●  Introduction
●  Reinforcement
1.  Reinforcing words
2.  Variable consonants
3.  Native consonants
4.  The consonants  B D G
●  Orthography
●  Vocabulary
●  Written in Sicilian

 

 

 

F O R U M       SISHILIANU

 

 

 


Introduction



 Where does the Sicilian language come from?
  You could say from the Greeks or the Latins or the Byzantines. What is certain is that Siculi, Sicani and Elimi mixed with all the people arrived in our beautiful land, who knows how they finished speaking? And yet the roots of their language have remained: The native consonants.

  But let's get to the Arabs.
  It began when these hungry for conquest, on June 17, 827, arrived from Africa led by Qayrawan, began raiding expeditions in our countryside and cities, where the people, having met them, shouted "Mamma, li turchi!", ran to lock themselves in their homes. Over time the Arabs settled in our land and, ousting the Byzantines, learned to govern the districts, to cultivate the land, to fish at sea, and from their civilization they brought customs, construction of houses and palaces, and culture with poetry and knowledge. From this mixture of Byzantines, Christians, Jews and Arabs the spoken Sicilian language was born. For a thousand years the people, adapting to one another, learned to express the things to say with a language that gradually perfected itself in the vulgar Sicilian language. But only speaking, which was still written in Latin or Arabic or Hebrew.

  Everything changed with the arrival of the Normans from the North with spears and swords. Or when they, following the crusaders, stopped in our beautiful and fertile land. Far from the Holy Land. Or when those who deserved compensation were given fiefs by those in command. With the commanders Robert Guiscardo and Roger of Altavilla, the Normans, a warrior people, took over southern Italy and Sicily. Sicily, civilized by the Arabs, had to submit to the power of weapons. Yet these people gave rise to modern civilization.

  The last daughter of the Norman dynasty of the Altavillas, who had formed the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, was called Costanza. Having relations with the royals of Europe, Constance married Henry VI of Swabia, Holy Roman Emperor. This marriage united two powerful dynasties, creating a link between the Norman Kingdom of Sicily and the Hohenstaufen Swabian Empire. Thus was born Frederick II, heir to the throne of Sicily and the imperial title. And he had dominions in Italy and Europe. The boy grew up among the people of Sicily, and when the time came to rule, it was here that he established his throne.

  He was crowned emperor in the year 1220 and immediately implemented the imperial authority. He formed a court of scholars whom he invited to write in the vernacular that he already spoke because he had grown up between Sicily and Calabria. These scholars, however, were educated notables who wrote in Latin and Provençal. They did not adapt to writing as the people spoke, but they adapted the Provençal language of the poems of the musician storytellers in the langue d'Oc. This is how the same language, without the music, was used in Sicilian poems and sonnets. He is a Sicilian as illustrious as the courtly languages ​​Latin and Provençal. It was Giacomo da Lentini who invented the Sonnet, Odo delle Colonne, Rugieri d'Amici, Stefano Protonotaro, Guido delle Colonne, Mazzeo di Ricco, Tommaso di Sasso, Ruggero di Palermo who introduced us to this Sicilian language, but not as the Sicilians spoke and speak.

  When the patron Federico II died, everything was left hanging. Those who spoke Sicilian did not know how to write their own language and those who wanted to write Sicilian remade the verses already written, which was not true Sicilian.
  The difference between speaking and writing still exists. It is time to reevaluate the ancient native consonants of the people of Sicily, who still speak to each other.

  Now it is up to us to discover how we speak. What consonants, what syllables, what sounds we make when we speak. A world that has not yet been fully explored.
 

 

 

 


The reinforcement


   In the Sicilian language we must not consider the vowels of words,
because it is a specific that does not have a general value,
since the use of vowels is governed by the custom and preference
of each district and town in Sicily:

  • nmernu/nmiernu.
  • accabbau / accabbà / accabbò.
   Instead . . .
  • The Strong or Weak consonants;
  • The short "ă" or long "ā"; syllables;
have the same custom throughout Sicily.


   I siciliani quando parliamo siamo come scienziati. Una frase può avere tanti significati, perché, a secondo come le parole le diciamo e a secondo lo stato d'animo che abbiamo, nella frase vengono immischiati i nostri sentimenti e ci mettiamo dentro tutto il nostro 'Pathos'.

   When we speak, Sicilians are like scientists. A sentence can have many meanings, because, depending on how we say the words and the state of mind we have, our feelings are mixed up in the sentence and we put all our 'Pathos' into it.

   This Linguistic-Phonetic-Empathic phenomenon is governed at a precise point: where two words meet: at the end of one word and the beginning of the other.
It is at this point that there are the Grammatical and Phonetic rules.
   However, arbitrarily, . . .

