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Encyclopedia > Italian dialects

The Italian people generally indicates as Italian dialects all vernacular idioms spoken in Italy other than Italian and other recognized languages. As a rule of thumb, all Romance languages spoken in Italy are customarily termed as dialects.[citation needed] However, Ethnologue, the registrar of the ISO 639-3 recognises them as languages of Italy[1]. Languages Italian, Sicilian, Neapolitan, Corsican, Sardinian, Emiliano-Romagnolo, Ligurian, Lombard, Piedmontese, Venetian, Ladin, Friulian Religions predominantly Roman Catholic      The Italians are a Southern European ethnic group found primarily in Italy and in a wide-ranging diaspora throughout Western Europe, the Americas and Australia. ... Look up Vernacular in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... An idiom is an expression (i. ... The Romance languages, also called Romanic languages, are a subfamily of the Italic languages, specifically the descendants of the Vulgar Latin dialects spoken by the common people evolving in different areas after the break-up of the Roman Empire. ... ISO 639-3 is an international standard for language codes. ...

Languages and dialects of Italy
Languages and dialects of Italy

Contents

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 514 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (814 × 950 pixel, file size: 297 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Map of italian dialect. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 514 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (814 × 950 pixel, file size: 297 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Map of italian dialect. ...

Origin of Italian dialects

Many Italian regions already had a different substratum before the conquest of the Italy by the Romans: Northern Italy had a Celtic substratum (this part of Italy was known as Gallia Cisalpina, Gallia on this side of the Alps), a Ligurian substratum, or a Venetic substratum. Central Italy had an Etruscan substratum, and the Southern Italy had an Italic or Greek substratum. All of that began as a diversification between the way to speak Latin (the official language of the Empire). This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Venetic is an extinct Indo-European language that was spoken in ancient times in the Veneto region of Italy, between the Po River delta and the southern fringe of the Alps. ...


Due to the long history of separation in many small states and colonization by foreign powers (especially France, Spain and Austria-Hungary) that Italy went through since the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the Italian unification in 1861, there has been ample opportunity for linguistic diversification. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus The Western Roman Empire in 395. ... Year 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...


However, most states used either the colonial language as the official one, or Latin in the case of independent Italian states (such as the Vatican). Rarely was the local vernacular used in official documents, and as such a formal grammar for most vernaculars was usually not established. Private citizens who could write would use vernacular as an informal way to write notes, as Leonardo da Vinci did, using Latin instead for more important publications. For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... “Da Vinci” redirects here. ...


The question of synthesising an Italian language from the various dialects was the main goal in the life of Alessandro Manzoni, who advocated to build a national language mainly on the Florence vernacular, that had gained prestige since Dante Alighieri had used it in his Divina Commedia. Alessandro Manzoni Alessandro Francesco Tommaso Manzoni (March 7, 1785–May 22, 1873) was an Italian poet and novelist. ... This article is about the city in Italy. ... Dante in a fresco series of famous men by Andrea del Castagno, ca. ... ...


It would therefore be a mistake to use the expression "Dialects of Italian", since they did not derive from Italian, but straight from spoken Latin, often termed Vulgar Latin: it was Italian that derived from dialects, not the other way around. Vulgar Latin, as in this political graffito at Pompeii, was the speech of ordinary people of the Roman Empire — different from the classical Latin used by the Roman elite. ...


Dialects remained the common parlance of the population until about the 1950s. With progressive increases in literacy, standard Italian became gradually accepted as the national language. Until World War II people of lower classes, who could not afford schooling or simply had no use for a national language, continued to use their own dialects in their daily lives. It is probably in this period that the stigma against using dialects in public arose, since it was a sign of low social status. This does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the ability to read and write. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Social stigma is severe social disapproval of personal characteristics or beliefs that are against cultural norms. ... Social status is the honor or prestige attached to ones position in society (ones social position). ...


