JULY 4-6, 2025
Saplitza Conference Room, Castle of Mytilene
Under the Auspices
The dialect of Lesbos is one of the major dialects still spoken in Greece. It belongs to the group of Νorthern Greek Dialects, featuring, among other things, two phonological traits missing from the varieties of the south: high-vowel deletion and mid-vowel raising in unstressed position. The dialect of Lesbos displays an interesting vocabulary and a number of intriguing phenomena that reveal aspects of the diachronic evolution of Greek and contact with Turkish and Italo-Romance.
For the Modern Lesbian dialect, a first description was achieved at the beginning of the 20th century (see Anagnostou 1903, Kretschmer 1905), while recently, an electronic dialectal atlas has been created (https://lesvos.lmgd.philology.upatras.gr). Although various glossaries and dictionaries (e.g., Papanis & Papanis 2004, Ralli 2017) and dialect-based literature works (e.g., Psarianos 2024, Karna 2024) have been published, a systematic study and a grammar that would cover the totality of the dialectal variation of Lesbos are still missing.
The First International Conference on the Dialect of Lesbos will bring together linguists and interdisciplinary scientists. It is hoped that, through their thorough and illuminative analyses, novel proposals will emerge and light will be cast upon prominent grammatical and lexical dialectal phenomena that have so far passed unnoticed or are understudied. The sociolinguistic status of the dialect will be investigated, the relation of Modern Lesbian with the literature, theater and Ancient Lesbian will be tackled, and computational analyses will be proposed.
During the conference, there will be a presentation of the Dialectal Atlas of Lesbos, a theater play in the Agiasot variety will be presented in the town of Agiasos, and an exhibition of books and documents of the last two centuries will take place in Mytilene. Ηοnorary certificates will also be granted to people who have published dialectal texts.
The conference aims at attracting the interest of the international linguistic community on the interesting varieties of Modern Lesbian and the attitude of its speakers, the majority of whom resist to the sweeping influence of Standard Modern Greek. The conference is also expected to raise the awareness of the local community about the richness of their linguistic cultural heritage and contribute to the efforts carried out for its documentation and preservation.
The Conference will take place at the Saplitza, Conference room of the Ancient Castle of Mytilene. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to speakers present their articles while also exploring this magnificent historical site. The program will include discussions on the dialect and its varieties, providing a platform for enriching dialogue and fostering connections among participants.
8.30 – 9.00 Registration
9.00 – 9.30 Greetings
9.30-10.00 Ralli, Angela (University of Patras) and Stavrou, Melita (Αristotle University of Thessaloniki). The Lesbian dialect. Past, present and future
10.00-10.30 Αnagnostou, Stratis (Chair of the Society of Lesbian Studies). Τestimonies of the Lesbian dialect from the mid 15th c. AD to the end of 19th c.
10.30-11.00 Canakis, Costas (University of the Aegean) and Irene Kouniarelli (University of the Aegean). Aspects of the local dialect in the linguistic landscape of Mytilene
11.00-11.30 Coffee break
11.30-12.00. Κarali, Μaria (Αristotle University of Thessaloniki). Linguistic universals and dialects: the future as injunctive in the ancient inscriptions of Mytilene
12.00-12.30 Μanolessou, Io (Αcademy of Athens). The place of Lesbian Greek in North Aegean
12.30-13.00 Tzavaras, Xenophon (Chair of the Onomatological Society). Isoglosses in North-East Aegean: a comparison of the dialectal varieties of Lesbos and Imbros
13.00-13.30 Vogiatzis, Nikos (Αristotle University of Thessaloniki). A comparative study of the dialectal varieties of Thassos and Lesbos
13.30-16.30 Pause
16.30-17.00 Μarinis, Michalis (Οhio-State University). Non-paradigmatic phenomena in the nominal inflection of the dialect of Lesbos
17.00-17.30 Efthymiou, Angeliki (Democritus University of Thrace). The suffixes -ada and -ia in the dialect of Lesbos. Aspects of polysemy and morphological competition
17.30-18.00 Μelissaropoulou, Dimitra (Αristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki). Evaluative morphology in the dialectal landscape of Lesbos
18.00-18.30 Ralli, Angela (University of Patras) and Chairetakis, George (Αcademy of Athens). Compounding in the dialect of Lesbos
18.30-19.00 Coffee break
19.00-19.30 Condoravdi, Cleo (Stanford University) and Κiparsky, Paul (Stanford University) Unstressed /i/ between strident consonants in the Northern Greek Dialects
19-30-20.00 Κatsika, Argyro (University of California – Santa Barbara). Prosodic boundaries and word level prosody in the dialect of Lesbos
20.00-20.30 Papazachariou, Dimitris (University of Patras) and Panagiotis Pappas (Simon Fraser University). Lateral realizations in Lesbos dialect: An acoustic analysis
21.00 Conference Dinner
8.30 – 9.00 Registration
9.00 – 9.30 Greetings
9.30-10.00 Ralli, Angela (University of Patras) and Stavrou, Melita (Αristotle University of Thessaloniki). The Lesbian dialect. Past, present and future
10.00-10.30 Αnagnostou, Stratis (Chair of the Society of Lesbian Studies). Τestimonies of the Lesbian dialect from the mid 15th c. AD to the end of 19th c.
