- DIPHTHONGS AND TRIPHTHONGS
Three vowels within one same syllable are not compatible with the roman pronounciation,
whose rhytmic pace tends towards regular sounds. Therefore, diphthongs and triphthongs are
shortened, in accordance with the dialect's trend:
my / mine
your / yours
his / her / hers
your books
my relatives |
miei
tuoi
suoi
i libri tuoi
i miei parenti |
mia or mii
tua or tui
sua or sui
li libbri tua (or li libbri tui)
li parenti mia
|
Sometimes this rule also applies to the plural pronouns nostri (our, ours) and
vostri (your, yours), mostly due to a phonetic resemblance with the previous ones rather
than because they are not easy to pronounce:
your money
our friends
|
i soldi vostri
i nostri amici
|
li sordi vostra, but often also li sordi vostri
l'amichi nostra, and more often l'amichi nostri
|
Other words containing three-vowel syllables, or simply the diphthong ...uo...,
are often shortened by dropping the vowel immediately before the one carrying the
stress:
flower-bed
you can
thunder |
aiuola
puoi
tuoni |
aiòla
pòi
tòni
|
Note how in these cases the roman spelling uses an "ò", with grave accent.
In other cases, the word is partially modified:
ox, oxen |
bue, buoi |
bove, bovi
|
Sometimes other diphthongs too are broken up, if the sound of the vowels they are made of
makes an evident contrast (for instance, the diphthongs "...au...", "...io...", etc.); this is done
by inserting a consonant between them.
fear
peg
Paul |
paura
piòlo
Paolo |
pavura
piròlo
Pavolo
|
Lastly, in some cases the vowel not carrying the stress is dropped from the diphthong:
However, the aforesaid change does not occur often, and many other words, such as
piede (foot), bianco (white), fiato (breath), etc., remain unchanged
(see also CHANGE OF I INTO R)
- HOW TO PRONOUNCE CLUSTERS "CE" AND "CI"
In pronouncing the two clusters ce and ci, the sound of "c", which in Italian
is similar to English "ch", in roman sounds more like "sh".
In some texts, even the spelling of these clusters is changed into sce and
sci, which is the closest rendering of these sounds in standard Italian.
dinner
vinegar
pleasure |
cena
aceto
piacere |
sometimes spelt scena, always pronounced "sheh-nah"
sometimes spelt asceto, always pronounced "ah-sheh-toh"
sometimes spelt piascere, always pronounced "pyah-sheh-reh"
|
Also in the cluster ci letter "c" has a similar "sh" sound, compared to the
standard Italian one, but it is never spelt sci:
fast (plural)
acid
onion |
veloci
acido
cipolla |
veloci, pronounced "veh-loh-shyh"
acido, pronounced "ah-shyh-doh"
cipolla, pronounced "shyh-pol-lah"
|
When ci is used as a pronoun, it turns into ce, but it has a
less "slippery" sound than in the previous cases, i.e. it sounds as English "cheh",
and it is never spelt "sce".
he sees us but cannot hear us
it takes courage
I don't believe this |
ci vede ma non ci sente
ci vuole coraggio
non ci credo |
ce vede ma nun ce sente
ce vo' ccoraggio
nun ce credo
|
Another case in which clusters ce and ci never have a "sh" sound
is when due to the roman pronounciation the "c" is doubled:
to go there
tell us
if we come (there)
why are you asking us?
|
andarci
dicci
se ci veniamo
perché ce lo chiedete?
|
annacce
dicce
si cce venìmo
perché cce lo chiedete?
|
- CHANGES OF LETTERS AND CLUSTERS
In many words a change of letter occurs, when their sound does not suit
the roman pronounciation standards.
- CHANGE OF L INTO R
In words where "l" comes before a consonant, the former turns into "r" (always pronounced
with a strong and rolled sound):
football
at least
sickle
tall / high |
calcio
almeno
falce
alto |
carcio
arméno
farce
arto
|
This is also true for monosyllabic words ending with "l":
the
to the
that
with the |
il
al
quel
col |
er
ar
quer
cor
|
In certain cases "l" changes into "r" also when a consonant comes before it,
either single or double:
parcel
self-control
application |
plico
flemma
applicazione |
prico
fremma
appricazzione
|
This change never occurs when the "l" is double: words such as palla (ball),
collo (neck), ballo (dance), etc., remain unchanged.
