- Calabrian dialects
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Calabrian dict in Vallata dello Stilaro variant. Cu on da sapa e ruggia leva u saccu randa
The primary languages of the Calabria region are Standard Italian and many regional varieties of the Italo-Dalmatian group collectively known as Calabrian (Italian: calabrese). In addition, there is a significant Calabrian version of the Griko language and pockets of Occitan and Arbëresh.
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Calabrian (Calabrese)
Calabrian (it: Calabrese) is the name given to a number of dialects spoken in the Calabria region of Italy. The various dialects of Calabria are part of a strong continuum that are generally recognizable as Calabrian, but that are usually divided into two different language groups. In the northern one-third of the region, the Calabrian dialects are often classified typologically with Neapolitan language (it: Napoletano-Calabrese) and are called Northern Calabrian or just Cosentino[1]. In the southern two-thirds of the region, the Calabrian dialects are more closely related to Sicilian, grouped as Central and Southern Calabrian or simply Calabro, and are usually classified as part of Extreme Southern Italian (Italiano meridionale-estremo) language group[2]. The Amantea-Cirò line is generally considered an approximate demarcation between the Neapolitan and Sicilian language groups.
The linguistic division roughly corresponds with the historic administrative division already in place since medieval times: Calabria Citeriore (or Latin Calabria) and Calabria Ulteriore (or Greek Calabria). It must be noted this is a broad generalization and many communities in the more central parts of the region exhibit features of both language groups.
The dialects of Calabria have been extensively studied, catalogued and commented upon by German philologist Gerhard Rohlfs. From the mid-1920s to the mid-1970s, he traveled the region extensively and assembled a very extensive, multi-volume dictionary.
English Southern Calabrian Northern Calabrian Italian tomorrow rumàni crai / dumàni domani in the meantime asciatàntu / shramènti interimme frattanto the day before last avantèri nustierzu ieri l'altro to yawn sbadigghjàri alare sbadigliare Central and Southern Calabrian
The areas where Central- Southern Calabrian (calabbrìsi or calavrìsi, in Sicilian) is spoken corresponds generally to the provinces of Reggio Calabria, Vibo Valentia, Catanzaro and the southern part of Crotone (Crotone, Isola di Capo Rizzuto, Cutro and vicinity). The term Sicilian-Calabrian is also used to distinguish the group from the Northern Calabrian group.
The primary roots of the dialects are the two ancient classical languages: Greek and Latin.[3] Southern and Central Calabrian dialects are strongly influenced by a Greek substratum and ensuing levels of Latin influence and other external Southern Italian superstrata, in part hindered by geography, resulted in the many local variations found between the idioms of Calabria.[4] Nonetheless, the dialects have a rich and varied influence from other languages, thanks to the domination and influx of different cultures. As a result French, and, to a lesser extent, Spanish have left a strong imprint.
Central-Southern Calabrian Phonetic Greek Italian French English batràci vátrakhos ranocchio grenouille frog zinnapòtamu kynopotamus lontra loutre otter bampurìddha / lampurìdda / vampurìddha lampurida lucciola ver luisant firefly purtuàllu portocâli arancia orange orange 'nnàca nàke culla berceau cradle tuppitiàri typto battere battre to hit French vocabulary entered the region via the kingdoms of the Normans and the Angevins in Calabria.
Central-Southern Calabrian French Italian English 'ccattàri acheter comprare to buy 'nduja andouille salsicciotto type of sausage buccirìa boucherie macelleria butcher's arrocculàri reculer rotolare to recoil ràggia rage rabbia anger sciarabàllu carriole (char à bancs) veicolo sbatacchiato charabanc travagghiàri travailler lavorare to work Other words derived from Spanish, Catalan and Occitan :
- capezza : cabeza (Spanish) : head
- cucchiàra : cuchara (Spanish) : spoon
- palumba : paloma (Spanish) : dove
- scupetta : escopeta (Spanish) : rifle
- muccatùri : mocador (Catalan) : tissue
- prèscia : pressa (Catalan) : precipitation
- timpa : timba (Catalan) : abrupt
- addhumàri : allumar (Occitan, French, Provençal) : light up
Conjugations
Êssiri (to be)
Present Imperfect Past simple Subjunctive present Subjunctive imperfect (J)èu sugnu êra fùja chi fùssi fùssi Tu(ni) sì êri fùsti chi fùssi fùssi Iddhu, Iddha êsti êra fu' chi fùssi fùssi Nu(i) símu êrumu fùmmu chi fùssimu fùssimu Vu(i) síti êru fùstu chi fùstu fùssivu Iddhi sunnu êrunu fúru chi fùssiru fùssiru Aìri (to have)
Present Imperfect Past simple Subjunctive present Subjunctive imperfect (J)èu haju aìva èppi chi aìssi aìssi Tu(ni) hai aívi aìsti chi aìssi aìssi Iddhu, Iddha havi aìva èppi chi aìssi aìssi Nui aìmu aìvumu èppimu chi aìssimu aìssimu Vui aíti aìvu aistu chi aìssivu aìssivu Iddhi hannu aìvunu èppiru chi aìssiru aìssiru Dialects
- Reggino dialect (u 'rriggitànu, in Reggino) is the dialect with the most speakers[5], and cites Reggio Calabria as its cultural centre. This dialect is very similar to the dialect of Messina in Sicily.