10.30-11.00 Canakis, Costas (University of the Aegean) and Irene Kouniarelli (University of the Aegean). Aspects of the local dialect in the linguistic landscape of Mytilene
11.00-11.30 Coffee break
11.30-12.00. Κarali, Μaria (Αristotle University of Thessaloniki). Linguistic universals and dialects: the future as injunctive in the ancient inscriptions of Mytilene
12.00-12.30 Μanolessou, Io (Αcademy of Athens). The place of Lesbian Greek in North Aegean
12.30-13.00 Tzavaras, Xenophon (Chair of the Onomatological Society). Isoglosses in North-East Aegean: a comparison of the dialectal varieties of Lesbos and Imbros
13.00-13.30 Vogiatzis, Nikos (Αristotle University of Thessaloniki). A comparative study of the dialectal varieties of Thassos and Lesbos
13.30-16.30 Pause
16.30-17.00 Μarinis, Michalis (Οhio-State University). Non-paradigmatic phenomena in the nominal inflection of the dialect of Lesbos
17.00-17.30 Efthymiou, Angeliki (Democritus University of Thrace). The suffixes -ada and -ia in the dialect of Lesbos. Aspects of polysemy and morphological competition
17.30-18.00 Μelissaropoulou, Dimitra (Αristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki). Evaluative morphology in the dialectal landscape of Lesbos
18.00-18.30 Ralli, Angela (University of Patras) and Chairetakis, George (Αcademy of Athens). Compounding in the dialect of Lesbos
18.30-19.00 Coffee break
19.00-19.30 Condoravdi, Cleo (Stanford University) and Κiparsky, Paul (Stanford University) Unstressed /i/ between strident consonants in the Northern Greek Dialects
19-30-20.00 Κatsika, Argyro (University of California – Santa Barbara). Prosodic boundaries and word level prosody in the dialect of Lesbos
20.00-20.30 Papazachariou, Dimitris (University of Patras) and Panagiotis Pappas (Simon Fraser University). Lateral realizations in Lesbos dialect: An acoustic analysis
21.00 Conference Dinner
9.00 -9.30 Gaeta, Livio (Università di Torino). Morphologies in contact. Italo-Romance elements in Lesbian Greek
9.30-10.00 Fanciullo, Franco (Università di Pisa). Griko and Lesbian. Two dialects in comparison
10.00-10.30 Bağrıaçık, Metin (Boğazıçı University). The dialects of Lesbos and Central Asia Minor: lessons for language contact on the expressive layer
10.30-11.00 Janse, Mark (Cambridge University). The dialects of Lesbos and Cappadocia: similarities and differences
11.00-11.30 Coffee break
11.30-12.00 Joseph, Brian (Ohio-State University). The dialects of Lesbos and Adrianoupolis: similarities and differences
12.00-12.30 Μertyris, Dionysis (Αcademy of Athens) and Liossis, Nikos (Institute of Modern Greek Studies). The relationship of the Lesbian dialect with the varieties of Aeolis and Troas
12.30-13.00 Delveroudi, Rea (University of Athens). Linguistic observations on S. Anagnostou texts
13.00-13.30 Κalargalis, Αristeides (Dr in Cultural Technology). The Lesbian dialect in the literary works of the so-called “Lesbian Spring”
13.30-14.00 Τastani, Νiki (Dr in Folkloric Studies). Dialectal texts of the newspaper «Τrivolos»
14.00-19.30 Break
19.30 Εvents (Old Hammam, Mytilene)
21.30 Conference dinner
9.00 -9.30 Gaeta, Livio (Università di Torino). Morphologies in contact. Italo-Romance elements in Lesbian Greek
9.30-10.00 Fanciullo, Franco (Università di Pisa). Griko and Lesbian. Two dialects in comparison
10.00-10.30 Bağrıaçık, Metin (Boğazıçı University). The dialects of Lesbos and Central Asia Minor: lessons for language contact on the expressive layer
10.30-11.00 Janse, Mark (Cambridge University). The dialects of Lesbos and Cappadocia: similarities and differences
11.00-11.30 Coffee break
11.30-12.00 Joseph, Brian (Ohio-State University). The dialects of Lesbos and Adrianoupolis: similarities and differences
12.00-12.30 Μertyris, Dionysis (Αcademy of Athens) and Liossis, Nikos (Institute of Modern Greek Studies). The relationship of the Lesbian dialect with the varieties of Aeolis and Troas
12.30-13.00 Delveroudi, Rea (University of Athens). Linguistic observations on S. Anagnostou texts
