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.

English Southern Calabrian Northern Calabrian Italian
tomorrow rumàni crai / dumàni domani
in the meantime asciatàntu / shramènti interimme Nel frattempo
the day before last avantèri nustierzu L'altro ieri
to yawn sbadigghjàri alare/galà sbadigliare

Central–Southern Calabrian

Map showing the distribution of Sicilian type dialects across Calabria and Italy

The Central–Southern Calabrian (calavrisi or calabbrisi) dialects are largely spoken in the provinces of Reggio Calabria, Vibo Valentia, Catanzaro, almost all that of Crotone and, depending on classifications, the grouping can also encompass the varieties of southern Cilentan and southern Salentino. 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. 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. 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 Calabrian Greek Albanian Sicilian Italian French English
batràci βάτραχος bretkosë larunchia ranocchio grenouille frog
zinnapòtamu κυνοπόταμος vidër lutra lontra loutre otter
bampurìddha / lampurìdda / vampurìddha λαμπυρίδα xixëllonjë - lucciola luciole firefly
purtuàllu πορτοκάλι portokall partugaḍḍu arancia orange orange
'nnaca νάκη djep naca culla berceau cradle
tuppitiàri τύπτω godit (at)tuppari battere battre to hit

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

Central-Southern Calabrian Norman or French Sicilian Italian English
'ccattari accater (cf. accapitāre) (a)ccattari comprare to buy
'nduja andouille sausizzuḍḍa salsicciotto type of sausage
buccirìa boucherie (v)uccirìa macelleria butcher's
arrocculàri reculer (a)rruccul(j)ari/(a)rruzzulari rotolare to recoil
raggia rage raggia rabbia anger
sciarabàllu carriole (char à bancs) (menzu) scarruzziatu veicolo sbatacchiato charabanc
travagghiari travailler travagghiari lavorare to work

Other words derived from Spanish, Catalan, and Occitan:

Conjugations

Èssiri (to be)

Present Imperfect Past simple Subjunctive present Subjunctive imperfect
(j)eusugnuerafujachi fussifussi
tu(ni)si'erifustichi fussifussi
iddhu, iddhaestierafu(i)chi fussifussi
nu(i)simuèrumufummuchi fùssimufùssimu
vu(i)sitierufustuchi fustufùssivu
iddhisunnuèrunufuruchi fùssirufùssiru

A(v)iri (to have)

Present Imperfect Past simple Subjunctive present Subjunctive imperfect
(j)euajuaivaeppichi aissiaissi
tu(ni)aiaiviaistichi aissiaissi
iddhu, iddhaaviaivaeppichi aissiaissi
nuiaimuaìvumuèppimuchi aìssimuaìssimu
vuiaitiaivuaistuchi aìssivuaìssivu
iddhiànnuaìvunuèppiruchi 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.

Reggino Piana di Gioia Tauro Locride Catanzaro Alto Jonica
"Tutti i cristiani "Tutti l'òmani "Tutti i perzuni "Tutti l'òmini "Tutti l'uàmini
nàsciunu lìbberi nàscinu lìbbèri nèsciunu lìbberi nèscianu lìbberi nàscianu lìbberi
e ntâ stessa manera e 'â stessa manera e ntâ stessa manera e sunnu e su'
'i l'authri di l'atri di l'atti i stessi i stessi
pi dignità e diritti. pe dignità e diritti. pe dignità e diritti. pe dignità e diritti. pe dignità e diritti.
Iddhi ndannu Tutti ndannu Iji ndannu Ognunu ava u cerveddhu Ognunu tena u cerivìaddru
ognunu u so ciriveddhu ognunu u so cervellu ognunu u cerveju soi e a raggiuna sue e a raggiune sua
mi 'rraggiùnunu pemmu reggiùnanu soi pemmu raggiùnanu e a cuscenza sua e a cuscìanza sua
e ndannu mi càmpunu e ndannu pemmu càmpanu e ndannu u càmpanu e ava ma si cumporta e s'a' de comportare
unu cu l'authru unu cu l'atru unu cu l'attu cu l'atri propriu cu l'atri propriu
comu mi sunnu frati comu frati figgji comu frati figgji comu si fhussèranu cuamu si fòranu
râ stessa matri." dâ stessa mamma." dâ stessa matri." i frati soi." frati sui."

Northern Calabrian (Cosentian)

Map showing the extensions of Cosentian dialects (Ve) and Lausberg area (Vd) within the Cosenza province of Calabria.

The Northern Calabrian (cusintinu or cosentino) dialects are largely found throughout the Province of Cosenza, and even if they could still be categorized together with Neapolitan varieties, they nonetheless are heavily transitional towards Sicilian ones.

Conjugations

Esse (to be)

Present Imperfect Past simple Subjunctive present Subjunctive imperfect
iusignuerasignu statufossa
tu(ni)si'erisi' statufossi
iddru, iddraèeraè statufossa
nuasimuèramusimu statifòssimu
vuasitièratisiti statifòssati
iddri(o loro)su'èranusu' statifòssaru

Avì (to have)

Present Imperfect Past simple Subjunctive present Subjunctive imperfect
iuajuavìaê (aju) avutuavissa
tu(ni)a'aviia' avutuavissi
iddru, iddraa'avìaa' avutuavissa
nuaavimuavìamuamu avutuavìssamu
vuaavitiavìatiavit' avutu or ât' avutuavvìssati
iddriànnuavìanuànnu avutuavìssaru

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.

Reggino Cosentian
"Tutti i cristiàni "Tutti i ggìenti
nàsciunu libberi nascianu libberi
e ntâ stessa manèra e 'gguali
ill'authri all'àtri
pi dignità e diritti. ppì ddignità e diritti.
Iddhi ndànnu Ognunu
ognunu u so ciriveddhu tena cirbìeddru
mi 'rraggiùnunu raggiune e cuscìenza
e 'ndannu mi càmpunu e s'ha de cumbortà
unu cull'authru cull'atri
comu mi sùnnu fràti cumu si li fòssaru
râ stessa matri." frati."

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. ↑ Ethnologue report for Greek.
  7. ↑ Ethnologue report for Franco-Provençal.
  8. ↑ Ethnologue report for Albanian, Arbëreshë.