SYLLABLE
In accord to the number of syllables, words can be distinguished in monosyllable, bisyllable, trisyllable, polisyllable (with four or more syllables).
| NUMBER | EXAMPLES |
| - monosyllable | ma, tu, î, nu, ce, nen |
| - bisyllable | mâ-ne, pé-de, ve-dé, par-là |
| - trisyllable | pe-lî-te, gnàq-que-le, stù-pe-de |
| - polisyllable | frag-gia-vì-que-le, mà-gne-te-lu |
In the dialect the method for division in syllables is identical to Italian. It doesn't need to forget that the contracted vowels (as ê) are pronounced, even if in bland way, and they belong to the syllable. Then belle, quendende, divide them respectively in two and three syllables: bèl-lê, quên-dèn-dê.
RULES FOR THE VOWELS
- A vowel at the beginning of word, followed by an only consonant or from more consonants
[not doubles] form a syllable. Ex.:
- a-ne-me
- ù-leme
- Diphthongs and triphthongs don't divide
them. Ex.:
- jè-re
- uòj-jie [or uo-jjie]
- pen-z(e)jè-re.
- Vowels that form hiatus can be separated. Ex.:
- pa-hû-re
- ma-jé-stre
RULES FOR CONSONANTS
- A simple consonant form a syllable with the following vowel or
diphthong. Ex.:
- là-ve-te
- fî-le
- dejè-ce
- nnuòjje.
- Double consonants (except to the beginning of word) is
always divided. Ex.:
- brut-te
- ccap-pòt-te.
- A group of consonants make syllable with the vowel that follows
it, if only this group can be found to the beginning of another Italian or dialect word or
it represents a pure graphic sign [gn, qu, palatal sc].
Ex.:
- la-'gne
- fe-ne-stre
- qua-dre
- etc...
- The semiconsonantic group jj represents the derivative
of the Italian palatal gl and it can be treated as a double consonant
or as an only consonant. Ex.:
- paj-je or pa-jje
- maj-je or ma-jje
- The group cq is equivalent to a double q. Ex.:
- ac-que
- ac-qua-ió-le
- The s, impure [followed from other consonant] form always syllable with the following consonant.
Ex.:
- qui-ste
- pò-ste
- etc...
- As the impure s they also involve š and ž.
Ex.:
- šcat-taz-ze
- žghie-que-lâ-te
- etc...
- A word at the end of line doesn't be apostrophized because the apostrophized syllable goes to unite
itself with the following word and it cannot be separated. Ex.:
- del- l'a-ne-me
- del- l'aghe
The accent is where the voice falls with more force. Therefore in words we distinguish tonic syllables (where the accent falls) and atonic syllables. In accord to where the accent falls, the words they are considered:
| WORDS | EXAMPLES | ACCENT |
| oxyton | pe-rò, prev-ve-dé | last |
| paroxyton | can-te, me-le-gnâ-me, for-te | penultimate |
| proparoxyton | ù-le-me, à-ge-le | third-last |
| bisdrucciole [*] | màn-ne-me-lu | fourth-from-last |
[*] - having an accent on the fourth-last syllable.
They exist nevertheless some atonic monosyllables that support them with the following word [very often through elision or apocopation] or with the word that precedes them. Ex.:
- n'o-me (un uomo) [proclitic]
- 'nu câ-ne [proclitic]
- l'àr-be-re [proclitic]
- 'cca-tte-me [enclitic]
- dim-me-lu [enclitic]
Atonic monosyllables can have put before or after the word to which they support them and they are respectively proclitics and enclitics. Procliticis are always separated by the word that it follows while enclitics tie it to the preceding word. Ex.:
- m'u prejèste? [do
you lend it to me?]
- me l'a ditte [he has told me it]
- 'ccà-tte-me-lu [buy me it]
- dàc-ce-la [give it to him]
Atonic monosyllables are classified in:
| articles | 'u, 'a, 'i, l', le, 'nu, ''na |
| pronouns | me, te, ce, ve, mi, ti, ci, vi, ne, le, la, lu, li, m', t', c', v', l, |
| conjunctions | e, o, ma, se |
| adverbs | ce, ve, ne, nen, n' |
| prepositions | a, da, de, 'n, che, c', pe', tra, fra |
Accents can be of three types: acute,
grave or circumflex.
