ABSTRACT

Classifications of the various types of modern Italian have proliferated in recent years. A useful schema is provided by Berruto, who identifies three intersecting axes of variation, the diastratic (pertaining to linguistic differences between social strata), the diamesic (pertaining to linguistic differences according to the medium of expression, i.e., written vs. spoken) and diaphasic (pertaining to the range or repertoire of speech varieties at the disposition of speakers). A further, major, dimension of variation, generally reflecting features of the underlying dialects, is the regional, or ‘diatopic’. This chapter focuses on those types of variation in which the structural divergence from standard Italian is most prominent: popular and regional Italian. For comparison of the modern Italian dialects with standard Italian, and an understanding of the effect of the dialects on speakers’ acquisition of Italian, it is useful to make certain distinctions at the outset. In phonology, dialects differ from the standard in respect of the range of speech sounds they possess.