The word altro (other) is an exception, because it changes into antro,
using "n" as a replacement, although in modern roman an alternative form, artro,
also exists.
Its feminine and plural forns change accordingly:
other (masc. singular)
other (fem. singular)
other (masc. plural)
other (fem. plural) |
altro
altra
altri
altre |
antro
antra
antri
antre |
- CHANGE OF CLUSTER ND INTO NN, AND OF LD INTO LL
These clusters change for an easier pronounciation:
when
gone
I send
to take |
quando
andato
mando
prendere |
quanno
annato
manno
prènne |
In a similar way, caldo (hot) usually turns into callo
(but due to the aforesaid change of "l" into "r" it could seldom become cardo ).
The change also takes place in other compound words that contain "caldo" or "calda":
bed-warmer
warmed up
cauldron
cooked chestnuts |
scaldaletto
riscaldato
caldaio
caldarroste |
scallaletto
riscallato or ariscallato
callaro (see also CHANGE OF I INTO R)
callarroste (also called callalésse) |
In other words, instead, the clusters "ld" turns into "rd", according to the
rule previously discussed:
flap; layer
money |
falda
soldi |
farda
sòrdi |
- CHANGE OF I INTO E (AND VICE-VERSA)
In many monosyllabic words the vowel "i" turns into "e":
the (masc. singular)
of
to you
to us |
il
di
ti
ci |
er (and "l" turns into "r", as previously said)
de
te
ce |
The words dito, dita (finger, fingers) in roman change into deto, deta.
The vowel "i" changes into "e" also in the following pronoun particles:
me / to me
you / to you
him / to him
us / to us
you / to you |
mi
ti
gli
ci
vi |
me
te
je (see CHANGE OF GL INTO J)
ce (as already said)
ve |
Also si (it), used as a reflexive pronoun, turns into se.
Instead the conjunction se (if, whether) changes into si:
if they turn round
they are sold
do you know whether he's coming? |
se si girano
si vendono
sai se viene? |
si se ggireno
se vvénneno
sai si vviene? |
- CHANGE OF S INTO Z
When a word begins with "s" + vowel, the "s" sounds more emphatic
and turns into "z" (always pronounced as "ts") if the previous word ends
with a consonant (likely "n" or "r", such as er, in, cor, sur, per, etc.):
the soldier
the donkey
in the sitting-room
with the sauce
|
il soldato
il somaro
nel salotto
cor sugo
|
er zordato
er zomaro
ner zalotto
cor zugo
|
Such change of "s" into "z" (whose sound is always "ts", never "ds")
corresponds to the strengthening of the first consonant
of the word obtained by doubling it, as described in the following paragraph.
It should be noted that in modern times the use of spelling "z" instead of "s" has become
an obsolete custom, and is now almost extinct, although in the spoken
language its emphatic pronounciation has remained unchanged.
The same change often takes place also inside the word:
to cheer up
peach
to think |
consolare
pesca
pensare |
conzolà
perzica (i.e. persica, with "s" turned into "z")
penzà |
- CHANGE OF GLI AND LI INTO J
For the sake of an easier pronounciation, the cluster "gli" turns into "j" (which is always
pronounced as "y" in yolk, yell, yawn, etc., i.e. with a rather "slippery" sound). This
occurs in other central Italian dialects, as well.
daughter
hay
garlic
cut
advice
him/to him ~ her/to her ~ it/to it |
figlia
paglia
aglio
taglio
consiglio
gli |
fija
paja
ajo
tajo
consijo, or conzijo (see previous change)
je (see above, CHANGE OF I INTO E) |
In a limited number of words, also cluster "li" followed by a vowel ("lia", "lio", etc.) changes into "j" when its original sound is rather close to that of "glia", "glio" etc.:
oil
Italian |
olio
italiano |
ojo
itajano (often, but not always) |
- CHANGE OF I INTO R
In the following Italian clusters "...aio", "...aia", "...aie", "...ai" (more correctly
"...aii", or "...aî"), the roman dialect changes "i" into "r". Such suffixes
are often used to indicate a working activity:
a pair
spoon
butcher
newsagent
baker
flower-seller |
un paio
cucchiaio
macellaio
giornalaio
fornaio
fioraio |
un paro
cucchiaro (see also the DIPHTHONGS paragraph)
macellaro
giornalaro
fornaro
fioraro |
However, there are some exceptions; for instance, guaio (mishap) does not change at all,
the same for buio (dark), noia (boredom), etc.