  • When we want to give a word a stronger meaning, we change the syllable at the beginning of the word from weak to strong.

  • When, however, we change this syllable from strong to weak, it does not mean that it becomes weak, but rather the change has a more empathetic value.
     
   This mechanism, together with the Autochthonous Consonants, is the secret that gives the Sicilian language the particularity of being a characteristic language among the neo-Latin ones.
 

* * *


   Even in other languages, when a consonant becomes strong, it is doubled.
   The doubled consonant of the strong form is not written:


        Weak

  • Ātene
  • sē ne va.
  • trēmendo
  • Dā parte
  • Duē giorni

        Strong

  • Ă (t)tempo
  • sĕ (n)nevica
  • trĕ (m)mesi
  • Ă (p)parte
  • Ognĭ (g)giorno




We must consider that the syllable in Sicilian can be short "ă" or long "ā",
and has a phonetic and orthographic effect on the consonant that follows.

 


●   Last syllable ... long       First consonant next  Weak

     Last syllable ... short      First consonant next  Strong

  1. Chiamati u cani
  2. Satai u fossu a peri nghuitti.
  3. Nun si camina no lauratu.
  4. Ci sunnu nushi a tri spicchi.
  5. Pi levitari u pani ci voli tempu.
  6. Nī tia
  7. L' accattai pī to frati. (per i tuoi fratelli)
  1. M'abbintaru tri (c)cani
  2. Nun è (f)fossu chi ssi pò satari.
  3. Stu tirrenu fu (l)lauratu cu tratturi.
  4. Manciati tri (n)nushi dopu pranzu.
  5. Fishi culazioni cu (p)pani e tumazzu.
  6. Pĭ ttia
  7. L' accattai pĭ tto frati. ( per tuo fratello)

  Sicilians learn the pronunciation of syllables after the short accent or the long accent when we are infants, and the reinforcing words, which make the consonants strong, must be known.
.

   We cannot ignore this phonetic principle,
because it preserves the Sicilian linguistic treasure within itself:
The native consonants.

   They are some consonants that are pronounced only in Sicily,
and we must take care of them.


 

 

 

 


Reinforcing Words

In the Sicilian language the words reinforcers are . . .

  • Ă: simple preposition. From Latin Ad
  • Accussĭ: adverb
  • Chiù: adverb. From Latin Plus
  • ĕ: Conjunction. From Latin Et
  • è: from Latin Est
  • Chĭ: interrogative pronoun. From Latin Quis
  • Cŭ: simple preposition. From Latin Cum
  • Quarchĕ: indefinite adjective
  • Né: conjunction. from Latin Nec
  • Ognĭ: definite adjective. From Latin Omnis
  • Pĭ: simple preposition. From Latin Per
  • Sĭ: dubitative adverb. From Latin Si
  • Trĭ: adjective. From Latin Tres


  •   Other truncated verb words are also reinforcing such as Su' of Sunnu:
    Sì, Fù, Fà, Pò, Stà, Và.

      In general, reinforcing words derive from Latin words that end with a consonant:
    - Ad meliora cotidie.
    - Am meliora cotidie.
    - Ă (m)meliora cotidie.

      Based on this principle we can find new reinforcing words; like the word Re, from the Latin Rex:
    - U rĕ (f)Federicu.



      Among the reinforcing words, 6 can have the last syllable either long , or short , and the meaning changes.

    In the next examples I will no longer show the explicit form, (m)mare, and the diacritical accents, ă  ā.

    Normal words Reinforcing words
  • ā   it is a definite article contract of la
       - Mu rissi a mamma.
         It's articulated preposition:
       ă la=ă+ā= ā

       - Va riccillu a mamma

     
  • ă  preposition,
       from the Latin preposition 'ad'
       - jemu a mari.

  • ē   articulated preposition:
       ă li = ă + ī = ē

       - Haiu duluri e peri.
     
  • ĕ  conjunction,
        from the Latin conjunction 'et'
       - Hai manu e peri lordi.
  • chī  articulated preposition:
       cŭ + ī = chi

      - A granita si fa chi limiuna.
  • chĭ Interrogative adjective.
       from the Latin quis.
      - Na nzalata chi limiuna ci metti , virdi o gianni?

  •   articulated preposition:
       cŭ + ū = cū

      - U tumazzu si mancia cu pani.
            But also personal pronoun from Latin qui
      - Cu tuppulia a st'ura?
     
