Corfu it is the middle.
proverbs
Short phrases, usually in verse rendering them easy to remember, with a metaphorical sense, containing an advice based on the people's observations. Some of them are:
- If the thunder is loud, rain is soon to come.
- The early bird catches the worm.
- Double or nothing.
- Like father like son.
- I am my father's son.
- Not all bumblebees make honey.
- Eat shit and die.
- He's looking for a needle in the haystack.
oaths
The invocation upon something sacred to render them credible. Some of them are:
- By today!
- I hope that my mother kisses me on my deathbed!
- By the bones I have buried!
- By the holy body!
- By the sea I whip!
- I swear to eat my bones!
curses
Some indicative curses are:
- I hope he has my need!
- I curse him to die alone and with no children!
- I hope he has a sad Easter!
- I hope he drowns!
- I hope he gets burnt in the hearth!
- Roubararoum! (Ashes and Gunpowder)
wishes
Some indicative wishes are:
- Allagramente! (I wish you a quick recovery)
- Kala skarikia! (I wish you good news)
- Kai sa! (God grant)
- Kai ts'apodelpose! (And for the others as well)
- Good absolution! Godspeed! Kali tzornada! (Have a good day's pay)
- I wish you sons!
- Live long and prosper!
greetings
Some indicative greetings are:
- Good morning, sire.
- Good day, my lord.
- You are welcome like the New Year.
- Have a good dawn.
- Kali sorte (Good luck)
exclamatory remarks
Some of them are:
- Agia Agathi voitha! (Help me, Sta. Agatha!) -when it thunders.
- O Christos! (Jesus Christ!)
- Panayia prokame! (Holy Mary!)
names (typical ones)
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UP TO 1900 |
AFTER 1900 |
UP TO 1900 |
AFTER 1900 |
| Antzouleta
Aretousa Assimina Avgerini Avelina Alpani Andromahi Verginia Veriggo Vieno Genovefa Despopoula Dialechti Zaharenia Ioustina Katoteroutza Kondylo Leneta Manto Mareta Milieta Djougana Olvia Pitilia Rigina Rozina Slefi Soussani Syrmo Fano Fenia Fortunata Fylo Chronia |
Agaloula Aggelorma Alkmini Alpani Anthoula Aspasia Valentini Vergo Yieyia Gkina Gkiovina Diamanto Diono Hellas Erriketi Ivi Iro Thekli Thiressia Thelxiopi Klimentini Kondylenia Laide Lydia Manolada Niovi Nitokri Xanthippi Pothiti Terezina Tzoulieta Fereniki Filomila Oraiozili |
Alivizis Alfredos Vitzos Voulgaris Gennaios Gerolymos Damaskis Dimakis Doulos Zissimos Theofilis Karlos Kekos Laskaris Livieris Mastrakas Menardis Mikelis Batistas Benos Dzanis Pantazis Pandolfos Paoulis Pantoleon Pieros Polymeris Simos Savvas Fragkos Frantzeskos Fokion |
Alkis Armandos Andrianos Alkiviadis Aimilianos Vissarion Vikentios Dysilios Epameinondas Iakovos Iasson Iossif Iraklis Theofrastos Klimis Lazaros Loukas Loukianos Manthos Midianos Miltiadis Xenophon Odysseas Othonas Pelopidas Rigas Sofronis Tilemachos Tzortzis Filippos Harilaos Chryssanthos Haritos Christoforos |
nicknames
Nicknames were invented to be able to easily recognise people due to the very few different names used on the island.
They were established for the said reason, but they were made up from one's profession, from a specific trait, from the corruption of one's name, from a word one used to repeat often, from one's mother's name etc.
Some of them are:
| Agrimis Anastos Velas Vourlis Ventouris Gkanios Yierlboyias Gkiavaris Yianavris Gkiaouris Dairis Debotos Erotas Kanaletas Katsio |
Kareklas Kolokas Keramidas Kolobris Koukoumas Kouloulos Kouroupis Koutoupis Kros Liakantis Lagios Letos Lilas Birbas Boukaletos |
Bouldeonas Maniis Bourlakos Maggioros Douglis Brinios Deltsimis Xais Rapatas Remouros Robolas Perkatsis Pitsiris Potemihos Sagderos |
Sgarilios Setes Sklavounos Tziliharitzis Tsilidros Tsinis Tsouvalis Fantaina Farmakis Fakos Hassanis Hatzis Hlious Hourdis |
place-names
Some of them are:
| Ahai Azoeros Boussana Dimone Disemenou Fandou Govrena |
Haini Kiourkes Koukoueras Koutsi Lagkadia Livadi |
Malethonas Neradou Ostries Patoki Plakoti Planoi |
Roggia Sarakiniko Vigla Vontza Xanafama Yieromonahos |