Also in the case of Italian clusters such as ...iolo, ...iola, ...ioli, ...iole, the "i"
turns into "r", but only in words expressing a job or work: for instance vinaiolo
(wine-maker) becomes vinarolo.
This change does not occur in other cases: for instance, paiolo (cauldron) remains unchaged.
In roman, such ending ...rolo, ...rola, etc., is commonly used for words
expressing a working category also if the equivalent Italian word does not end with ...iolo, ...iola, etc.:
greengrocer (feminine)
fishmongers
rag-and-bone man
poultry-seller |
fruttivendola
pescivendoli
straccivendolo
pollivendolo |
fruttarola (as to say "fruttaiola")
pesciaroli (as to say "pesciaioli")
stracciarolo (as to say "stracciaiolo")
pollarolo (as to say "pollaiolo") |
The suffix ...olo is also taken by some adjectives which describe a person who
does a certain action: for instance, cagnarolo is he who makes a loud and
disturbing noise (which in roman is called cagnara), whereas no equivalent
form (such as "cagnaiolo") exists in Italian.
- CHANGE OF CLUSTERS GIO - GIA INTO CIO - GIO OR GGIO - GGIA
When the clusters gio and gia follow a vowel they are sometimes
replaced by cio and cia (both pronounced with the aforesaid "sh" sound).
In other cases, instead, gio and gia double their first
letter, thus turning into ggio and ggia.
The form with double "g" may also be used as an alternative in cases where
gio and gia are turned into cio and cia, although the latter
would sound more traditional.
bean
slowly, carefully
Ambrose
lie |
fagiolo
adagio
Ambrogio
bugìa |
faciòlo (pronounced "fah-shòh-loh"), or faggiolo
adacio (pronounced "ah-dah-shoh"), or adaggio
Ambròcio (pronounced "Ahm-bròh-shoh"), or Ambroggio
bucìa (pronounced "boo-shýh-ah"), or buggìa |
frieze
prison
royal
grey |
fregio
prigione
regio
grigio |
freggio
priggione
reggio
griggio |
It is interesting how the etymology of the word fròcio, which in Rome
(and in most other parts of Italy) has the meaning of "queer", according to various
scholars sprung from frogia, an archaic term for "nostril", following
the aforesaid phonetic corruption. The reason for such curious anatomical relation
dates back to the times when Rome's police was the papal Swiss Guard. Nicknamed
giannizzeri or sguizzeri by the common people (whose feeling towards them
was not too friendly), these soldiers often had wider nostrils than the Mediterranean
standard, and sexual preferences that the local plebs reputed ...unusual.
If the "g" of clusters gio and gia is double, they are not
replaced by cio and cia, as in maggio (May),
coraggio (courage), formaggio (cheese), etc., all of which remain unchanged.
Instead, when the same clusters follow consonant "n" (i.e. ...ngio, ...ngia ),
they change according to the rule described in the next paragraph.
- INVERSION OF CLUSTER NG
The cluster ng followed by "i" or by "e" is often inverted into gn,
sometimes strengthened, thus spelt ggn:
he / she cries
he /she / it pushed
squeeze / clasp (imperative plural) |
piange
spingeva
stringete |
piagne (or piaggne)
spigneva (or spiggneva)
strignete (or striggnete) |
If ng is followed by "i" or "hi", due to the inversion the latter are dropped:
eaten (fem. singular)
squeeze / clasp (imperative plural)
finger-nails |
mangiata
stringi
unghie |
magnata (or maggnata)
strigni (or striggni)
uggne (but also oggne) |
Instead, if the cluster gn is followed by other vowels or by other clusters,
it remains unchaged: vanga (spade) remains as it is, lungo (long)
may change into longo or remain as in Italian, while Ungheria (Hungary)
turns into Ungaria: in any case, the cluster ng is not inverted.
