Kohẓen is an independent project dedicated to documenting and helping preserve Cypriot Arabic (Sanna), a severely endangered variety of Arabic traditionally spoken by Cyprus’ Maronite community.
Through recordings, transliteration, English translation and cultural context, the project seeks to make this distinctive linguistic inheritance more visible, audible and accessible.
What is Cypriot Arabic?
Cypriot Arabic, also known as Cypriot Maronite Arabic, developed in Cyprus over centuries and has been shaped by sustained contact with Cypriot Greek.
Traditionally associated with the village of Kormakitis (Kormajit), but also spoken across Maronite communities in Cyprus, Sanna has carried everyday conversation, family memories, humour, songs and the experiences of generations of speakers.
Its preservation is inseparable from the community that has maintained it. Cypriot Maronite history, traditions and cultural memory therefore remain essential to Kohẓen’s work.
Our purpose and approach
Kohẓen’s principal mission is the documentation and preservation of Cypriot Arabic (Sanna).
Our current work brings together selected recordings, working transliterations, English translations, source information and cultural context.
We aim to develop this work through the participation of speakers and families, with appropriate permissions, linguistic guidance and transparent acknowledgement of uncertainties.
The longer-term ambition is to contribute useful, accessible documentation that supports future research, learning and community-led language preservation.
Kohẓen is an independently developing project, not currently a formal archive, charity or research institution. We welcome opportunities to work alongside community initiatives, researchers and organisations interested in endangered languages and Arabic linguistic heritage.
قوة الذهن | The Power of the Mind
The name Kohẓen draws inspiration from the Arabic expression قوة الذهن (quwwat al-dhihn), meaning “the power of the mind.”
For Kohẓen, this reflects the power of memory to preserve language, stories and cultural knowledge across generations. It’s a fitting expression for our work documenting Cypriot Arabic (Sanna) and the heritage it carries.
The name also reflects the family roots of Kohẓen’s founder, JP Kozah.
Founder
Kohẓen was founded by JP Kozah, who was born in London to a Lebanese father and a Cypriot Maronite mother.
A graduate of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter, JP has a professional background spanning education, mental health, social care and nonprofit business development.
His personal heritage, academic background and professional experience inform his approach to developing Kohẓen as a credible and sustainable heritage project.
Collaborate or contribute
We welcome introductions to Cypriot Arabic speakers, family recordings, linguistic expertise, archival sources, corrections and opportunities for research or funding collaboration.