- Dialects of the Chjàna spoken in the plains of Gioia Tauro, a micro-region situated north of Aspromonte.
- Locride dialects, spoken on the east coast of the Province of Reggio Calabria.
- Catanzaro dialect.
- dialects of the Alto-Jonica, used in the area of the Gulf of Squillace, similar to the dialect spoken in Catanzaro
Comparison of the Central and Southern Calabrian Dialects
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Tutti gli esseri umani nascono liberi ed eguali in dignità e diritti. Essi sono dotati di ragione e di coscienza e devono agire gli uni verso gli altri in spirito di fratellanza.
Reggino Piana di Gioia Tauro Locride Catanzaro Alto Jonica "Tutti i cristiàni "Tutti l'omani "Tutti i perzùni "Tutti l'omini "Tutti l'uamini nàsciunu libberi nascinu libbèri nèsciunu lìbberi nescianu libberi nascianu libberi e ntâ stessa manèra e â stessa manera e ntâ stessa manèra e sunnu e su ill'authri dil'atri dill'atti i stessi i stessi pi dignità e diritti. pe dignità e diritti. pe dignità e diritti. pe' dignità e diritti. pe' dignità e diritti. Iddhi ndànnu Tutti ndànnu Iji ndànnu Ognunu ava u cerveddhu Ognunu tena u cerivìaddru ognunu u so ciriveddhu ognunu u so cervèllu ognunu u cervèju soi e a raggiuna sue e a raggiune sua mi 'rraggiùnunu pemmu reggiùnanu soi pemmu raggiùnanu e a cuscenza sua e a cuscìanza sua e 'ndannu mi càmpunu e ndànnu pemmu càmpanu e ndànnu u càmpanu e ava ma si cumporta e s'ha de comportare unu cull'authru unu cu l'atru unu cull'attu cull'atri propriu cull'atri propriu comu mi sùnnu fràti comu frati figgji comu frati figgji comu si fhussèranu cùamu si fòranu râ stessa matri." dâ stessa mamma." dâ stessa matri." i frati soi." frati sui." Northern Calabrian (Cosentino)
The Province of Cosenza.The Northern Calabrian dialects (calabbrìse or calavrìse, in Neapolitan) are similar to other Southern Italian dialects and are significantly different from the dialects of southern Calabria. Linguistically, they are considered part of the Neapolitan group[6]. The dialects of the northern fringes of the Province of Cosenza give way to Campanian and Lucanian dialects; however, the majority of the province speaks the Cosentino dialect (u cusindinu). It is also spoken in the northern portion of the Province of Crotone and extreme north-western Province of Catanzaro.
One great aspect of Northern Calabrian is that the use of the preterite is almost absent, in great contrast to the Sicilian type dialects of the south. In Cosentino, the norm is he (or haju) pigliatu or signu jutu (literally "I took" and "I went"); whereas the preterite (distant remote tense) pigghiai or ivi would be more common in the rest of Calabria. Other aspects are the phonetic modifications similar to other Neapolitan dialects, such as where -nt is pronounced -nd (praticamente becomes praticamende), and v is usually pronounced b. In addition, spoken Cosentino is noted for its "soft" truncation of end syllables at the termination of sentences, and for the typical T/C sound in words such as ccjù (more) or cjanu (slow). As a transitional dialect between Sicilian and Neapolitan, Cosentino shares many sounds, words and features unique to each of the Sicilian and Neapolitan groups.
