Editing Pomaks (section)

== Language ==
{{main|Pomak language}}
There is no specific Pomak dialect of the Bulgarian language. Within Bulgaria, the Pomaks speak almost the same dialects as those spoken by the Christian Bulgarians with which they live side by side and Pomaks living in different regions speak different dialects.<ref>Bulgarian dialectology; Stoyan Stoykov; 4th edition, 2002; [http://www.kroraina.com/knigi/jchorb/st/st_2_b_izt_3.htm p.128]</ref> In Bulgaria there is a trend for dialects to give way to the standard Bulgarian language and this is also affecting the dialects spoken by the Pomaks and their usage is now rare in urban areas and among younger people. As part of the wider Pomak community, the [[Torbeshi]] and [[Gorani people|Gorani]] in North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo speak [[Macedonian dialects|Macedonian]] or [[Torlakian dialect]]s (incl. the [[Gora dialect]]),<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WiijLleylbEC&pg=PA221 Yearbook of Muslims in Europe], Jorgen S. Nielsen, Samim Akgönül, Ahmet Alibasic, BRILL, 2009, {{ISBN|90-04-17505-9}}, p. 221.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=yuh2NebIN3oC&pg=PR15 The Albanian Question: Reshaping The Balkans], James Pettifer, Miranda Vickers, I.B.Tauris, 2007, {{ISBN|1-86064-974-2}}, p. XV.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=u9Lq_8Ozf5cC&pg=PA1517 Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: L-R], James Minahan, {{ISBN|0-313-31617-1}}, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002, p. 1517.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=jIoKMGRHxn4C&pg=PA75 Balkan Idols: Religion and Nationalism in Yugoslav States Religion and Global Politics], Vjekoslav Perica, Oxford University Press, 2004, {{ISBN|0-19-517429-1}}, p. 75.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5naHA3N3tXoC&pg=PA97 Culture and Learning in Islam Different Aspects of Islamic Culture], Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, UNESCO, 2003, {{ISBN|92-3-103909-1}}, pp. 96–98.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ppbuavUZKEwC&pg=PA208 Who Are the Macedonians?] Hugh Poulton, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2000, {{ISBN|1-85065-534-0}}, p. 208.</ref> which are sometimes also considered to be part of the "wider [[Bulgarian dialects|Bulgarian dialect continuum]]".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ppbuavUZKEwC&pg=PA116 Who are the Macedonians?], Hugh Poulton, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2000, {{ISBN|1-85065-534-0}}, p. 116.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=EnEFNOcYIrUC&pg=PA281 When languages collide: perspectives on language conflict, language competition, and language coexistence, Brian D. Joseph, Ohio State University Press, 2003, p. 281], {{ISBN|0-8142-0913-0}}.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=9IbgsDdeVxsC&pg=PA205 Albania: from anarchy to a Balkan identity], Miranda Vickers, James Pettifer, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 1997, {{ISBN|1-85065-279-1}}, p. 205.</ref>

Most Pomaks speak some of the Eastern Bulgarian dialects, mainly the [[Rup dialects]] in Southern Bulgaria and the [[Balkan dialects]] in Northern Bulgaria. The Pomaks living in the Bulgarian part of the Rhodopes speak the Rhodope (especially the [[Smolyan dialect|Smolyan]], [[Chepino dialect|Chepino]], [[Hvoyna dialect|Hvoyna]] and [[Zlatograd dialect|Zlatograd]] subdialects) and Western Rup (especially the [[Babyak dialect|Babyak]] and [[Ser-Drama-Lagadin-Nevrokop dialect|Gotse Delchev]] sub-dialects) dialects.<ref>Bulgarian dialectology; Stoyan Stoykov; 4th edition, 2002; [http://www.kroraina.com/knigi/jchorb/st/st_2_b_izt_3.htm pp.128–143]</ref> The Smolyan dialect is also spoken by the Pomaks living in the Western Thrace region of Greece. The Pomaks living in the region of Teteven in Northern Bulgaria speak the Balkan dialect, specifically the Transitional Balkan sub-dialect.<ref>Bulgarian dialectology; Stoyan Stoykov; 4th edition, 2002; [http://www.kroraina.com/knigi/jchorb/st/st_2_b_izt_2.htm pp.117–118]</ref> The Rup dialects of the Bulgarian language spoken in [[Western Thrace]] are called in Greece [[Pomak language]] (Pomaktsou). Similar to [[Paulician dialect]], it has words and resemblance to the grammatical forms of the [[Armenian language]]<ref name="Selian"/>

The Pomak language is taught at primary school level (using the Greek alphabet) in the Pomak regions of Greece, which are primarily in the [[Rhodope Mountains]]. The Pomaks of Thrace were, together with Turks and Roma, exempted from the population exchanges provided by the [[Lausanne Treaty]] (1923). The treaty made no mention of their language, but declared that their languages of education should be Turkish and Greek. The main school manual used for the teaching the language is 'Pomaktsou' by Moimin Aidin and Omer Hamdi, Komotini 1997. There is also a Pomak-Greek dictionary by Ritvan Karahodja, 1996. The Pomak dialects are on the Eastern side of the [[Yat border|Yat isogloss]] of Bulgarian, yet many pockets of western Bulgarian speakers remain.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} A large number of them no longer transmit it; they have adopted Turkish as a first language and Greek as a second language.<ref>Adamou E. & Drettas G. 2008, Slave, Le patrimoine plurilingue de la Grèce – Le nom des langues II, E. Adamou (éd.), BCILL 121, Leuven, Peeters, p. 107-132.</ref> Recently the Community of the Pomaks of Xanthi, has announced its request to be treated equally and therefore to have the right of education in Greek schools without the obligation of learning the Turkish language.<ref>Demetriou, Olga (January 2004). "Prioritizing 'ethnicities': The uncertainty of Pomak-ness in the urban Greek Rhodoppe". ''Ethnic and Racial Studies'' (27)., pg. 105–108 [https://web.archive.org/web/20110904202442/http://www.azinlikca.net/pdfs/thesis/The_uncertainty_of_Pomakness_in_the_urban_Greek_Rhodoppe.pdf]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.xronos.gr/detail.php?ID=53798 |title=An article in the Greek Newspaper ''Xronos'', printed 17.03.2010 |access-date=28 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928035814/http://www.xronos.gr/detail.php?ID=53798 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>