----- Original Message -----

From: Grant Michael Scalisi

To: Linguasiciliana@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 1:14 AM

Subject: [Linguasiciliana] LSU...

Bon Giornu a tutti:
     I have a few comments and questions for the group.  First,
concerning the LSU.  I have a few issues with the LSU that I would
like to share with you.  One is the idea of using J.K. "Kirk"
Bonner's book.  I do think that it's important to have a Standard
Sicilian.  A few things go along with that though.  I think that the
Standard Sicilian should give credit to as many of the Sicilian
dialects as possible.  Now as I said, I think that Kirk Bonner's book
is a great resource to have.  Kirk has completed the difficult first
step.  That being, researching, writing, publishing, and selling a
book that is the basis of Sicilian grammar.  Now by promoting his
book and labeling it as a basis for a Standard Sicilian we will be
much closer to our goal.  By learning the rules that Dr. Bonner has
set forth we will be able to establish a Standard Sicilian much
faster.  Another option is to research, write, publish, and sell
another grammar resource of the Sicilian language.  But that would,
of course, take a long time.  And I believe that Dr. Bonner made an
effort to include as many of the Sicilian dialects as possible.  It's
a difficult task, but I'm sure he's done his best.  At any rate, as I
said, it's a great resource and should definitely be considered as a
possible source for creating a Standard Sicilian language. 
      Another concern of mine involving the LSU is the idea of using
a "modern" Sicilian rather than Sicilianu Anticu/Old Sicilian.  I
understand that all languages go through changes over time, but I
believe it's different for Sicilian.  It's my belief that a "modern"
Sicilian IS a dialect of Italian, rather than a separate language
like Sicilianu Anticu.  As I said, we all know that languages change
over time, but Sicilian technically isn't a language and therefore
has had a lot of pressure on it from the legal language of Italy. 
Not to mention the influence of other things such as WWII and
Mussolini.  I just think that Sicilian has changed too much because
of the Italian influence on it.  That it's conformed to Italian.  If
you think about it, it makes sense.  Sicilians are taught Italian in
school, they speak Italian during the day, every day, and then go
home and speak Sicilian.  It's common sense that their Italian and
Sicilian will begin to mix and one will adopt characteristics of the
other.  And because Italian is used more often, their Sicilian is
lost more as Italian begins to take over their vocabulary.  I've seen
it before.  I even do it myself.  Example: When I first began to
study Italian, I got used to making the "o" sound at the end of the
masculine words.  Then I began to study Sicilian and sometimes got
my "o" and "u" endings mixed up.  Now that I have been studying
Sicilian for a while, even while reading an Italian word that ends
in "o", I say the "u" sound.  Just out of habit.  That is one
example.  Another example is of a man I know who was born in Sicily
and came to the U.S. when he was young.  He spoke Sicilian very well
until he installed an Italian satellite in his home and began
watching TV in Italian.  Now he says phrases half in Sicilian and the
other half in Italian.  He mixes the languages.  That's just from
Italian TV.  I can imagine the results of living in the situation in
Italy.  So, to say it again, I believe that a "modern" Sicilian is a
dialect of Italian and isn't the actual true Sicilian.  I believe
that Sicilianu Anticu is the least influenced Sicilian that we have
today.  I may be wrong, and in that case, the Sicilian that is less
influenced/Italianized than Sicilianu Anticu should be used.  Either
way, I don't think a "modern" Sicilian should be used.
I welcome all of you to email me and share your opinions with me.  I
think we can learn a lot from each other, so don't be shy and please
email me.  If you are able, please write in English.  I can read
Sicilian and Italian, but it takes me a lot of time.  So English if
you can.  Thanks a lot.  I look forward to hearing from you. 
      I also wanted to write a short note for GINO PUGLIESE.  Gino:
I saw your notes in the Calabresi dialect.  It's very interesting.  I
was wondering if you speak English and if you'd be able to teach me a
few things about the Calabresi dialect.  I have a CD that is all in
Calabresi.  Although I can understand most of it from my knowledge of
Sicilian, some of it is unintelligible.  Just thought I'd ask. 
Thanks,
                         Grant Micheli Scalisi-Scalise
italianstallion80723@...
     




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