Languages of Calabria explained

The primary languages of Calabria are the Italian language as well as regional varieties of Extreme Southern Italian and Neapolitan languages, all collectively known as Calabrian (Italian: calabrese|link=no). In addition, there are speakers of the Arbëresh variety of Albanian, as well as Calabrian Greek speakers and pockets of Occitan.

Calabrian (calabrese)

Calabrian (Italian: Italian: calabrese) refers to the Romance varieties spoken in Calabria, Italy. The varieties of Calabria are part of a strong dialect continuum that are generally recognizable as Calabrian, but that are usually divided into two different language groups:

The Amantea-Cirò line is generally considered an approximate demarcation between the Neapolitan and Extreme Southern Italian 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). 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.

EnglishSouthern CalabrianNorthern CalabrianItalian
tomorrowrumàni crai / dumànidomani
in the meantimeasciatàntu / shramèntiinterimmefrattanto
the day before lastavantèrinustierzuieri l'altro
to yawnsbadigghjàrialare/galàsbadigliare

Central–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, the southern part of Crotone (Crotone, Isola di Capo Rizzuto, Cutro and vicinity) and southern Cilento. The term Sicilian-Calabrian is also used to distinguish the group from the Northern Calabrian group. It comprises Central Calabrian and Southern Calabrian. The primary roots of the dialects is 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 some influence from other languages, thanks to the periodic rule and influx of other cultures. As a result, French, Occitan and Spanish have left an imprint.

Central-Southern CalabrianGreekAlbanianItalianFrenchEnglish
batràcibretkosëranocchiogrenouillefrog
zinnapòtamuvidërlontraloutreotter
bampurìddha / lampurìdda / vampurìddhaxixëllonjëlucciolaluciolefirefly
purtuàlluportokallaranciaorange orange
'nnàcadjepculla berceau cradle
tuppitiàrigoditbatterebattreto hit

French and Norman vocabulary entered the region via the kingdoms of the Normans and the Angevins in Calabria.

Central-Southern CalabrianNorman or FrenchItalianEnglish
'ccattàriaccater (cf. accapitāre)comprareto buy
'ndujaandouillesalsicciottotype of sausage
buccirìaboucheriemacelleriabutcher's
arrocculàrireculerrotolareto recoil
ràggiaragerabbiaanger
sciarabàllucarriole (char à bancs)veicolo sbatacchiatocharabanc
travagghiàritravaillerlavorareto work

Other words derived from Spanish, Catalan, and Occitan:

Conjugations

Êssiri (to be)

width=100px Presentwidth=100px Imperfectwidth=100px Past simplewidth=100px Subjunctive presentwidth=100px Subjunctive imperfect
(J)èusugnuêrafùjachi fùssifùssi
Tu(ni)êrifùstichi fùssifùssi
Iddhu, Iddhaêstiêrafu'chi fùssifùssi
Nu(i)símuêrumufùmmuchi fùssimufùssimu
Vu(i)sítiêrufùstuchi fùstufùssivu
Iddhisunnuêrunufúruchi fùssirufùssiru

Aìri (to have)

width=100px Presentwidth=100px Imperfectwidth=100px Past simplewidth=100px Subjunctive presentwidth=100px Subjunctive imperfect
(J)èuhajuaìvaèppichi aìssiaìssi
Tu(ni)haiaíviaìstichi aìssiaìssi
Iddhu, Iddhahaviaìvaèppichi aìssiaìssi
Nuiaìmuaìvumuèppimuchi aìssimuaìssimu
Vuiaítiaìvuaistuchi aìssivuaìssivu
Iddhihannuaìvunuèppiruchi aìssiruaìssiru

Dialects

Comparison of the Central-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.

