The importance of maintaining the Greek language in Canada as a carrier of
Greek culture is underlined. It is noted, however, that maintaining Greek
should not lead to the ghettoisation of the Greek community.
RES.: How important is the preservation of the Greek
language for you?
AN.: To be honest... we always say that we have to
preserve our language. First comes the language and then the other things
follow... Oh no, it must be kept. The Greek language must be kept. Βut
wherever we live, it should be preserved without creating a ghetto. We should
not be cut off from the society here.
RES.: So, do you think that knowledge of Greek is an
asset or a barrier to the Canadian society?
AN.: Ass… uhh... an asset. But we should not make it
an obstacle. That is, not to… not to create a ghetto, saying that we are the
Greeks, the best people of the world, we have the best language, and so on.
We have to get assimilated here but we have to keep our tongue. Our children
have been assimilated now even though they speak Greek, their generation at
least. The next generation will stop speaking Greek and it will be completely
assimilated. That’s it...
RES.: Yes.
AN.: This is a fact.
RES.: But why do you think it is important to keep
our language?
AN.: Look (Laughing). This is what I'm fighting for.
I am chairman of the organizing committee of our schools. We collect two
hundred and two hundred fifty thousand dollars a year to give to schools. We
have to keep our language because the Greek civilization originates from the
language. And if you do not know the language, you cannot get to know the
Greek culture.
