English as Lingua Franca in Cyprus after 2003: Questions of identity

• Thesis title in Czech: Angličtina jako lingua franca na Kypru po roce 2003: otázky identity
• Thesis title in English: English as Lingua Franca in Cyprus after 2003: Questions of identity
• Key words: jazyk|dialekt|identita|Kypr|formování národa|vzdělání|angličtina|lingua franca|jazyková politika|multilingvismus|bilingvismus
• English key words: language|dialect|identity|Cyprus|nation-building|education|English|Lingua Franca|language policy|multilingualism|bilingualism
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2015/2016
• Thesis type: diploma thesis
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Institute of General History (21-USD)
• Supervisor: Mgr. Jaroslav Ira, Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned and confirmed by the Study Dept.
• Date of registration: 25.05.2016
• Date of assignment: 25.05.2016
• Administrator's approval: not processed yet
• Confirmed by Study dept. on: 24.06.2016
• Date and time of defence: 16.06.2017 09:00
• Date of electronic submission: 17.05.2017
• Date of proceeded defence: 16.06.2017
• Submitted/finalized: committed by worker on behalf on and finalized
• Opponents: Gábor Czoch

Guidelines

This thesis will study the role of language education in the construction of the Cypriot identities. It is proposed that there are two Cypriot identities that are being promoted by the state: 1) The identity promoted by the Republic of Cyprus; 2) The identity promoted by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The question of identity in Cyprus has always been complex: Cyprus is a multilingual island with multi-ethnic people, which has been divided into two parts fourteen years after its independence in 1960. Political and ethnical division of Cyprus now constitutes a linguistic division as well.
This thesis will explore the role of English language as “lingua franca” in Cyprus since 2003, when the check-points were opened. It aims to investigate whether or not there is any cooperation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots as regards formation of a new Cypriot identity via the education. It will ask whether English language is becoming the second language of Cypriots. English is being used as lingua franca in many countries and continents, especially in the former colonies of Great Britain, including Cyprus. What makes Cypriot case specific, however, is the fact that Cyprus is situated in Europe and, moreover, is member of the European Union, in which English as a global language plays an important role.
This thesis will use school curriculums, language policy papers, annual reports on language education, and the European Union reports on foreign language education as the primary sources. The changes in language education that aimed at creation of a common identity in Cyprus are investigated. The thesis will provide the socio-political analysis of historical background of Cyprus, as well as the overview of the multi- and bi-lingual past of Cyprus and the explanation of its linguistic division. Theoretical part will discuss from the linguistic perspective links between language, dialect, identity, and nationalism. Last not least, the thesis will also deal with the European dimension of the issue and the challenge of multilingualism and making of broader identities at both Cypriot and EU level.

References

Primary Sources

School curriculums of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and The Republic of Cyprus form 2003 to 2016.
The Comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus Problem, 31 March 2004 (Annan plan that was taken to referendum).
Ministry of Education and Culture, Cyprus, Language Education Policy Profile, April 2004.
Europeans and Their languages, EU report, June 2012.
Annual Reports on education (2003-2016), submitted by the Ministry of Education, the Republic of Cyprus.
Reports and policy papers related to language education in North or South Cyprus.

Secondary sources

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