Current usage

The solution to the so-called language question that had troubled Manzoni so much came from television. Its widespread adoption as most popular appliance in houses was the single main factor in helping Italians learn the national language. Roughly in the same period, many southerners moved to the north to find jobs. The powerful trade unions, to maintain the workers united, successfully campaigned against the usage of dialects: this allowed southerners, whose dialects were not mutually intelligible with the northerners', to integrate using Standard Italian. The large amount of mixed marriages, especially in large industrial cities as Milan and Turin, resulted in a generation that could confidentially speak only Standard Italian, and normally only understand some of their parents' dialects. A trade union or labor union is an organization of workers. ... A pair of languages is said to be mutually intelligible if speakers of one language can readily understand the other language. ... In the Roman Catholic Church, a mixed marriage is a marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic. ... For other uses, see Milan (disambiguation). ... “Torino” redirects here. ...


As a result of these phenomena, dialects in Italy stand stronger in the South (where no immigration occurred), in rural areas (where there has been less blending and less influence from trade unions), among older generations. Being unable to speak Italian still carries a stigma, and even strongly pro-dialect political forces such as the Northern League rarely resort to anything else than Standard Italian to write or speak publicly.


Dialects of Italian and dialects of Italy

Dialects of Italian are regional varieties, more commonly and more accurate referred to as Regional Italian(s), with features of all sorts, most notably phonological and lexical, percolating from the underlying dialects. Tuscan, and Central Italian in general, are in some respects not distant from Italian in linguistic features, due to Italian's history as derived from a somewhat polished form of Florentine. Nevertheless, the traditional speech of Tuscany is rightly viewed as a collection of Dialects of Italy. The same categorization is true for well-known languages such as Neapolitan, Sicilian, and Gallo-Italian languages which show considerable differences in grammar, syntax and vocabulary, as also for the least-known language of the smallest town. Unfortunately, in Italian these two different definitions are often expressed with the same term "Dialetti italiani" leading to the conviction that all of them are varieties of standard italian (e.g. Venetian language has a very different grammar from Italian, still it is popularly held by some to be a variety derived from standard italian). The "dialects of Italy" should thus be considered distinct languages in their own right, and actually are assigned to separate branches on the Romance language family tree by Ethnologue and other academic works. For historical, cultural and political reasons, these idioms have not yet been given an official status, nor have they developed a unified written standard. Sardinian, Ladin and Friulian are, somewhat arbitrarily, considered as completely distinct languages. All the dialects of Italy exhibit internal variety, especially in Northern dialects, where the fragmentation in different states was harder and where there was isolation because of the mountains. For example Lombardy, when you can find at least three different and non-intercomprehensible linguistic groups (Western, Alpine and Eastern), also divided into six varieties, in which, then, there are differences in pronunciation, grammar and lexicon between a village and another (especially in Western Lombard): althought, all the varieties spoken in Lombardy all referred to as Lombard language. A variety of a language is a form that differs from other forms of the language systematically and coherently. ... The Tuscan dialect is a dialect spoken in Tuscany, Italy. ... Italiano centrale is a group of dialects of Italian spoken in Lazio and areas East of Lazio in Italy. ... The Florentine language was the language spoken in the Italian city of Florence. ... Neapolitan (autonym: napulitano; Italian: ) is a Romance language spoken in the city and region of Naples, Campania (Neapolitan: Nàpule, Italian: Napoli); close dialects are spoken throughout most of southern Italy, including the Gaeta and Sora districts of southern Lazio, parts of Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata, northern Calabria, and northern and... Sicilian (, Italian: ) is a Romance language. ... Gallo-Italic is a language family within the Gallo-Romance languages. ... For the rules of English grammar, see English grammar and Disputes in English grammar. ... For other uses, see Syntax (disambiguation). ... A vocabulary is a set of words known to a person or other entity, or that are part of a specific language. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Romance languages, also called Romanic languages, are a subfamily of the Italic languages, specifically the descendants of the Vulgar Latin dialects spoken by the common people evolving in different areas after the break-up of the Roman Empire. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Ladin (Ladino in Italian, Ladin in Ladin, Ladinisch in German) is a Rhaetian language spoken in the Dolomite mountains in Italy, between the regions of Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... For the village of the same name in Ontario, Canada, see Lombardy, Ontario. ... Western Lombard is a Lombard language spoken in Italy, in Lombard provinces of Milan, Monza, Varese, Como, Lecco, Sondrio, little part of Cremona (Crema and neighbors), Lodi and Pavia, and Piedmont provinces of Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and little part of Vercelli (Valsesia), and Switzerland (Canton Ticino and part of... Eastern Lombard (sometimes also called Orobic) is a group of dialects spoken in the eastern side of Lombardy, mainly in the provinces of Bergamo, Brescia and Mantua and in the area around Crema. ... The term Lombard refers to a group of related varieties spoken mainly in Northern Italy (most of Lombardy and some areas of neighbouring regions) and Southern Switzerland (Ticino and Graubünden). ...


