Italian dialects

If you’ve never visited Italia, you might not know this! Italians have more dialects than pizza toppings. For example, if you walk down the cobblestone streets of Rome and listen to the locals, you might feel the small inventory of Italian words you know is not helping you much! They seem to be speaking a different language.

Guess what? They’re speaking in another language! These dialects do not have a written form but are the lifeblood of informal conversations between folks from the same city. And sometimes, it can get a little confusing (even for Italians). If somebody from Milan visits Naples, he might need a translator to understand.

But let’s pause here for a second. Oh boy, do we love a good debate in Italy! And this one’s been heating up for years. On one side, we’ve got the folks who love calling regional languages “dialects.” And we’ve got the scholars who say, “No way, Jose!”

Now, let’s examine the facts. From a linguistic point of view, our Italian ’dialects’ and the national language are on the same level. Most of them descend from the mother tongue, Latin.

So, they are all languages with a common ancestor (Latin). Why can’t we call them what they are? Our regional languages.

But now that the concept of regional languages has surfaced, you may be afraid to travel around Italy. But don’t worry, Italians know how to speak the “official“ Italian language. And they use the regional language as a secret code to communicate with other Italians from the same region.

Today’s Italian language has the literary Florentine dialect used in the 1300s as its starting point. So, if you want to learn pure Italian, you better head to Florence.

What are Italian “dialects“?

As mentioned above, each one of these languages branched out from Latin. But, Italian and regional languages have different sociolinguistic roles. Italian is the language of communication within the Italian Republic, the Republic of San Marino, and the Helvetic Canton of Ticino.

And then there are regional languages, or as we mentioned above, some mistakenly like to call them “dialects.“ They’re part of Italy’s cultural heritage. They add some spice to the linguistic soup.

Why was the Italian language chosen above the other “dialects“?

Oh, Italy, you’re full of surprises. Did you know that before Italy had its beloved Italian language, it was just a humble Tuscan “dialect“? Yeah, we all started somewhere, didn’t we?

But then something incredible happened. In the 14th century, literary greats like Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio began writing in the Tuscan dialect, and it changed everything. Suddenly, everyone wanted to speak like the cool kids from Tuscany.

Have you noticed when a celebrity starts wearing something, and it’s all the rage? Next thing you know, even your grandma is sporting the same look.

And that’s what happened with Tuscan. Non-Tuscan authors, like Neapolitan Sannazzaro and Emilian Boiardo, saw how cool it was and started writing in it.

But why did this happen? It wasn’t just because Tuscan was cool. The explanation is in Tuscan literature and culture. It enriched the Tuscan dialect.

So, here we are today, with Italy’s official language, based on the Tuscan “dialect“ that took the country by storm.

Could it have been otherwise?

Could you imagine Italy’s official language based on the Sicilian Poetical School instead of the Tuscan “dialect“? The phrase “Mastru Cola, Cu ‘Na Furma“ would be heard nationwide! But who knows what else would be different? Maybe the hand gestures would be different (more like in “The Godfather“ style)

But we can only speculate because it didn’t happen. Italians crowned the Tuscan “dialect“ and have been running with it ever since.

So, let’s not dwell on what could have been. Let’s focus on what happened. A beautiful language that brings all Italians together. Whether from Sicily or Tuscany (or anywhere between), all speak the same language and understand each other. 

Was the Italian language an imposition?

Unlike the French or the Brits, Italians didn’t have a state apparatus to back up the spreading of a language until the unification of Italy.

And let’s not forget about those Italian states – they were like overbearing parents who thought they knew best. They made political choices left and right, but it was all just noise to the dispossessed, almost illiterate population. Can you believe that about 80 percent couldn’t even read or write at the time of the unification? Talk about a tough crowd!

So, every regional language had its opportunity to expand and take control over Italy before the unification without the Italian State’s intervention. When Italy became one, the Tuscan “dialect“ was the clear winner and thus became the Italian language.

Can it be said that Piedmontese, Marche, and Neapolitan are languages?

Yes and no for the reasons mentioned at the beginning of this post. It must be kept in mind, however, that the opposition to the term dialect springs as a reaction to a period of great contempt for dialects.

What is the origin of Italian dialects?

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we talk about the origins of the Italian languages! We’re diving into the deep end here.

With the Roman conquest, Latin spread like wildfire throughout half of Europe. And it overlapped with the languages spoken by the locals.

Then barbarians came along and invaded the peninsula and added their influence. Everyone brought something to share.

But wait, there’s more! There’s a new theory in town. It says that the father of all dialects isn’t the Latin of Romanization. It’s the Latin used before the Roman Empire was even born. This theory explains how the present-day dialect areas match up with the frontiers of ancient cultures in prehistoric Italy. It’s a linguistic archaeological dig.

But do all Italian dialects have Latin as their ancestor?

No, they do not. So, we’re mixing it up now! Most of the regional languages do descend from Latin. But it’s worth mentioning that there are German dialects around Italy. Here we list a few municipalities:

• Around Monte Rosa (Alemanni).
• In Verona and Vicenza (Cimbri).
• In Friuli (Carinthian).
• South Tyroleans and the Mochenians (Bavarians).

But wait! Italy also has Slovenian dialects in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Croatian dialects in Molise, and the Grecanici (or Grichi) dialects of Salento and the southern end of Calabria. And don’t forget the Albanian dialects spread throughout much of south-central Italy and Sicily.

These languages are only a few examples from the group in which Latin is not the father. So, contrary to the general approach taken at the beginning of this post, diving deeper, we discover that Italians have more language flavors than Baskin-Robbins.