  •    ; conjunction,
        from the Latin 'cum'
       - Ci vaiu cu ttia.
  •   articulated preposition:
       pĭ li=pĭ+ī=pī

      - Sti riali sunnu pi to frati:  (For your brothers)
      - Stu rialu è pi to soru.   (For your sisters)
  •    from the Latin preposition per.
      - Sti riali sunnu pi tto frati:  (for your brother)
      - Stu rialu è pi tto soru.  (for your sister)
  • Si   it is a reflexive pronoun.
      - Na stu mari si viri finu a nfunnu.
     
  •    conjunction.
       - Rimmillu si veni quarcherunu.
     

  •  

     

     

     

     


    Consonants  Variables

    Sound

    Consonants

    weak strong Palatal Impregnated
    by  N
    note
    C - Sweet  Sh-i,u,o,a,e  CC-i, e
     CCi-a, o, u


    - NC-  Sh: native phoneme
    D  R-  DD- Dh-  NN-  Dh: native phoneme
    J - G Sweet  J- Gghi+e,a,o,u Gghi+e,a,o,u NGn-i,e,a,o,u


    G - Hard  ' Aspirated  Ggh-i, e
     Gg-a, o, u
    Gghi-e,a,o,u N Gh-i,e,a,o,u N Gh: Autochthonous phoneme

     
    R  Rh-  RR _   D,S,T,St,+ R
    Native phonemes
    S _ _ _ N Z- Z - Sweet

    V  ' Aspirated  VV-
     BB-
    _ N -M

     

      
    Here we learn about the effect of reinforcement on variable consonants.

     


    C: soft weak: Sh

    sh and Sc are two different consonants:
    - sh is the weak form of the consonant C. it is variable and therefore, if it has a reinforcing syllable in front of it, it changes from sh to c.

    • Ā shena change ă cena.

    -The Sc is a stable consonant that does not change when it has a reinforcing syllable in front of it. Its hissing sound is pronounced through clenched teeth.

    • Ā scena stays ă scena.

    -When you pronounce "SC" the incisors, top and bottom, are in line. The tip of the tongue is lowered behind the teeth to let the tongue pass air that is however strangled by the tongue in the palate to give it the particular crawling sound of the consonant.

    - To pronounce sh you pull your chin back half a centimeter. With a slight tension you widen the oral cavity a little. now, in the center, the tongue is placed low; the tip is suspended behind the teeth, and a little turned back, to make the swirl air and give the consonant that airy sound:

    • shhhh... shauru, shuri, shoshu, shusciari, shusciuliari, shushuliari, cashara.

    C: sweet strong: Ci

    When you pronounce C the incisors are close together and in line above and below. The tip of the tongue, up to a couple of centimeters back, is pressed into the front part of the palate up to the attachment of the teeth. When the air blow is given it comes off and makes the characteristic sound of the consonant.

    • Si cioshu. 'un ciusciari chiù. pi ciusciuliari ci voli u muscaloru. A ciushuliari vi mittistuvu? Ma chi ciauru e ciuri!

     

    D Stable: D

    Some words in D are stable:

    • Dati ,Dijunu, Dammiggiana, Debbitu, Duluri, dutturi . . .

     

    D: Strong: D

    The tip of the tongue rests against the upper teeth towards the gums and is detached with a sharp blow and a little air, otherwise it becomes "t" .

    • Renti: Chi denti chi hai!
    • reshi: vali pi deshi
    • riri: e diri chi ...
    • rari: m'ha dari i documenti
    • rumani: finu a dumani.

     

    D: Weak: R

    the weak form of the D is a light R, almost not pronounced .

    • -Renti, reshi, riri, roti , rari, rumani, . . .

     

    D: Palatal: Dh

    This is a consonant all ours, and we are proud of it.
    Those who are not Sicilian, to pronounce it, must learn:

    Turn your tongue backwards, and with the underside of the tip of your tongue, which is now on top, give a blow to the roof of your mouth as if to say D.

    • 'Un ha ghiri dhochu, ha ghiri addhabbanna.
    • Sti dhattuli su dushi. Dhi dhattuli si stannu pirdennu.
    • Ha ghiri na dhu dutturi.
    • Adduma dhu lumi.

    There is It must be said, however, that in the eastern part of Sicily the tongue is not turned all the way up, so that the tip does not reach the center of the palate, but only reaches behind the teeth, and makes a somewhat liquid sound. of "R".

     

    D: Impregnated with N becomes N

    The nasal N changes the whole nature of the D: Ndria=Nniria

    • I riscursa (weak)
    • Essir'a discursu (strog).
    • Fari un niscursu (impregnated).


    • Riri cosi fausi (weak).
    • Pi diritill'a tia ... (strong):
    • 'Un niri nenti (impregnated)

     

     


    G: Stable: G- i e; G- a o u

    Some words have a stable G.

