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Languages of Calabria

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). 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: 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.[citation needed]

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.

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.

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

Other words derived from Spanish, Catalan, and Occitan:

Conjugations

Êssiri (to be)

Aìri (to have)

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.

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)

Avì (to have)

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.

Bibliography

Other languages in Calabria

Bibliography

Italian bibliography:

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sicilian". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  2. ^ "Napoletano-Calabrese". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  3. ^ Gerhard Rohlfs, Nuovo dizionario dialettale della Calabria – Le fonti del lessico calabrese, 1977 (945 pages)
  4. ^ The Languages of Italy, Giacomo Devoto ISBN 0-226-14368-6
  5. ^ Cesare Morisani, Vocabolario del dialetto di reggio Calabria colle corrispondenti parole italiane, 1991, Sala Bolognese : Forni (228 pages).
  6. ^ "Sicilian". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  7. ^ Ethnologue report for Greek.
  8. ^ Ethnologue report for Franco-Provençal.
  9. ^ Ethnologue report for Albanian, Arbëreshë.

External links