AUTHOR=Neocleous Nicolaos , Sitaridou Ioanna 

TITLE=Word order and information structure in Romeyka

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1337962

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1337962

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=IntroductionThis study examines the organization of information structure in Romeyka, the only surviving variety of Asia Minor Greek still spoken in present-day Anatolia, Turkey. Given its historical isolation from Modern Greek and its prolonged contact with Turkish, Romeyka presents a unique linguistic environment for analyzing the structural roles of [focus] and [topic].MethodsUsing empirical data, we investigate how [focus] and [topic] are realized in Romeyka. We analyze their structural positioning within the left periphery and examine their association with an ex situ realization.ResultsOur findings indicate that [focus] and [topic] function as independent structural notions in Romeyka. Both elements are consistently positioned in the left periphery, suggesting a systematic approach to information structuring distinct from Modern Greek.DiscussionThe observed patterns provide evidence of a reorganization of information structure in Romeyka, likely influenced by its long-term linguistic isolation and contact with Turkish. Comparisons with Pontic Greek highlight both similarities and differences, offering insights into the potential contact-induced changes in Romeyka’s grammar.