    • Giacchetta, gira, giuggiulena, giugnu, giummarra, giarra, giostra, giachetta (gravel) , . . .

     

    G: soft and weak: J-

    The J is not I, but is a consonant, and to pronounce it you have to put your tongue against the palate:

    • Jocu, Jornu, Jardinu, Jimenta, Jettatura, Jacu, . . .

     

    G: sweet strong: Palatal

      The tongue is flattened against the hard palate, as soon as the stream of air passes when pronouncing Ghi-, it detaches from the palate. The lungs are still. The sound is formed with the air that is in the mouth.

    • Jimenta: Quarche ghimenta figghia muli.
    • Jornu: Va fazzu a spisa, jornu pi ghiornu.
    • Jiri: Quannu ci ha ghiri a far' a spisa?(...ci hai ă ghiri...)
    • Jocu: Ssi cosi nun si fannu pi ghiochu
    • Jardinu: Na sta cuntrata abbunnanu puzzura e ghiardina.
    • Jimmu: Ma chistu é ghimmu.


    G dolce: impregnata di N diventa Gn

    • un jardinu: un gnardinu
    • un jornu: un gnornu
    • nun jucari: nun gnucari
    • un jimmu: Un gnimmu
    • nun jittari nenti: nun gnittari nenti

     


    G: Hard weak: ' (aspirated)

    The aspirated G cannot be heard.

    • 'Attu, 'Addhu, 'Arzuni, 'Amma, 'Ana, ' ;Umma, 'Uvitu, . . .

     

    G: Hard strong: (1) G guttural

    • ogni gattu, quarche gaddhu, è garzuni, nun é gana, cu gumma, è guvitu

    G: Hard strong: (2) with the "i" becomes Palatal. (Ghi+ e, a, o, u)

       The tongue is flattened against the hard palate.
       While the tongue, as soon as the flow of air passes, detaches itself from the palate pronouncing Ghi-, the lungs are still. The sound is formed with the air that is in the mouth.
       Let's take this opportunity to consider the palatal Chi-, where, pronouncing Chi-, the flow of air from the lungs makes the consonant sound hard: -Chiossai.

    • Jimenta: Quarche ghimenta figghia muli.
    • Jornu: Va fazzu a spisa, jornu pi ghiornu.
    • Jiri: Quannu ci ha ghiri a far' a spisa?(...ci hai ă ghiri...)
    • Jocu: Ssi cosi nun si fannu pi ghiochu
    • Jardinu: Na sta cuntrata abbunnanu puzzura e ghiardina.
    • Jimmu: Ma chistu é ghimmu!

     


    Hard G impregnated with N becomes: nGh-

    The soft palate is a membrane at the back of the mouth. When you put your tongue on it, it blocks the air from the lungs. As soon as the tongue comes loose, it does  a sound soft guttural characteristic, which is reinforced by the nasal 'N'.

    • Un ghattu, un ghaddhu, un gharzuni, n ghana, n ghamma

     

     



    In Sicilian we have two types of R :
    • R BASE
    • R DERIVATA


    The consonant "R Base" is a variable consonant:

    When it is internal the word is pronounced simple, normal: Aratu, Niuru, Mari, oru.

    When the "R Base" is at the beginning of the word ( Russu, Ririri, Rota ), instead...:
    • If this word has a reinforcing syllable in front of it ( a, e, è, chiù, . . .),
      the "R Base" is pronounced double:

      • é (r)russu, Pi (r)ririri, Cuarche (r)rota, ...


    • If this word does not have a reinforcing syllable in front,
      the "R Base" is pronounced . . . WEAK:

      • Rhashina, Rhota, Rhimari, ...


      1. When pronouncing the simple R, normally, the top of the tip of the tongue (about 2 cm) rests on the upper gums. When air passes, it vibrates against the gums and makes the sound R.


      2. To make the double sound, it is pronounced louder.


      3. When pronouncing the weak R (R), the tip of the tongue goes straight against the connection between the upper teeth and gums.
        When air passes, the tongue does not vibrate, but lets it pass sliding, hissing, sonorous against the almost closed teeth.
        The characteristic modulation to the sliding air is given by the tremolo and the vibrations of the vocal cords.


        Here are some words that begin with the consonant R Base:

      Rabbia, Raccamu, Rashina, Rashoppu, Raddhu, Rarica, Rarisha, Rariri, Ragghiu, Raggia, Raggiuni, Rama, Rampa, Ramu, Rapashi, Rappa, Raru, Raspa, Rata, Razza, Re, Reshita, Reggistru, Reula, Resca, restu, Riccu, Ricotta, Ririri, Rifiutu, Riga, Rialu, Rima, Rimorsu, Rimu, Rina, Ripa, Riposu, Risata, Risettu, Risina, Rispiru, Risposta, Ristagnu, Ristuccia, Risu, Ritegnu, Riti, Rizza, Robba, Rosa, Rota, Ruccheddhu, Rugnuni, Ruina, Rumpiri, Runfuliari, Rusicu, Russu, Ruvulu.