A clear example of the differences and the confusion between dialects of Italy and dialects of Italian is the following. Venetian language, dialect of Italy: «sémo drio rivàr» (=we are arriving) ; Venetian dialect of Italian (italiano regionale di Venezia, or inflessione veneziana): «stémo rivando» very similar to Italian itself: «stiamo arrivando».


List of varieties of Italian language

See also: List of languages of Italy
  • Dialect areas closest to Italian in features (see Central Italian)
    • Tuscan dialect (the base of modern Standard Italian, but there are many differences) - Florentine dialect of Italian is one of the most important
    • Umbrian
    • Marchigiano
    • Romanesco
    • Laziale

Map of languages of Italy Italy currently has one national language: Standard Italian. ... Italiano centrale is a group of dialects of Italian spoken in Lazio and areas East of Lazio in Italy. ... The Tuscan dialect is a dialect spoken in Tuscany, Italy. ... This article is about the city in Italy. ... Romanesco is a group of Romance dialects spoken in Rome and most of the surrounding regions of Lazio, Umbria, central Marche and extreme southern Tuscany in central Italy. ... Piedmontese (also known as Piemontèis, and Piemontese in Italian) is a language spoken by over 2 million people in Piedmont, northwest Italy. ... For other uses, see Piedmont (disambiguation). ... Franco-Provençal (Francoprovençal) or Arpitan (in vernacular: patouès) (in Italian: francoprovenzale, provenzale alpina, arpitano, patois; French: francoprovençal, arpitan, patois) is a Romance language with several dialects in a linguistic sub-group separate from Langue dOïl and Langue dOc. ... Aosta Valley (in French Vallée dAoste, in Italian Valle dAosta) is a mountainous region in north-western Italy, the smallest of Italys regions. ... Ladin (Ladino in Italian, Ladin in Ladin, Ladinisch in German) is a Rhaetian language spoken in the Dolomite mountains in Italy, between the regions of Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto. ... Trentino-Alto Adige or Trentino-South Tyrol (in German: Trentino-Südtirol, in Italian: Trentino-Alto Adige) is an autonomous region in northern Italy. ... Western Lombard is a Lombard language spoken in Italy, in Lombard provinces of Milan, Monza, Varese, Como, Lecco, Sondrio, little part of Cremona (Crema and neighbors), Lodi and Pavia, and Piedmont provinces of Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and little part of Vercelli (Valsesia), and Switzerland (Canton Ticino and part of... For the village of the same name in Ontario, Canada, see Lombardy, Ontario. ... For other uses, see Piedmont (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Milan (disambiguation). ... Milanese (milanes, milanées, meneghin, meneghìn) is a variety of Western Lombard spoken in the city of Milan and in its province. ... Insubric (or Western Lombard for its collocation in Lombardy region) is officially a Lombard language variety spoken in Italy and Switzerland (Canton Ticino), but its so different from Orobic (or Eastern Lombard), that its often considered as another language. ... Eastern Lombard (sometimes also called Orobic) is a group of dialects spoken in the eastern side of Lombardy, mainly in the provinces of Bergamo, Brescia and Mantua and in the area around Crema. ... For the village of the same name in Ontario, Canada, see Lombardy, Ontario. ... Trentino-Alto Adige or Trentino-South Tyrol (in German: Trentino-Südtirol, in Italian: Trentino-Alto Adige) is an autonomous region in northern Italy. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Veneto or Venetia, is one of the 20 regions of Italy. ... Trentino-Alto Adige or Trentino-South Tyrol (in German: Trentino-Südtirol, in Italian: Trentino-Alto Adige) is an autonomous region in northern Italy. ... Venezia Giulia, also known as Julijska krajina in Slovenian, Vignesie Julie in Friulian Carsia Iulia in Latin, Julisch Venetien in German and Julian March, is a geographical, political and cultural region of Southeastern Europe, nestled on what is now the border between Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. ... Areas where Emiliano-Romagnolo is spoken Emiliano-Romagnolo (also known as Emilian-Romagnolo) is a Romance language mostly spoken in Emilia-Romagna. ... Emilia-Romagna is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. ... // The Marche (plural, originally le marche de Ancona = the Marches of Ancona) are a region of Central Italy, bordering Emilia-Romagna north, Tuscany to the north-west, Umbria to west, Abruzzo and Latium to the south and the Adriatic Sea to the east. ... Ligurian is a Romance language, consisting of a group of Gallo-Italic dialects currently spoken in Liguria, northern Italy, and parts of the Mediterranean coastal zone of France, and Monaco. ... Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. ... Corsican (Corsu or Lingua Corsa) is a Romance language spoken on the island of Corsica (France), alongside French, which is the official language. ... For the place in the United States, see Sardinia, Ohio. ... For other uses, see Corsica (disambiguation). ... Sassarese is a diasystem of the Sardinian and Corsican languages, spoken in some areas of the north-western part of Sardinia, in Italy, such as Sassari and a few other places, such as Porto Torres and Sorso. ... For the place in the United States, see Sardinia, Ohio. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... For the place in the United States, see Sardinia, Ohio. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Friulian Coats of Arms Friuli (Furlan: Friûl, German: Friaul, Slovenian: Furlanija) is an area in northeastern Italy, comprising the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia. ... Neapolitan (autonym: napulitano; Italian: ) is a Romance language spoken in the city and region of Naples, Campania (Neapolitan: Nàpule, Italian: Napoli); close dialects are spoken throughout most of southern Italy, including the Gaeta and Sora districts of southern Lazio, parts of Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata, northern Calabria, and northern and... For other uses, see Campania (disambiguation). ... Abruzzo is a region of Italy bordering Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east and the Adriatic Sea to the east. ... Molise is a region of central Italy, the second smallest of the regions. ... This article is about the Italian region. ... For other uses, see Calabria (disambiguation). ... Basilicata is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Puglia (Apulia) to the east, Calabria to the south, it has one short coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea and another of the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea to the south-east. ... Sicilian (, Italian: ) is a Romance language. ... Sicily ( in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... For other uses, see Calabria (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Italian region. ...

