Can anyone here give me some insight into the Pontic dialect in relation to what is spoken today in say Athens or Thessaloniki?
I have too often seen it likened to Cypriote and wondered if those who state this to me are correct.
Please bear in mind that I have little frame of reference myself and only family antecdotal stories of my grandparents from Trebizond teasing my mother (from Karpenisi) over her pronunciations.
Thanks

Their pronunciation reminds me more of Russian, than Cupriote. Cypriote are somehow monotonous, while Pontiaka are more wild and melodious simultaneously.

It is a much different dialect. I come from Northern Greece and when Pontians speak their dialect I cannot understand them! I love their dialect and also their dances. I don't agree that Pontic dialect has anything to do with Russian.

ΤΑ ΠΟΝΤΙΑΚΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΠΟΛΥ ΚΟΝΤΑ ΣΤΗ ΓΛΩΣΣΑ ΠΟΥ ΜΙΛΟΥΣΑΝ ΣΤΟ ΒΥΖΑΝΤΙΟ. ΕΧΟΥΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΛΛΕΣ ΤΟΥΡΚΙΚΕΣ ΛΕΞΕΙΣ. Η ΠΡΟΦΟΡΑ ΤΟΥΣ ΔΕΝ ΕΧΕΙ ΣΧΕΣΗ ΜΕ ΤΑ ΡΩΣΙΚΑ. ΜΟΙΑΖΟΥΝ ΛΙΓΟ ΜΕ ΤΑ ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΑ.

Pontic dialect is much softer than the Cypriot, does not have the extended -n at the end of a male or neutral accusative and moreover in Pontic the pronunciation of "dhelta" (dh) is not pronounced as "th" (as Cypriots pronounce it). One common element between two dialects is the pronounciation of a definite form of "s". In some words appears the pronounciation "sh" (e.g. Hashemenos=Shy), which should be product of contact with the turkish environment. I would not agree in any way with George saying that there is relevence to Russian. He might be fooled by the existence in Modern Greece of many refugees speaking both Russian and Pontic.

Thank you, Nikolaos

This seems (or feels) to me some good insight. As one who was forced into Erasmus's pronounciation in college, and being a third generation "Greek"-American who is challenged still with modern Greek, I am still trying to get a "handle" as they say on what would be most acceptable to learn. Of course I guess I could just learn to speak as those around me do <grin>.
As I attend a Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church I noted that the Ruthenian dialect they use (it seems a softer version than the more gutteral Russian) could be viewed as somewhat Greek-like from my memories of my grandparents speech - hence the Russian analogy might still hold true.