    • 'D, S, ST, T', and next comes the weak R (Rh), they form Native Phonemes.
      It is customary not to write the H to avoid confusing reading:

      Pronunciation

      • Drhappu
      • Srharicari
      • Strhata
      • Trhenu

      Writing

      • Drappu
      • Sraricari
      • Strata
      • Trenu
    • These are particular native phonemes that must be practiced in order to be able to pronounce them.






    • The consonant "Derived R" It is pronounced and written as strong R. And it can depend on two cases:

      • or on the "weak D" which is pronounced "strong R", but light:

        • Veni rumani e nni parramu.
        • ( D weak )
          • A festa è pi dumani.   ( strong D )

        • Accatta reshi ova ca fineru.
        •   ( D weak )
          • Cu deshi ova ti fazzu 'na ran frittata. ( D strong )



      • or from the remaining "R", when in the group "GR" the "hard G weak" is aspirated:  'R .
        The pronunciation is R forte.
        • Prinota un tavulu ranni ca semu assai.
        •     ( G aspirated)
          • Stu tavulu è granni ca semu picca. (G strong)

        • Chiuri a rara du jardinu!
        •      ( G aspirated)
          • Chissa fu grara ca nun  si potti chiuriri. (G strong)


          • There are some words, which begin with the group "GR", in which the G is, and remains, hard. They are called amorphous words, because the shape of the consonant does not change:
               - Gri
            ggiu, Gravi, Grillu (Grape), Gruppu (Quantity), . . .

     


    S:Impregnated with N becomes N Z-

         The Z is pronounced softly.

    • Sì o nun si stancu. Picchì s' 'un si stancu m' ha aiutari.
    • Rittu n senzu bonu soccu rishi havi un senzu.
    • n sishilianu nun si rish' accussì.
    • Ci ha ghiri n sutta n sutta.
    • N soccu cunzisti stu mpignanti to chiffari?

     

     

    V: Stable: V.

    It can be said that the variable V is aspirated only in V + U='U.
    With the other vowels it has reinforcing as a stable consonant: V - VV/BB
    - Varca: I rimi n marca
    - 'U
    cca: Ficu carimi n mucca
    .

    V: Weak:  '  Aspirated

    • A 'utti. A 'ucca.U 'ugghiu. A 'ushi. (I don't write the apostrophe).
    • Ca  ucca è fashili fari i cosi.
    • Nna  utti di lignu si fa u vinu bonu.
    • U ugghiu nisciu.

    V: Strong: VV/BB

    • chiamalu a vushi.
    • ogni vutti fa u so vinu.
    • C' è vugghiu chi nesci.
    • Pi vushi 'un u passa nuddhu.
    • Chiù vugghiu nesci chiossai asciuca u broru. Chi vucca hai? tutta lorda!
    • 'Un è beru, mettiti a basciu, L'acqua sta bugghiennu
    • Assazza a pasta pi biriri s' è vugghiuta
    • Pi vushiari ci voli shatu

     

    V: Imbued with N becomes M.

    • 'Ucca: Ficu carimi n mucca
    • 'Ushi: Un mushiari
    • - Ch'ha fari, ha veniri? - 'un meniri chiù, ch' accabbai.
     
     

     

     

     

     

     

    Native consonants

     
    Sh . . . C sweet weak
    Dh . . . D palatals
    Rh . . . R  weak
     
    Dr __
    Tr __
    Sr __
    Str__
    Dental consonants
    have the native pronunciation
    because the R is pronounced weak: Rh
    - Str(h)ata, Tr(h)enu
       
    Chi+; e, a, o, u Palatals
    Ghi+ e, a, o, u Palatals
    nGh+ i, e, a, o, u Guttural G with N mprignant





    Every people is proud of their language,
    especially if in speaking there are native consonants used by their ancestors.
    For this reason in the international alphabet there are special signs (diacritics):

    Ñ ß Æ Å Ł Đ


    To adapt the Latin alphabet each one to their own language.

    We Sicilians also have native consonants, so we must adapt some Latin consonants to our phonemes.

    The "QWERTY" keyboard, does not allow us to write our special consonants:

    Ç Đ ð Ĝ ĝ Ř ř



    We should use the diacritic character 'H':

    ● SH
    ● DH
    ● n GH
    ● RH


       If this sign used too much disturbs, knowing how the consonants are changed by the reinforcement, it can be avoided, as in Rh.

