Italian Language Language Facts and Information
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Italian Language

Indo-European Romance Language Facts and Information

 ITALIAN LANGUAGE PRODUCTS  



 ITALIAN FACTS
 
 
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Extinct: no
Family: Indo-European
Branch: Romance
Continent: Europe
Country: Italy
 
Region: Also spoken in 29 other countries including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Egypt, Eritrea, France, Germany, Israel, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, San Marino.
Countries Where Spoken: 55,000,000 mother tongue speakers, some of whom are native bilinguals of Italian and regional varieties, and some of whom may use Italian as second language. Population total all countries 62,000,000. Croatia, Eritrea, France, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vatican State.
Countries Where Official: Italy
   
Native Speakers: 62,000,000
Speakers Total: 62,000,000
  
Phrasebase members who speak this language at a native level: 988
Phrasebase members who speak this language at a conversational level: 988
Phrasebase members primary language they are trying to learn: 4,207
Phrasebase members secondary language they are trying to learn: 10,773
  
Three Letter Code: ITN
Alternative Names: ITALIANO
Dialects: None, None, Baitadi, Bajhangi, Bajurali (bajura), Doteli, Soradi, Acchami, Jumleli (jumla, Singja, Sijali), Darjula., Mughalbandi (oriya Proper, Standard Oriya), Southern Oriya, Bhatri, Northwestern Oriya, Western Oriya (sambalpuri), North Balasore Oriya, Midnapore Oriya, Halbi, Koraput Oriya (desia Oriya), Adivasi Oriya, Valmiki Adivasi Oriya., Standard Konkani (goanese), Bardeskari (gomantaki), Sarasvat Brahmin, Kudali (malvani), Daldi (nawaits), Chitapavani (konkanasths), Mangalore., Inner Siragi (inner Seraji, Siragi, Siraji, Saraji), Kllui, Outer Seraji, Lower Mahasu Pahari (kiunthali, Sirmauri, Baghati, Baghliani), Upper Mahasu Pahari (shimla Siraji, Sodochi, Rampuri, Rohruri), Pahari (dhundi-kairali), Pothwari (potwari), Chibhali, , None, Majhi, Panjabi Proper, Majhi, Doab, Bhatyiana (bhatneri, Bhatti), Powadhi, Malwa, Bathi, , , Kachchi, Lari, Lasi, Thareli, Vicholo (vicholi, Viccholi, Central Sindhi), Macharia, Dukslinu (hindu Sindhi), Sindhi Musalmani (muslim Sindhi), Sindhi Bhil, Mohrano, Badin, Sindhi Meghwar, Sindhi Bhil, Mohrano, Badin, Sindhi Meghwar., Rodiya., None, None, Coastal Balochi, Kechi, Makrani (lotuni). Distinct From Eastern Balochi And Fairly Distinct From Western Balochi. Rakhshani (raxshani), Sarawani. Strongly Influenced By Fars, But Not Intelligible With Farsi. Literacy Rate In First Language: 1% To 5%. Literacy Rate In Second Language: 5% To 15%. Urdu Script; Arabic Script In Afghanistan. Newspapers. Radio Programs. Bible Portions: 1984. Balochi Is The Official Spelling In Pakistan. It Has A Small Body Of Literature. Muslim (sunni)., Qazvini, Mahallati, Hamadani, Kashani, Isfahani, Sedehi, Kermani, Araki, Shirazi, Jahromi, Shahrudi, Kazeruni, Mashadi (meshed), Basseri, Dari (afghan Farsi, Herati, Tajiki, Kaboli, Kabuli, Khorasani), Parsiwan., None, Arbili, Khushnaw, Pizhdar, Mukri, Garrusi (bijbri), ArdaiÂni (sanandaji), SulaymÂni (suleimaniye), WarmÂwa, GarmiyÂni, KolyÂ'i, Zangana, KirmÂnshÂhi., None, Catalan-rousillonese (northern Catalán), Valencian (valenciano, Valencià), Balearic (balear, Insular Catalan, Mallorqui, Menorqui, Eivissenc), Central Catalan, Algherese, Northwestern Catalan (pallarese, Ribagorçan, Lleidatà, Aiguavivan). The Standard Variety Is A Literary Composite Which No One Speaks, Based On Several Dialects. Pallarese And Ribogorçan Dialects Are Less Similar To Standard Catalan. Benasquese And Aiguavivan People Live In Isolated Valleys And Have A Distinct Phonology From Their Neighbors. Tortosin May Be Closer To Valencian. Central Catalan Has About 90% To 95% Inherent Intelligibility To Speakers Of Valencian (r. A. Hall, Jr., 1989). Written Catalan Is Closest To Barcelona Speech. Central Catalan Has 87% Lexical Similarity With Italian, 85% With Portuguese And Spanish, 76% With Rheto-romance, 75% With Sardinian, 73% With Rumanian., None, Standard French, Norman (normand), Picard (rouchi, Chtimi), Wallon (walloon), Angevin, Berrichon, Bourbonnais, Bourguignon, Franc-comtois, Gallo, Lorraine, Poitevin, Santongeais., Tuscan, Abruzzese, Pugliese, Umbrian, Laziale, Central Marchigiano, Cicolano-reatino-aquilano, Molisano.,
 
Summary: Regional varieties coexist with the standard language; some are inherently unintelligible (Nida) to speakers of other varieties unless they have learned them. Aquilano, Molisano, and Pugliese are very different from the other Italian 'dialects'. Piemontese and Sicilian are distinct enough to be separate languages (F.B. Agard 1981, personal communication). Venetian and Lombard are also very different (Philippe Cousson 1981, personal communication). Neapolitan is reported to be unintelligible to speakers of Standard Italian. Northern varieties are closer to French and Occitan than to standard or southern varieties (Agard, N. Vincent). 89% lexical similarity with French, 87% with Catalan, 85% with Sardinian, 82% with Spanish, 78% with Rheto-Romance, 77% with Rumanian. Most Italians use varieties along a continuum from standard to regional to local according to what is appropriate. Possibly nearly half the population do not use Standard Italian as mother tongue. Only 2.5% of Italy's population could speak standard Italian when it became a unified nation in 1861. Investigation needed: intelligibility with Pugliese with Standard Italian. National language. Grammar. SVO. Bible 1471-1985.

  
Note:
Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
  



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