- CHANGE OF UO INTO O
The cluster uo is contracted into o. This sound is too... uncomfortable
for the roman pronounciation, and it is shortened:
heart
good
egg
empty |
cuore
buono
uovo
vuoto |
core
bono
ovo
vòto |
The real reason of this change, though, is the Latin reminiscence of Rome's dialect (some
of the aforesaid words in Latin are cor, bonus, ovum, without a "u").
All these words are pronounced with a very open-sounded "o", whose grave
accent is usually noted. In this way they can be easily told from other words spelt in
an identical way, but with an acute "o", thus with a different meaning, such as
vòto (empty) and vóto (vote; vow).
The aforesaid contraction does not occur in monosyllabic words, such as tuo (your, yours) and
suo (his, her, hers), which remain unchaged (but only if they
are not followed by the object possessed, see the paragraph ELISIONS).
- CHANGE OF O INTO U (AND VICE-VERSA)
In a certain number of cases, an "o" with a very closed sound in Italian turns into "u" in roman:
not
(local wine measure)
to play |
non
foglietta
giocare |
nun
fujetta (note the change of "gl" into "j")
giucà (nowadays giocà is more common) |
In other cases the opposite change occurs:
mushroom
finger-nail |
fungo
unghia |
fongo
ogna , or oggna (see also INVERSION OF NG) |
- CHANGE OF R INTO A DOUBLE CONSONANT
When "r" is the last letter of the infinitive tense of a verb, followed by
the pronoun suffixes -mi, -ti, -lo, -la, -ci, -vi, -li, -le, or by the reflexive
suffix -si, it usually changes into the same first consonant of the suffix,
thus doubled.
Also remember that all final vowels "i" turn into "e", as previously said.
to see you
to carry him / it
to wash oneself
to build for us |
vederti
portarlo
lavarsi
costruirci |
vedette (-ti becomes -te)
portallo
lavasse (-si becomes -se)
costruicce (-ci becomes -ce) |
Only when the pronoun suffix is -gli, -le or the full pronoun loro
(for all of these, the roman form is je), the "j" is not graphically repeated,
but its sound is stronger, as if it had been actually doubled:
to build for him
to carry her / for her
to keep for them
to give him
to give them |
costruirgli
portarle
tenere loro
dargli
dare loro |
costruije (pronounced as costruijje)
portaje (pronounced as portajje)
teneje (pronounced as tenejje)
daje (pronounced as dajje)
daje (same as above) |
Another change concerns the verbs of the second conjugation whose stress is carried
by the antepenultimate syllable, such as prèndere (to take), spìngere
(to push), cuòcere (to cook), strìngere (to squeeze),
crédere (to believe), pèrdere (to lose), etc. etc.
All these verbs simply drop the "r", without doubling the following consonant:
to take / fetch me
to ask you for
to believe in it
to lose oneself
to sell them (feminine)
to move it |
prendermi
chiederti
crederci
perdersi
venderle
muoverlo |
prendeme
chiedete
credece
perdese
vénnele
mòvelo (see also CHANGE OF UO INTO O) |
SUMMARY OF THE MAIN CHANGES
|
substitution |
|
|
| L into R | salto | sarto |
| I into E | vi | ve |
| S into Z | penso | penzo |
| ND into NN | mandato | mannato |
| GLI or LI into J | quaglia | quaja |
| I into R | carbonaio | carbonaro |
| GIO - GIA into CIO - CIA | fagiolo | faciòlo |
| GIO - GIA into GGIO - GGIA | fagiano | faggiano |
| NG into GN | attinge | attigne |
| UO into O | cuoco | còco |
| O into U (and vice-versa) | non | nun |
| R into a double consonant | lavarle | lavalle |
|
an introduction to the ROMAN DIALECT
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
this text is a property of the author
any form of reproduction is forbidden without his consent
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