    But not in the Dh, because consonants with both D and Dh are often found close together.

    For the consonant Sh, Ç and ç could be used, but this will be established by the use made of it by those who write in the Sicilian language.

    N Gh is so particular that it is better not to disturb it.
     

     

    Consonants change

    When the final syllable with the short accent is found in a previous clause, and the initial consonant follows is 'artfully distanced' to the following proposition, this is not reinforced.

      • - Socch' è..  |  ..chi voi?
        - è  (c)chistu chi vogghiu.


      • - 'Un ni vogghiu chiù..  |  ..ushi and nfernu.
        - chiù (v)vushi and nfernu fai, chiossai abbuschi.


      • - 'un hai chiù.. | ..ana ri travagghiari.
        - Chiù (g)gana hai, megghiu travagghi.


      • - Accussì..  |  ..rittu cca pari fashili .
        - Accuss' (d)dittu è n' uffisa!


      • -A partita 'un fù..  |  ..jucata mali.
        - fù ghiucata pi perdiri!


        In these sentences with an emphatic value,
        the change from strong to weak gives a sense of tragedy.

        In the following, however, where the strengthening is respected,
        the value remains discursive:


        - 'A mogghiu chiù (v)vushi e nfernu!

        - A partita 'un fu ghiucata mali!
    Sometimes it is not clear whether a syllable is reinforcing or not, because it is the combination of several syllables, where at the last one there can be the short accent or the long accent. In these cases, based on the grammar, you can know the combination.

      • ha ghiri = jò haiu ă ghiri;
      • Tu l'hă canusciri = you la hai ă canusciri;
      • Ti nn'hă dari = you nni haiu ă dari.
      • U va cercu jò = u vaiu ă cercu jo.


    At the beginning of an orthographic sentence (after a period) or rhetorical sentence (when you want to give a sentence or a word a new or stronger meaning), the variable consonant is written strong or weak according to the intention.
      Generally speaking, strong and weak consonants express the state of mind of the speaker or writer.

    • Vā sherca!     - Emphatic expression: Va sherca comu stannu i cosi!
    • Vă cerca!       - Here it is instead imperative
    • Vā sherca!     - With a low tone of threat
    • Iddhu vă cerca soccu ni servi e niautri aspittamu ccà   - Discursive

    In particular cases, the strong consonant is used instead of the weak one.
    Then the sentence is interrupted, and the sentence starts again with the strong consonant that gives more value to the meaning.
  • Ci sunnu cosi chi t' ha diri a sulu.

  • Ci sunnu cosi..  |  ..(c)chi t' ha diri!

  • When two or three weak consonants are next to each other, the one that bothers the most is changed to "forte". This annoyance is called cacophony:

      • "A cunzunanti si cancia ripenni ru riscursu" -cacophony
      • or "A cunzunanti si cancia dipenni ru riscursu" - not yet
      • or "A cunzunanti si cancia ripenni du riscursu" -Yes
      • but already"A cunzunanti si cancia dipenni du riscursu" is too much.


    Dynamic sentences

       The language spoken by Sicilians, a living and emphatic language, can be reproduced in writing only by respecting the dynamism of the words (strong and weak consonants), otherwise it is distorted the the very soul of the speaker.

    Even the apostrophe helps this dynamism

       _ chi nn'ha fari    _ Happ' a ghittar'u broru    _ S' hav' a far'accussì
       _ A form' 'i shircu    _ Ti nn'aviss' a dari    _ pagghiri dhà
       _ Ni nn'am' a ghiri    _ Supr'on arvulu    _ Ch' hav' a dir'a genti?
       _ Vishin'a mmia    _ com' ogni vota    _ Ch' hann'a dir''i tia?
       - Manc' apposta    _ Com' aeri    _ Fin'a tannu
       _ Dorannavanti    _ Ven'a diri    _ Com' e ghiè


     

     

     

     

    Double consonants: B, D, G.



         By doing practical tests, according to the pronunciation, we should discover the reason for this phonetic anomaly: the double pronunciation of B, D and G, after a long syllable.

    1. ā pasta              ă pperi
    2. ā bbacchetta        ă bbacchetta
    1. ē  tempi             ĕ tteni!
    2. ē ddebiti            ĕ ddebiti
    1. chī shira               chĭ ccira?
    2. cū ggira?             cŭ ggira!  (here gira is a vegetable)

     

        Anyone who has studied Latin knows the short or long accents of Latin metrics and prosody: āăă|āā|āăă|āă|āă|āă
    are groups of syllables with a specific name:
  • Spondee:   āā
  • Trochee:    āă
  • Coliambo:  ăā
  • Dactyl:    āăă
  • Anapest: ăăā
  • Tribraco:   ăăă
  • it is therefore normal that the Sicilian language has inherited from Latin (or even Greek) their use in pronunciation.

