Difference between revisions of "Language/Italian/Pronunciation/The-tonic-accent"
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
<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 | The tonic accent is an emphasis on one syllable of a word. | ||
NB: In the examples below in Italian, the emphasis on one syllable is written in '''bold'''. | |||
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 be located on different syllables 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 "to live" | So if we pronounce the verb "to live" ("abi'''ta'''re") in Italian, the tonic accent is in the penultimate syllable. | ||
On the other hand, if we conjugate this verb to the first person of | On the other hand, if we conjugate this verb to the first person of the present mood (''''a'''bito'), the tonic accent is formed on the first syllable. | ||
The words are classified into five groups according to the tonic accent | The words are classified into five groups according to place the tonic accent: | ||
== <span class = "notranslate">Le parole tronche</span> == | == <span class = "notranslate">Le parole tronche</span> == | ||
The words whose emphasis is marked on the last syllable are called " | The words whose emphasis is marked on the last syllable are called "parole tronche": | ||
*Example: ' | "tronche" 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: 'Citt'''à'''' (city) is the modern version of the word 'cittade' (the last syllable, 'de' having been deleted) | |||
'Servit'''ù'''' (servitude) had for the old version the word 'servitude' (the last syllable, 'de' having been removed) | |||
== <span class = "notranslate">Le parole piane</span> == | == <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 " | In the vast majority of Italian words the tonal accent is on the penultimate syllable, as in the example cited above. | ||
*Example: | These words are called "parole piane": | ||
*Example: Chia'''ma'''re (Call) or '''tro'''ppo (too much) | |||
== <span class = "notranslate">Le parole sdrucciole</span> == | == <span class = "notranslate">Le parole sdrucciole</span> == | ||
When the tonal accent is on the | When the tonal accent is on the penultimate syllable, the word is said "parole sdrucciole": | ||
*Example: | *Example: '''A'''bito (I live) or '''mu'''sica (music) | ||
== <span class = "notranslate">Le parole bisdrucciole</span> == | == <span class = "notranslate">Le parole bisdrucciole</span> == | ||
Other words have an emphasis on the third syllable. They are called | Other words have an emphasis on the third syllable. They are called "parole bisdrucciole": | ||
*Example: | *Example: Fi'''lo'''sofo (philosopher) or di'''te'''melo (tell me) | ||
== <span class = "notranslate">Le parole trisdrucciole</span> == | == <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 | And finally, more rarely, we find words whose tonic accent is on the fourth syllable. | ||
*Example: | They are called "parole trisdrucciole": | ||
*Example: Indi'''ca'''glielo (tell him) or reci'''ta'''melo (recite it to me) | |||
Revision as of 21:02, 16 November 2019
The tonic accent is an emphasis on one syllable of a word.
NB: In the examples below in Italian, the emphasis on one syllable is written in bold.
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 be located on different syllables 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 present mood ('abito'), the tonic accent is formed on the first syllable.
The words are classified into five groups according to place the tonic accent:
Le parole tronche
The words whose emphasis is marked on the last syllable are called "parole tronche": "tronche" 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 "parole piane":
- Example: Chiamare (Call) or troppo (too much)
Le parole sdrucciole
When the tonal accent is on the penultimate syllable, the word is said "parole sdrucciole":
- Example: Abito (I live) or musica (music)
Le parole bisdrucciole
Other words have an emphasis on the third syllable. They are called "parole bisdrucciole":
- 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 "parole trisdrucciole":
- Example: Indicaglielo (tell him) or recitamelo (recite it to me)