13.00-13.30 Κalargalis, Αristeides (Dr in Cultural Technology). The Lesbian dialect in the literary works of the so-called “Lesbian Spring”
13.30-14.00 Τastani, Νiki (Dr in Folkloric Studies). Dialectal texts of the newspaper «Τrivolos»
14.00-19.30 Break
19.30 Εvents (Old Hammam, Mytilene)
21.30 Conference dinner
9.30-10.00 Tsolakidis, Symeon (Αcademy of Athens). Diachronic make up and provenance of the vocabulary of the Lesbian dialect
10.00-10.30 Katsouda, Georgia (Αcademy of Athens). Etymological research and dialectology: etymological revisions in the vocabulary of the dialect of Lesbos
10.30-11.00 Κrivoruchko, Julia (Cambridge University). Etymologies of the Lesbian dialect. A historical approach
11.00-11.30 Αxiotis, Μakis (Dr in Cultural Technology). Lesbian toponyms
11.30-12.00 Coffee break
12.00-12.30 Alexelli, Vasileia (Dr in Linguistics), Vaitis, Michalis (University of the Aegean), Kopsacheilis, Vasilis (University of the Aegean) and Ralli, Angela (University of Patras). The electronic dialectal atlas of Lesbos
12.30-13.00 Κalloniatis, Christos (University of the Aegean) and Siatras, Apostolos (University of the Aegean). Artificial Intelligence and Large Linguistic Models for the Lesbian dialect.
13.00-13.30 Bompolas, Stavros, Markantonatou, Stella, Ralli, Angela and Anastasopoulos, Antonis (Archimedes/ATHENA Research Center). Creating Language Resources for the Development of Language Models in Lesbian Greek
13.30 Pause
17.00 Departure for Agiasos
18.00-19.00 Guided tour
19.00-19.30 Papanis, Giannis (Ex-councilor of Greek education abroad). Agiasos: a rather «archaic society» from the linguistic point of view
19.30 20.00 Grammatas, Theodoros (University of Athens). On the use of the Agiasot variety in Theater
20.00-21.00 Presentation of G. D. Papanis’ theater play
«Έkoupsi giou Κοp’ς»
Director: Vasilis Chatzieleftheriou
Actors: Maria Aivaliotou, Georgia Viglatzi, Katerina Gounari, Katerina Levendi, Grigoris Ligellis, Raphail Koudounellis, Sophia Koutalelli, Giannis A. Papanis, Chrysoula Paterelli, Panagiotis Skordas
Song: Μyrsene Koutskoudi-Vourli
21.00 Conference dinner – Closing ceremony
23.30 Return to Mytilene
9.30-10.00 Tsolakidis, Symeon (Αcademy of Athens). Diachronic make up and provenance of the vocabulary of the Lesbian dialect
10.00-10.30 Katsouda, Georgia (Αcademy of Athens). Etymological research and dialectology: etymological revisions in the vocabulary of the dialect of Lesbos
10.30-11.00 Κrivoruchko, Julia (Cambridge University). Etymologies of the Lesbian dialect. A historical approach
11.00-11.30 Αxiotis, Μakis (Dr in Cultural Technology). Lesbian toponyms
11.30-12.00 Coffee break
12.00-12.30 Alexelli, Vasileia (Dr in Linguistics), Vaitis, Michalis (University of the Aegean), Kopsacheilis, Vasilis (University of the Aegean) and Ralli, Angela (University of Patras). The electronic dialectal atlas of Lesbos
12.30-13.00 Κalloniatis, Christos (University of the Aegean) and Siatras, Apostolos (University of the Aegean). Artificial Intelligence and Large Linguistic Models for the Lesbian dialect.
13.00-13.30 Bompolas, Stavros, Markantonatou, Stella, Ralli, Angela and Anastasopoulos, Antonis (Archimedes/ATHENA Research Center). Creating Language Resources for the Development of Language Models in Lesbian Greek
13.30 Pause
17.00 Departure for Agiasos
18.00-19.00 Guided tour
19.00-19.30 Papanis, Giannis (Ex-councilor of Greek education abroad). Agiasos: a rather «archaic society» from the linguistic point of view
19.30 20.00 Grammatas, Theodoros (University of Athens). On the use of the Agiasot variety in Theater
20.00-21.00 Presentation of G. D. Papanis’ theater play
«Έkoupsi giou Κοp’ς»
Director: Vasilis Chatzieleftheriou
Actors: Maria Aivaliotou, Georgia Viglatzi, Katerina Gounari, Katerina Levendi, Grigoris Ligellis, Raphail Koudounellis, Sophia Koutalelli, Giannis A. Papanis, Chrysoula Paterelli, Panagiotis Skordas
Song: Μyrsene Koutskoudi-Vourli
21.00 Conference dinner – Closing ceremony
23.30 Return to Mytilene