     

    The consonant double

    1.     Let's say a syllable for a long time:

      piiiiiiiii, puuuuu, pooooo, paaaaa, peeeee.


    2.     now, as we pronounce it , let's give a blow of the diaphragm, to push the lungs and throat until the soft palate is blocked. The effect on the syllable should be this:

      - piiiiiìk, puuuuuuùk, poooooòk, paaaaaaaaàk, peeeeeeeeèk.

          (This effect will help us in the formation of short vowels and double consonants.)


    3.     Let's pair two long syllables: Chiiiii peeeeri.
    4. (with feets)

    5.     now let's insert between the two syllables the lung blow that we have already tried. We mark it with dashes and the break: -------- |

          - chiiiiiĭp ppeeeeena. (such a pity)
             ------- |

          it happened that, as soon as the throat was unblocked, the blast of air made the p sound double.

          This is the mechanism that creates the double consonant.

      ;

     

    The short syllable

       This mechanism also creates the short syllable:

    • aaaaaa poooosta
    •   (long syllables)

    • aaaaaăp ppoosta  (double consonant)
      ---------|

    • ăp ppo sta   (short syllable)
      --|




    • which is completely overwhelmed by the breath of air, and barely pronounced.

    • chĭf ffai                   (What are you doing?)
      ---|
    • U rishi pĭv vveru?    (Are you telling the truth?)
           ;      ---|
    • ĕt ttannu?               (and what happened that time?)
      -- |
    • chĭb bboi                (what do you want?)
       ---|

    * * *

        Now that I have learned the mechanism of the double consonant after a short syllable, I have to see why B, D and G are doubled even after a long syllable.
        In fact, we have already seen the phenomenon of giving a long syllable an acceleration, to the point of making it seem short.

  • Ā bacchetta                    āāāāāāāăb bbacchetta
  • Ū dutturi                         ūūūūūūŭd ddutturi
  • Jucamu ē dati                ēēēēēēĕd ddati
  • coshi ā gira                    āāāāāāāăg ggira


  •     The lung stroke is given on the elongated syllable, this, stealing the consonant from the syllable below, as soon as the throat is unblocked, strengthens its pronunciation.

        But why?

        In France they say ... le genou.
        In Italy they say ... la giara.

        Why in Sicily we have to say ...

    • ū ggiummu
    • ū ggessu
    • ā ggiarra
    • ā bbeddha matri!
    • ī ddati

    • ?


        Not the I understand!
     

     

     

     