Italian dialect groups

We can not discuss this topic without mentioning the Spezia-Rimini line. It’s the Mason-Dixon line of Italian dialects. It splits the northern ones from the central-southern ones. 

Now, let’s talk about some of our famous dialects. We’ve got the Sicilian dialect that’s like music to the ears with its sing-songy tones. And then there’s the Neapolitan dialect, which is so fast and furious. It’ll leave your head spinning faster than a plate of spaghetti.

And let’s not forget about the Venetian dialect. It feels like a warm hug from a grandmother. You might not understand a word she’s saying, but you feel the love in every syllable.

So, let’s see some of the most famous Italian dialects! In the picture below, there are several expressions. Could you guess what they mean? Read until the end of this post to get answers.

Tuscan

The beautiful region of Tuscany and their fancy way of speaking go together. They like to aspirate their “c’s.“ You can try it yourself. Try saying “La Coca-Cola“ without any “c’s.“

And they also like to shorten their verbs. “Andare” becomes “anda.“ They seem to be saying: “I gotta go, but I don’t have time to say the whole word, so let’s get this show on the road!“

Neapolitan

UNESCO recognizes Neapolitan as the real deal. You can hear it in Naples and the Campania region. And it’s a tough nut to crack!

They took Italian, put it in a blender, and added a dash of Greek origins. It’s a linguistic smoothie that can be a real brain-buster! You’re just sitting there, nodding, pretending you know what they’re saying, but you’re just thinking about pizza. And who could blame you? I mean, have you tried Neapolitan pizza? It’s wonderful!

But back to the language. UNESCO recognizes it as a language and views it as a cultural treasure. So next time you’re in Naples or the Campania region, don’t be afraid to try it! Who knows, maybe you’ll impress the locals, and they’ll invite you over for some pizza! That’s an offer you can not refuse!

Sicilian

The beautiful island of Sicily is rich in traditions and customs. And its language has many different influences.

It’s a linguistic gumbo, a flavorful combination of Latin, Greek, Arabian, and many more ancient civilizations! It’s no wonder it’s still studied today. It’s like a linguistic time capsule!

And let’s not forget Sicily’s location is strategic. The island was the ultimate melting pot of cultures, a hub for trade, and a crossroads of civilizations. Even the mafia couldn’t resist its charms! But let’s not talk about them.

From its stunning coastline to its rich history, Sicily has something for everyone. And its language is the cherry on top of an already startling sundae!

Venetian

One of the toughest dialects to understand is Venetian. They take the vowels and chop them off like a chef preparing vegetables! “Cane“ becomes “can,“ and “pane“ becomes “pan.“ 

Ligurian

Liguria is a language with a flavor all its own. There are many variations of this dialect. The most important one is the Genovese dialect. Let us compare it to the Parmesan cheese on top of pizza – it gives it that special kick.

And did you know that the locals have a nickname for Genova? They call it “Zena“ – similar to how we call San Francisco “Frisco.“

Sardinian

Sardinia is no ordinary island. The language spoken there is independent of all the other neo-Latin languages in Italy. That’s right, it’s the renegade rebel of Italian dialects, saying: “I don’t need no stinking Italian!“

Sardinian is the most conservative of all the Latin-derived languages. And if you head up to the northwest part of the island, to the city of Alghero, you might be in for a surprise. You might hear an archaic variation of Catalan, the language spoken in Barcelona and other parts of Spain. You might be wondering, “What is going on here? Did I take a wrong turn and end up in Catalonia?“ But it’s all because of Spanish immigration that occurred in the late 1300s. Talk about leaving a mark on a place!

Apulian

Hello, Puglia! Here is where the beaches are pristine, and the food is fantastic! But watch out – the dialect can be a doozy! That’s right, folks, if you’re not from around these parts, you might find yourself scratching your head, “What did they say?“

The dialects of Puglia come in two flavors, like a delicious gelato – there’s the one from the city of Bari, and then there’s the one from the Salento area. And they both pack a punch!

Now, if you want to impress the locals, try saying this little tongue twister: “Salento: lu’ sole, lu’ mare, lu’ ientu.“ It means “Salento: the sun, the sea, the wind.“ And it is a well-known quote about the Salento area.

Translation of the expressions shown in the Illustration above

Did you guess what they meant? Here are the answers.

1st Expression: A sciacquai sa conca a su burriccu, si perdidi abba, tempu e saboni.

It’s a saying in the Sardinian language. 

Translation into standard Italian: A lavare (sciacquare) la testa all’asino si perde acqua, tempo e sapone. 

Translation into English: To wash (rinse) a donkey’s head, you lose water, time, and soap.

2nd Expression: Quann’ ‘o mare è calmo, ogni strunz è marenaro.

It’s a saying in the Napoletano language. 

Translation into standard Italian: Quando il mare è calmo, ogni stronzo è marinaio. 

Translation into English: When the sea is calm, every fool is a sailor.

3rd Expression: Vattinne và!

It’s a saying in the Bari language. This one is pretty much universal in southern Italy. You’ll hear this when someone says some tall tale that is impossible to be true. It means get out of here.

Translation into standard Italian: Fuori da qui!

Translation into English: Come ooon!/Suuure/Get out of here!

4th Expression: Acqua, cunsigghiu e sali a cu n`addumanna `n ci nni dari.

It’s a saying in the Sicilian language. 

Translation into standard Italian: Acqua, consiglio e sale non darne a chi non te ne chiede.

Translation into English: Water, advice, and salt should not be given to those not asking for it.

Wrapping Up!

Have you discovered why they are called languages and not dialects? Were you impressed with the diversity present in Italy? I have a treat for you! Are you ready for some more Italian language fun? Click right over here, and you’ll find a whole post full of facts about the Italian language.