RegginoPiana di Gioia TauroLocrideCatanzaroAlto Jonica
"Tutti i cristiàni"Tutti l'omani"Tutti i perzùni"Tutti l'omini"Tutti l'uamini
nàsciunu libberinascinu libbèrinèsciunu lìbberi nescianu libberinascianu libberi
e ntâ stessa manèrae â stessa manerae ntâ stessa manèrae sunnue su
ill'authri dil'atridill'attii stessii stessi
pi dignità e diritti.pe dignità e diritti.pe dignità e diritti.pe' dignità e diritti.pe' dignità e diritti.
Iddhi ndànnuTutti ndànnuIji ndànnu Ognunu ava u cerveddhuOgnunu tena u cerivìaddru
ognunu u so ciriveddhuognunu u so cervèlluognunu u cervèju soi e a raggiunasue e a raggiune sua
mi 'rraggiùnunupemmu reggiùnanusoi pemmu raggiùnanue a cuscenza suae a cuscìanza sua
e 'ndannu mi càmpunu e ndànnu pemmu càmpanue ndànnu u càmpanue ava ma si cumportae s'ha de comportare
unu cull'authruunu cu l'atruunu cull'attucull'atri propriucull'atri propriu
comu mi sùnnu fràticomu frati figgjicomu frati figgjicomu si fhussèranucùamu si fòranu
râ stessa matri."dâ stessa mamma."dâ stessa matri."i frati soi."frati sui."

Northern Calabrian (Cosentian)

The Northern Calabrian dialects are largely found in the Province of Cosenza and are similar to the Neapolitan language. The northern fringes are an area of transitional dialects which give way to Campanian and Lucanian dialects.[6]

The map shows the Cosentian dialects (Ve) and transitional dialects (Vd) occurring in Cosenza province.

Conjugations

Êsse (to be)

width=100px Presentwidth=100px Imperfectwidth=100px Past simplewidth=100px Subjunctive presentwidth=100px Subjunctive imperfect
Iusignuêrasignu statufossa
Tu(ni)êrisì statufossi
Iddru, Iddraèêraè statufossa
Nuasímuêramusimu statifossimu
Vuasítiêratisiti statifossati
Iddri(o Loro)êranusù statifòssaru

Avì (to have)

width=100px Presentwidth=100px Imperfectwidth=100px Past simplewidth=100px Subjunctive presentwidth=100px Subjunctive imperfect
Iuhajuavìahe (haju) avutuavissa
Tu(ni)ha'aviiha' avutuavissi
Iddru, Iddraavìahà avutuavissa
Nuaavìmuavìamuhamu avutuavìssamu
Vuaavítiavìatihat'avutu or avít' avutuavvissati
Iddrihannuavìanuhannu avutuavissaru

Comparison of Central-Southern and Northern 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.

RegginoCosentian
"Tutti i cristiàni"Tutti i ggìenti
nàsciunu libberinascianu libberi
e ntâ stessa manèrae 'gguali
ill'authri all'àtri
pi dignità e diritti.ppì ddignità e diritti.
Iddhi ndànnuOgnunu
ognunu u so ciriveddhutena cirbìeddru
mi 'rraggiùnunuraggiune e cuscìenza
e 'ndannu mi càmpunu e s'ha de cumbortà
unu cull'authrucull'atri
comu mi sùnnu fràticumu si li fòssaru
râ stessa matri."frati."

Bibliography

Other languages in Calabria

Bibliography

Italian bibliography:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sicilian . subscription . 2022-03-28 . Ethnologue . en.
  2. Web site: Napoletano-Calabrese . subscription . 2022-03-28 . Ethnologue . en.
  3. Gerhard Rohlfs, Nuovo dizionario dialettale della Calabria – Le fonti del lessico calabrese, 1977 (945 pages)
  4. The Languages of Italy, Giacomo Devoto
  5. Cesare Morisani, Vocabolario del dialetto di reggio Calabria colle corrispondenti parole italiane, 1991, Sala Bolognese : Forni (228 pages).
  6. Web site: Sicilian . subscription . 2022-03-28 . Ethnologue . en.
  7. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ell Ethnologue report for Greek
  8. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=frp Ethnologue report for Franco-Provençal
  9. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=aae Ethnologue report for Albanian, Arbëreshë