    <p>La lingua siciliana è una lingua neolatina come l’italiano, il francese, lo spagnolo, il portoghese.<br> Le altre lingua per scrivere con l’alfebeto latino il loro linguaggio, hanno dovuto adattare le conzonanti scritte in un certo modo (SH &#272; Ñ Þ ß). Così anche in Sicilia, dove abbiamo pure questo problema, dobbiamo trovare il modo di scrivere in un certo modo quel po’ di consonanti autoctone che non zi possono riprodurre con le lettere dell’alfabeto latino.<br> Qui non consideriamo le vocalizzazioni delle parole, perché è una particolarità che non ha una valenza generale, perché le vocali sono governate dall’usanza, dalla particolarità fonetica e preferenza che ha ogni paese e contrada della Sicilia: nmernu/mmiernu, Accabbau/accabbà/accabbò.<br> <br> Invece esiste una regola generale che governa le consonanti: La conzonante di una sillaba è governata dalla sillaba, lunga o breve, che la precede. E in più . . . :<br> • La sillaba che sta dentro la parola, avendo una posizione fissa e sottostando al dominio della sillaba che la precede, fissa pure essa, si adatta alla regola generale e così resta.<br> • Invece, quando la sillaba è in principio di parola e comincia con una consonante, questa, siccome sottostà al dominio dell’ultima sillaba della parola precedente, di volta in volta, cambiando le parole che la precedono, deve cambiare secondo la regola: La consonante di una sillaba è governata dalla sillaba, lunga o breve, che la precede.<br> Non è difficile t a valenza lunga o breve nell’ultima sillaba delle parole siciliane, anche perché solo una ventina di parole hanno questa particolarità, ma ricercando se ne possono trovare altre.<br> <br> Nella lingua siciliana, la regola generale che abbiamo vista prima ha due specifiche:<br> • Dopo una sillaba con l’accento lungo, la consonante della sillaba che segue resta semplice.<br> • Dopo una sillaba con l’accento breve, la consonante della sillaba che segue diventa forte.<br> Possiamo dire che non c’è niente di particolare, visto che anche nelle altre lingue, in linea di massima è così, e non hanno difficoltà nello scrivere. Ma in siciliano questa regola ci crea un problema, poiché alcune consonanti hanno la forma debole e la forma forte differente. Finché questa consonante si trova dentro la parola si scrive debole o forte sempre allo stesso modo. Quando questa consonante variabile è in principio di parola, invece, allora succede un fenomeno che a tanti studiosi siciliani da fastidio.<br> <br> In pratica, cambiando l’ultima sillaba di una parola, lunga o breve, la conzonante della prima sillaba della parola che segue, cambia pure. E con le conzonanti variabili immaginate cosa succede, e questo di parola in parola, che lo scritto siciliano diventa un susseguirsi pirotecnico di consonanti che cambiano. E si deve ben conoscere il principio per padroneggiarle.<br> I siciliani questo principio non lo possiamo abbandonare, perché manipola il nostro tesoro linguistico: le consonanti autoctone. Sono alcune conzonanti che vengono pronunziate in un certo modo solo in Sicilia, e dobbiamo curarle.<br> <br> 16/07/2021: Ultimamente in televisione è apparso uno sketch pubblicitario sulla Sicilia, dove una voce narrante in lingua siciliana fa elogio delle bellezze della Sicilia.<br> Mi sono accorto della fatica a cui si sono sottoposti per evitare di usare le consonanti autoctone, che non avrebbero saputo scrivere sullo schermo, né pronunciare. <br> <br> 12/022022: Nel precedente messaggio ti ho invitato a scegliere se vuoi continuare a scrivere in modo AULICO o in modo FONETICO. Dati i dubbi, vorrei chiarire cosa intendo.<br> <br> La scrittura aulica, a come ho capito, non serve per leggerla ad alta voce, per declamarla, se non da chi è siciliano e parla siciliano, ma serve per scrivere documenti. Uno straniero, la scrittura usata dai poeti non la può leggere ad alta voce. Quella declamazione non assomoglia alla lingua siciliana, ma è una mistificazione della nostra lingua, italianizzata, cosa che piace a tanti, anche siciliani.<br> <br> La scrittura fonetica, vuole riprodurre la fonia del parlare siciliano. Non è vero che questa fonia cambia da un paese all&#39;altro, come si vuol far intendere, ma, entrando nelle specififità consonantiche, si vede che c&#39;è una base comune per tutti i siciliani.<br> Leggendo gli scritti fonetici anche un estraneo è costretto a riprodurre la fonia siciliana delle parole.<br> <br> Visto che tu ed io, di parti differenti della Sicilia, abbiamo l&#39;occasione di constatarlo, ti prego di aiutarmi a chiarire l&#39;argomento facendo degli esempi di scrittura e pronuncia di testo siciliano.<br> <br> Per cominciare facciamo brevi esempi:<br> 1<br> Forma AULICA:<br> - Inchi dda dammiggiana d&#39;ogghiu.<br> - Ssa macchia è di ogghiu d&#39;aliva.<br> <br> Forma FONETICA:<br> - Jinchi dha dammiggiana r&#39;ogghiu.<br> - Ssa macchia è d&#39;ogghiu r&#39;aliva.<br> <br> Uno straniero, che legge &#39;dha&#39; invece di &#39;dda&#39;, capisce che c&#39;è una pronuncia particolare, e non un semplice raddoppiamento vocalico.<br> <br> 2<br> Forma AULICA:<br> - Inchi dda dammiggiana.<br> - Hai a inchiri dda dammiggiana.<br> - Nun inchiri dda dammiggiana.<br> <br> Forma FONETICA:<br> - Jinchi dha dammiggiana.<br> - Ha ghinchiri dha dammiggiana.<br> - &#39;Un gninchiri dha dammiggiana.<br> <br> Nella forma fonetica la parola &#39;Inchiri&#39; ha una &#39;J&#39; davanti. Questa consonante, essendo variabile, nel pronunciare le frasi ha una declinazione fonetica:<br> J - Ghi - Gn.<br> <br> Mi piacerebbe sapere dalle parti tue nel parlare quali declinazioni fonetiche usate, e cosa ne pensi dello scrivere in forma fonetica il nostro parlare siciliano.<br> <br> Saluti<br> <br> p.s.<br> Nelle consonanti invece dei segni diacritici (&#273;), io uso la consonante diacritica &#39;H&#39; (dh), perché nello scrivere con la tastiere del computer non è agevole usare i segni diacritici.<br> </p>

    25.12.2016