Like Central-Southern Calabrian, the vocabulary owes greatly to Arabic, French and especially Spanish:
- tavùtu : tambùtu (Central and Southern Calabrian): tabut (Arab)
- accattàre : 'ccattàri (Central and Southern Calabrian): acheter (French): to purchase
- abbuscà : buscar (Spanish) : to seek
- buttija: bouteille (French): bottle
- sparagno: épargne (French): savings
- relogge: reloj (Spanish): clock
Conjugations
Êsse (to be)
Present Imperfect Past simple Subjunctive present Subjunctive imperfect Iu signu êra signu statu fossa Tu(ni) sì êri sì statu fossi Iddru, Iddra è êra è statu fossa Nua símu êramu simu stati fossimu Vua síti êrati siti stati fossati Iddri(o Loro) sù êranu sù stati fòssaru Avì (to have)
Present Imperfect Past simple Subjunctive present Subjunctive imperfect Iu haju avìa he (haju) avutu avissa Tu(ni) ha' avii ha' avutu avissi Iddru, Iddra hà avìa hà avutu avissa Nua avìmu avìamu hamu avutu avìssamu Vua avíti avìati hat'avutu or avít' avutu avvissati Iddri hannu avìanu hannu avutu avissaru Comparison of Northern and Southern Calabrian
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Tutti gli esseri umani nascono liberi ed eguali in dignità e diritti. Essi sono dotati di ragione e di coscienza e devono agire gli uni verso gli altri in spirito di fratellanza.
Reggino Cosentino "Tutti i cristiàni "Tutti i ggìenti nàsciunu libberi nascianu libberi e ntâ stessa manèra e 'gguali ill'authri all'àtri pi dignità e diritti. ppì ddignità e diritti. Iddhi ndànnu Ognunu ognunu u so ciriveddhu tena cirbìeddru mi 'rraggiùnunu raggiune e cuscìenza e 'ndannu mi càmpunu e s'ha de cumbortà unu cull'authru cull'atri comu mi sùnnu fràti cumu si li fòssaru râ stessa matri." frati." Bibliography
- Gerhard Rohlfs, Nuovo Dizionario Dialettale della Calabria, Longo, Ravenna, 1990;
- Gerhard Rohlfs, Dizionario dei Cognomi e Soprannomi in Calabria, Longo, Ravenna, 1979;
- Gerhard Rohlfs, Dizionario toponomastico ed Onomastico della Calabria, Longo, Ravenna, 1990;
- Giuseppe Pensabene, Cognomi e Toponimi in Calabria, Gangemi, Reggio Calabria, 1987;
- G. Amiotti - M. Vittoria Antico Gallina - L. Giardino, I Greci nel sud dell'Italia, Amilcare Pizzi, Milano, 1995;
- Domenico Caruso, Storia e Folklore Calabrese, Centro Studi S. Martino, 1988;
Other languages in Calabria
- Greek-Calabrian dialect, a version of Italian-Greek used in Calabria, which is a subdivision of Griko language (Grecanic language), a general classification for the Italian-Greek languages in Italy. The Greek of Italy and that of Corsica are probably separate languages (R. Zamponi 1992).[7]
- Occitan language, a local variety of the Occitan language spoken in certain communities (such as Guardia Piemontese).[8]
- Arbëresh language, a dialect of the Albanian language.[9]
See also
- List of Languages of Italy
- Calabria
- Baccagghju, the cant of the 'Ndrangheta.
References
- ^ Ethnologue report for Napoletano-Calabrese;
- ^ Ethnologue report for Sicilian.
- ^ Gerhard Rohlfs, Nuovo dizionario dialettale della Calabria - Le fonti del lessico calabrese, 1977 (945 pages)
- ^ The Languages of Italy, Giacomo Devoto ISBN 0226143686
- ^ Cesare Morisani, Vocabolario del dialetto di reggio Calabria colle corrispondenti parole italiane, 1991, Sala Bolognese : Forni (228 pages).
- ^ Ethnologue report for language code:nap
- ^ Ethnologue report for Greek;
- ^ Ethnologue report for Franco-Provençal;
- ^ Ethnologue report for Albanian, Arbëreshë;
External links
- 330 Calabrian verbs cross-referenced into English and Italian
- Calabrian phrasing (page in Italian)
- Storia e Folklore Calabrese (page in Italian)
- "Siciliano: Lingua o dialetto?" in Italian;
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- Languages of Calabria
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