Summary Details

Query:	Mobile diphthongs in Italian
Author:	Bart van der Veer
Submitter Email:	click here to access email
Linguistic LingField(s):	Discourse Analysis
Summary:	Dear linguists, cari linguisti, I would like to thank the following persons who replied to my query posted on 19 Dec. 2001 (Qs. 12.3134) about the use of mobile diphthongs in Modern Standard Italian: (in chronological order:) M. Tjalve, A. Sans?, A. Bisetto, P. Menzel, C. Soria, P.M. Bertinetto, G.C. Buoiano (I suppose the diphthong is unstressed here...), E. Mellander, R. Viredaz, M. Santini, O. Brizio, L. Minervini, J. Nicod (Palma), V. Cavalli-Sforza, G. Sabaduquia, F. Del Gobbo, C. Vessella and M. Groll?. The outcome was more or less what I expected. Although temporary grammars and dictionaries still treat the phenomenon of the mobile diphthong (dittongo mobile) as if it were some grammatical rule, the unstressed vowel/stressed diphthong alternation (e.g. fuoco-focherello, muovo-moviamo) seems no longer phonologically productive. If alternation takes place, this is generally considered as archaic, literary or dialectal. However, exceptions may occur even in the standard language. Grazie a tutti e cordiali saluti! Bart van der Veer Hoger Instituut voor Vertalers en Tolken Antwerpen/Universiteit Leiden Center for Linguistics

LL Issue:	13.465
Date Posted:	19-Feb-2002
Original Query:	Read original query
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