The
Central–Southern Calabrian (calavrisi or calabbrisi) dialects are largely spoken in the provinces of
Reggio Calabria,
Vibo Valentia,
Catanzaro, almost all that of
Crotone and, depending on classifications, the grouping can also encompass the varieties of southern
Cilentan and southern
Salentino. The term
Sicilian-Calabrian is also used to distinguish the group from the Northern Calabrian group. It comprises
Central Calabrian and
Southern Calabrian. The primary roots of the dialects is
Latin. Southern and Central Calabrian dialects are strongly influenced by a
Greek substratum and ensuing levels of Latin influence and other external Southern Italian
superstrata, in part hindered by geography, resulted in the many local variations found between the idioms of Calabria. Nonetheless, the dialects have some influence from other languages, thanks to the periodic rule and influx of other cultures. As a result,
French,
Occitan and
Spanish have left an imprint. French and
Norman vocabulary entered the region via the kingdoms of the
Normans and the
Angevins in Calabria. Other words derived from
Spanish,
Catalan, and
Occitan: • – (Spanish) – head • – (Spanish) – rifle • – (Catalan) – tissue • – (Catalan) – precipitation • – (Catalan) – abrupt • – (Occitan, French, Provençal) – light up • – (Spanish) – trip
Conjugations Èssiri (to be) A(v)iri (to have) Dialects •
Reggino dialect ("
u riggitanu" in Reggino or, previously, also "
(l)u rijitanu"): the dialect with the most speakers, and cites
Reggio Calabria as its cultural centre. This dialect is very similar to the dialect of
Messina in Sicily. •
Dialects of the Chjana: spoken in the plains of
Gioia Tauro (Piana di Gioia Tauro), a micro-region situated north of
Aspromonte. •
Locride dialects: spoken on the east coast of the Province of Reggio Calabria. •
Catanzaro dialect used in the area of the
Gulf of Squillace.
Comparison of the Central-Southern Calabrian Dialects •
Universal Declaration of Human Rights in English: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. • In
Italian:
Tutti gli esseri umani nascono liberi ed eguali in dignità e diritti. Essi sono dotati di ragione e di coscienza e devono agire gli uni verso gli altri in spirito di fratellanza. ==Northern Calabrian (Cosentian)==