Accents from Italy

Colin Ott, Creighton Jackson

Today, we'll take a trip to Italy and learn how to speak with an authentic Italian accent.

Listen to the following link as a precursor to what we will all learn today.
http://web.ku.edu/idea/europe/italy/italy1.mp3


Another Great Clip to get a deep Sicilian Accent.
http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=316



Now that you've heard the accent, lets set about disecting it.

• There is typically one pronunciation for every vowel:

A = ah

E = eh

I = Ee

O = Oh

U = Oo

• -ng- pronounces both consonants.

• Initial sm- pronounced as zm-

• Dental Fricatives (-th- as in thousand) are nonexistent and usually pronounced as -d-

• Words which end in consonants are often ended with a heavy accent (often pronounced, stereotypically) as a schwa. This is what is responsible for the “That’s-a Spicy-a meat-a ball-a” phrase.

Now, some practice:

Pronounce the following sentences:

The singer and the banker go to the cafe every Tuesday.

This is the thousandth anniversary of something important happening.

It's a small world after all.

That's a spicy meatball.

Another one bites the dust.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.


Now take a look at this clip from "Life is Beautiful" and Italian movie starring Roberto Benigni speaking English.