Italian Diction

mio, io, mie, tua, due, cui, suo

['mi o] ['i o] ['mi e] ['tu a] ['du e] ['ku i] ['su o]

The following short, common words always have two sepearate syllables (no colon)

mai, poi, bei, tuoi

[ma:i] [pɔ:i] [bɛ:i] [twɔ:i]

The following are diphthongs (strong/weak vowel combinations) and triphthongs. They are one syllable and transcribed with a colon. Consult pgs. 68, 77, 86, 99, and 102

2

When two strong vowels are together, they create how many syllables?

closed

“e” at the end of a word is always

i and u

[j] and [w]

What are the two vowels in Italian that cause a glide? These are also the two weak vowels

a glide

When i or u is followed by another vowel, the letter combination is typlically

Open, [ɛ]

When the combination “ie” is in an interior of a word or final stressed syllable, and does not follow c, g, or sc, is the vowel open or closed?

Ex. chiedi tiepido miele

['kje di] ['tjɛ pi do] ['mjɛ le] 

they are hard

When c, g, and sc are followed by a, o, or u, they are hard or soft?

Ex. cassa scusa gala legga lucca

['kas:sa] ['sku za] ['ga la] ['lɛg:ga] ['luk:ka]

The s sound

Double s makes what sounds?

The z sound

An s surrounded by vowels makes what sound

They are soft

When c, g and sc are followed by e or i, are they hard or soft?

Ex. faci facce gentille scegli legge

['fa tʃi] ['fat:tʃe] [dʒɛn 'ti le] [ʃɛ ʎi] ['lɛd:dʒe]

They are softtt

When c, g, and sc are followed by an h, are they hard or softtt

silent

According to pg. 70, when i comes after c, g, or sc and is followed by a, e, o, or u, the i is what?

Ex. sciolta, giocare, cioccolato

['ʃɔl ta] [dʒɔ 'ka re] ['tʃɔk:kɔ 'la to]