References

  1. ^ http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=IT

External links

Bibliography

  • Maiden, Martin and Parry, Mair: The Dialects of Italy, London 1997.
  • Maiden, Martin: A Linguistic History of Italian, London 1995.
  • Hall, Robert A. Jr.: External History of the Romance Languages, New York 1974.
  • Comrie, Bernard, Matthews, Stephen and Polinsky, Maria: The Atlas of Languages: The Origin and Development of Languages Throughout the World. Rev. ed., New York 2003.
  • Grimes, Barbara F. (ed.): Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Vol. 1, 2000.
  • Giacomo Devoto and Gabriella Giacomelli, I Dialetti delle Regioni d'Italia, Florence: Sansoni Editore, 1971 (3rd edition, Tascabili Bompiani, 2002).
  • Andrea Rognoni, Grammatica dei dialetti della Lombardia, Oscar Mondadori, 2005.

See also


  Results from FactBites:
 
Italian Dialects (439 words)
Considered a single language with numerous dialects, Italian, like other Romance languages, is the direct offspring of Latin spoken by the Romans and imposed by them on the peoples under their domination.
The dialects of Italian identified by the Ethnologue are Tuscan, Piemontese, Sardinian, Abruzzese, Pugliese (Apulian), Umbrian, Laziale, Central Marchigiano, Cicolano-Reatino-Aquilano, and Molisan.
Many of the so-called dialects of Italian spoken around the country are different enough from standard Italian to be considered separate languages by most linguists and some speakers themselves.
Italian language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (3113 words)
Standard Italian is based on the Tuscan dialect and is somewhat intermediate between the languages of Southern Italy and the Gallo-Romance languages of the North.
In contrast to the dialects of northern Italy, the older southern Italian dialects were largely untouched by the Franco-Occitan influences introduced to Italy, mainly by bards from France, during the middle ages.
Italian is the official language of Italy and San Marino, and one of the official languages of Switzerland, spoken mainly in Ticino and Grigioni cantons.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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