Difference between revisions of "Language/Italian/Pronunciation/The-tonic-accent"
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<div style = "font-size: 300%;"> The tonic accent in Italian </div> | <div style = "font-size: 300%;"> The tonic accent in Italian </div> | ||
The tonic accent is an emphasis, or more precisely, a sound accentuation by a more pronounced pronunciation of the syllable of a word. | The tonic accent is an emphasis, or more precisely, a sound accentuation by a more pronounced pronunciation of the syllable of a word. | ||
This accented syllable is sometimes called a supporting syllable, because it serves as a support for raising the tone of a word. | This accented syllable is sometimes called a supporting syllable, because it serves as a support for raising the tone of a word. | ||
In Italian, the tonic accent can " | |||
In Italian, the tonic accent can "move", one might say, on any syllable of a word. | |||
The tonal accent is just as good for tone as it is for rhythm and therefore for harmony: this is probably why the Italian language is considered a singing language. | The tonal accent is just as good for tone as it is for rhythm and therefore for harmony: this is probably why the Italian language is considered a singing language. | ||
So if we pronounce the verb | So if we pronounce the verb "to live"<span class = "notranslate"> "abitare" </span> in Italian, the tonic accent is in the penultimate syllable. | ||
On the other hand, if we conjugate this verb to the first person | |||
On the other hand, if we conjugate this verb to the first person of the the present (<span class = "notranslate">'abito'</span>), the tonic accent is formed on the first syllable. | |||
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The words are classified into five groups: | The words are classified into five groups: | ||
=== <span class = "notranslate"> | === <span class = "notranslate">Le parole tronche</span> === | ||
The words whose emphasis is marked on the last syllable are called "speech face": face comes from the verb 'troncare' which means to cut. Indeed, these words have lost, for most of them, a syllable and have inherited a graphic accent: | The words whose emphasis is marked on the last syllable are called "speech face": face comes from the verb 'troncare' which means to cut. Indeed, these words have lost, for most of them, a syllable and have inherited a graphic accent: | ||
Example: 'Città' (city) is the modern version of the word 'cittade' (the last syllable, 'de' having been deleted) | *Example: 'Città' (city) is the modern version of the word 'cittade' (the last syllable, 'de' having been deleted) | ||
'Servitù' (servitude) had for the old version the word 'servitude' (the last syllable, 'de' having been removed) | 'Servitù' (servitude) had for the old version the word 'servitude' (the last syllable, 'de' having been removed) | ||
=== <span class = "notranslate"> | === <span class = "notranslate">Le parole piane</span> === | ||
In the vast majority of Italian words the tonal accent is on the penultimate syllable, as in the example cited above. These words are called "speech piane": | In the vast majority of Italian words the tonal accent is on the penultimate syllable, as in the example cited above. These words are called "speech piane": | ||
Example: Chiamare (Call) or troppo (too much) | *Example: Chiamare (Call) or troppo (too much) | ||
=== <span class = "notranslate"> | === <span class = "notranslate">Le parole sdrucciole</span> === | ||
When the tonal accent is on the antepenultimate (the penultimate syllable), the word is said "sdrucciole word": | When the tonal accent is on the antepenultimate (the penultimate syllable), the word is said "sdrucciole word": | ||
Example: Abito (I live) or musica (music) | *Example: Abito (I live) or musica (music) | ||
=== <span class = "notranslate"> | === <span class = "notranslate">Le parole bisdrucciole</span> === | ||
Other words have an emphasis on the third syllable. They are called <span class = "notranslate"> "bisdrucciole speech </span>: | Other words have an emphasis on the third syllable. They are called <span class = "notranslate"> "bisdrucciole speech </span>: | ||
Example: | *Example: Filosofo (philosopher) or ditemelo (tell me) | ||
=== <span class = "notranslate"> | === <span class = "notranslate">Le parole trisdrucciole</span> === | ||
And finally, more rarely, we find words whose tonic accent is on the fourth syllable. They are called "trisdrucciole speech": | And finally, more rarely, we find words whose tonic accent is on the fourth syllable. They are called "trisdrucciole speech": | ||
Example: | *Example: Indicaglielo (tell him) or recitamelo (recite it to me) | ||
Revision as of 20:04, 16 November 2019
The tonic accent is an emphasis, or more precisely, a sound accentuation by a more pronounced pronunciation of the syllable of a word.
This accented syllable is sometimes called a supporting syllable, because it serves as a support for raising the tone of a word.
In Italian, the tonic accent can "move", one might say, on any syllable of a word.
The tonal accent is just as good for tone as it is for rhythm and therefore for harmony: this is probably why the Italian language is considered a singing language.
So if we pronounce the verb "to live" "abitare" in Italian, the tonic accent is in the penultimate syllable.
On the other hand, if we conjugate this verb to the first person of the the present ('abito'), the tonic accent is formed on the first syllable.
Classification of words according to place the tonic accent
The words are classified into five groups:
Le parole tronche
The words whose emphasis is marked on the last syllable are called "speech face": face comes from the verb 'troncare' which means to cut. Indeed, these words have lost, for most of them, a syllable and have inherited a graphic accent:
- Example: 'Città' (city) is the modern version of the word 'cittade' (the last syllable, 'de' having been deleted)
'Servitù' (servitude) had for the old version the word 'servitude' (the last syllable, 'de' having been removed)
Le parole piane
In the vast majority of Italian words the tonal accent is on the penultimate syllable, as in the example cited above. These words are called "speech piane":
- Example: Chiamare (Call) or troppo (too much)
Le parole sdrucciole
When the tonal accent is on the antepenultimate (the penultimate syllable), the word is said "sdrucciole word":
- Example: Abito (I live) or musica (music)
Le parole bisdrucciole
Other words have an emphasis on the third syllable. They are called "bisdrucciole speech :
- Example: Filosofo (philosopher) or ditemelo (tell me)
Le parole trisdrucciole
And finally, more rarely, we find words whose tonic accent is on the fourth syllable. They are called "trisdrucciole speech":
- Example: Indicaglielo (tell him) or recitamelo (recite it to me)