A comparative study of the phenomenon of false friends in SMG and CSG

Resumen

The present dissertation examines the phenomenon of false friends presenting the evolution of research regarding the same, the theoretical background (definition, linguistic levels involved, total vs. partial, reasons of emergence, the mechanism of borrowing and its importance, etc.) and the practical side of problems caused in communication due to their existence. The aim of the dissertation is not only to present false friends as a linguistic occurrence between languages (interlinguistic false friends) and its many facets, but mainly in delimitating the existence of false friends at the intralinguistic level, namely between varieties of the same language. The thesis presents the specialized case of false friends between two varieties of Modern Greek, i.e. Standard Modern Greek (SMG) and Cypriot (Standard) Greek. The first variety is used in Greece whereas the second in Cyprus and the sociolinguistic situation that characterizes the two varieties is described, in order to clarify the lack of awareness as regards the existence of the phenomenon. Apart from the theoretical background for the phenomenon and the specifics of the specific intralinguistic faux amis, hte thesis boasts the presentation and analysis of 194 false friends between the two varieties of Mordern Greek. The 194 pairs appear as lemmas in Greek accompanied by phonetic transcription, exclusive SMG or C(S)G meanings, as well as common meanings (where there are), real examples of usage in the Cypriot context and an analysis that attempts to explain their provenance and relation.