Accents don't always correspond to the real pronunciation. For instance 'ccattà
has contracted both the vowels a [both the accented one and that atonic], more closed than the
Italian a and similar to the second vowel of German words Mutter,
Hitler, etc...
The same can be said for verbs of the third conjugation [or other words] as
for instance
merì, seffrì, pelì, etc. whose accented ì is also
contracted in î.
While as it regards the é and the è, the ò and the ó, they has a real correspondence of sound similar to Italian. Ex.: vedé, velé, fejè, sejè, però, nonnò, etc...
The circumflex accent is used for distinguishing:
- î [= I pronoun] from i [= have verb].
- scî [= yes adverb] from scì [= to go out verb]
Suffixes (of altered nouns) in -celle or -gèlle (sing.) and -cielle or gielle (pl.) they can have the tonic e open (è) or closed (é), that is: -cèlle and -célle, -cièlle and -ciélle.
- vendecélle < > vendecèlle
- vendeciélle < > vendecièlle
- uajjengélle < > uajjengèlle
- uajjengiélle (uajjengille ) < > uajjengièlle.
RULES
The accent is marked:
- over all oxyton words of two or more syllables. Ex.: - però, vedé, mmestecà, etc...
- over monosyllabic verbs fà, dà, dì, jì, scì, prì. [the accent can be also circumflex].
- on monosyllables with diphthong (real or false) where the accent falls on the second vowel.
Ex.: già, cchiù, siè, tiè, etc...
- over the 3ª pers. sing. of the pres. ind. of the verb èsse:
è
- over the 1ª pers. sing. of the pres. ind. of the v. avé: é.
- over monosyllables 'llà [there avv.], né [neither cong.], scî [yes avv.]
- At times for problems of homonymy some words [optionally] can be accented. Ex.: légge (subst.) and lègge (verb).
- The accent is marked over né (cong.) distinguishing it from ne (pron.) and from ne' (not avv.)
The apostrophe indicate an elision has happened for the suppression of the final or initial vowel [apheresis]. The dialect does wide use of the elision, apheresis, apocopation... Sentence doesn't exist without these morphological figures. Ex.:
- A 'vûte n'ata vote n'attacche de córe.
- L'àvete n'u sanne chilli fatte.
- 'U fatt' è chiâre.
- 'Ccàtteme 'nu pâre de scarpe.
The apostrophe can be congenital in the word [that is already registered as term of dictionary] or determined by two or more words in the sentence. Ex.:
a) - congenital - 'ccattà, 'na, 'nu, 'ngannà, etc...
b) - determined - so' cinquand'anne - bell' a mmamme!, etc...
The apocopation (always with the apostrophe) indicate the fall of a vowel or a syllable independently from the meeting with another word. Ex.:
- di', fa', da', sta', va'
[imperative forms of dì, fà, dà, stà, jî].
- mo' [now].
- po', vo' [it can, he/she wants] - really it isn't apocopation but vowel syncopation in the first case and vowel syncopation plus apocopation in the second.
EXAMPLES OF VOWEL SUBTRACTION
The vowel subtraction (apheresis, apocopation, elision) it happens for not creating hiatus. The euphony so realized gives a sense of looseness and lightness in the sentence... The dialect is magistral in this. With brackets we indicate the subtraction.
- Manneggi' a tt' e chi te cambe < manneggi(a) a tt(e) e chi te cambe.
- Va ggerann' attuòrn' attuòrne cóme 'na pàpere de palómme. < Va ggerann(e) attuorn(e) attuorne come 'na pàpere de palomme.
- Prèste padrône c'a fâme ne' cèsse < preste padrone ch(e) a fame ne' cesse.
- 'U ciel' è celeste 'n gopp 'u mâre 'zzurre. < 'U ciel(e) è celeste 'n gopp(e) 'u mare (a)zzurre