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Italian orthography

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Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Italian language

Italian orthography (the conventions used in writing Italian) uses the Latin alphabet to write the Italian language. This article focuses on the writing of Standard Italian, based historically on the Florentine variety of Tuscan.Template:Sfn

Written Italian is very regular and almost completely phonemic—having an almost one-to-one correspondence between letters (or sequences of letters) and sounds (or sequences of sounds). The main exceptions are that stress placement and vowel quality (for Template:Orthographic and Template:Orthographic) are not notated, Template:Orthographic and Template:Orthographic may be voiced or not, Template:Orthographic and Template:Orthographic may represent vowels or semivowels, and a silent Template:Orthographic is used in a very few cases other than the digraphs Template:Orthographic and Template:Orthographic (used for the hard Template:Orthographic and Template:Orthographic sounds before Template:Orthographic and Template:Orthographic).

AlphabetEdit

The base alphabet consists of 21 letters: five vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and 16 consonants. The letters J, K, W, X and Y are not part of the proper alphabet, but appear in words of ancient Greek origin (e.g. Xilofono), loanwords (e.g. "weekend"),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> foreign names (e.g. John), scientific terms (e.g. km) and in a handful of native words—such as the names Kalsa, Jesolo, Bettino Craxi, and Cybo, which all derive from regional languages. In addition, grave and acute accents may modify vowel letters; circumflex accent is much rarer and is found only in older texts.

File:KB Italian.svg
An Italian computer keyboard layout
File:Corsivo- come scriverlo a mano in italiano, schede didattiche con alcuni esempi di Paolo Villa (prima edizione commons wikimedia org)-Letters-characters in italics-cursive- how to write it by hand in Italian.pdf
An Italian handwriting script, taught in primary school
Letter Name IPA Diacritics
A, a lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink à
B, b lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
C, c lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink or Template:IPAslink
D, d lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
E, e lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink or Template:IPAslink è, é
F, f lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
G, g lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink or Template:IPAslink
H, h lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} ∅ silent
I, i lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink or Template:IPAslink ì, í, [î]
L, l lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
M, m lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
N, n lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
O, o lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink or Template:IPAslink ò, ó
P, p lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
Q, q lang}} ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
R, r lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
S, s lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink or Template:IPAslink
T, t lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
U, u lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink or Template:IPAslink ù, ú
V, v lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink
Z, z lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:IPAslink or Template:IPAslink

Double consonants represent true geminates and are pronounced as such: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "year", pronounced {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (cf. English ten nails). The short–long length contrast is phonemic, e.g. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, "upright", vs. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, "rite, ritual", {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, "cart, wagon", vs. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, "dear, expensive".

VowelsEdit

The Italian alphabet has five vowel letters, Template:Angbr. Of those, only Template:Angbr represents one sound value, while all others have two. In addition, Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr indicate a different pronunciation of a preceding Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr (see below).

In stressed syllables, Template:Angbr represents both open {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and close {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. Similarly, Template:Angbr represents both open {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and close {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (see Italian phonology for further details on those sounds). There is typically no orthographic distinction between the open and close sounds represented, although accent marks are used in certain instances (see below). There are some minimal pairs, called heteronyms, where the same spelling is used for distinct words with distinct vowel sounds. In unstressed syllables, only the close variants occur.

In addition to representing the vowels {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr also typically represent the semivowels {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, when unstressed and occurring before another vowel. Many exceptions exist (e.g. Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang). An Template:Angbr may indicate that a preceding Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr is "soft" (Template:Wikt-lang).

C and GEdit

Template:See also The letters Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr represent the plosives {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}} before Template:Angbr and before the vowels Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr. They represent the affricates {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}} when they precede a front vowel (Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr).

The letter Template:Angbr can also function within digraphs (two letters representing one sound) Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr to indicate "soft" (affricate) {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}} before another vowel. In these instances, the vowel following the digraph is stressed, and Template:Angbr represents no vowel sound: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}). An item such as CIA "CIA", pronounced {{#invoke:IPA|main}} with {{#invoke:IPA|main}} stressed, contains no digraph.

For words of more than one syllable, stress position must be known in order to distinguish between digraph Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr containing no actual phonological vowel {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and sequences of affricate and stressed {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. For example, the words {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "shirt", and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "pharmacy", share the spelling Template:Angbr, but contrast in that only the first Template:Angbr is stressed in {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, thus Template:Angbr represents {{#invoke:IPA|main}} with no {{#invoke:IPA|main}} sound (likewise, grigio ends in {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and the names {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} contain only two actual vowels: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}). In {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} is stressed, so that Template:Angbr is not a digraph, but represents two of the three constituents of {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.

When the "hard" (plosive) pronunciation {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}} occurs before a front vowel Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr, digraphs Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr are used, so that Template:Angbr represents {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and Template:Angbr represents {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. The same principle applies to Template:Angbr: Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr represent {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.

In the evolution from Latin to Italian, the postalveolar affricates {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}} were contextual variants of the velar consonants {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. They eventually came to be full phonemes, and orthographic adjustments were introduced to distinguish them. The phonemicity of the affricates can be demonstrated with minimal pairs:

Plosive Affricate
Before Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr ch Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "India ink" c Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "China"
gh Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "dormouse" g Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "lap", "tour"
Elsewhere c Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "candy" ci Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "shawm"
g Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "rooster" gi Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "yellow"

The trigraphs Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr are used to indicate geminate {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, when they occur before Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr; e.g. Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "eyes", Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "to dress up". The double letters Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr before Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr before other vowels represent the geminated affricates {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, e. g. Template:Wikt-lang, "hedgehog", Template:Wikt-lang, "worse".

Template:Angbr joins with Template:Angbr to form a digraph representing palatal {{#invoke:IPA|main}} before Template:Angbr (before other vowels, the trigraph Template:Angbr is used), and with Template:Angbr to represent {{#invoke:IPA|main}} with any vowel following. Between vowels these are pronounced phonetically long, as in {{#invoke:IPA|main}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "garlic", {{#invoke:IPA|main}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "each". By way of exception, Template:Angbr before Template:Angbr represents {{#invoke:IPA|main}} in some words derived from Greek, such as Template:Wikt-lang, "wisteria", from learned Latin, such as Template:Wikt-lang, "negligent", and in a few adaptations from other languages such as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, partially italianised from French {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}. Template:Angbr before vowels other than Template:Angbr represents straightforward {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.

The digraph Template:Angbr is used before Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr to represent {{#invoke:IPA|main}}; before other vowels, Template:Angbr is used for {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. Otherwise, Template:Angbr represents {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, the Template:Angbr of which follows the normal orthographic rules explained above.

{{#invoke:IPA|main}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}
Before Template:Angbr sch Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} sc Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}
Elsewhere sc Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} sci Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}

Intervocalic {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, and {{#invoke:IPA|main}} are always geminated and no orthographic distinction is made to indicate this.Template:Sfn

Some words are spelled with Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr, and Template:Angbr. Historically, the letters Template:Angbr in these combinations represented a diphthong, but in modern pronunciation these combinations are indistinguishable from Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr, and Template:Angbr. Notable examples: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "blind" (homophonous with {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "Czech"), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "sky" (homophonous with {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "I conceal"), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "science".

The plurals of words ending in -Template:Vr, -Template:Vr are written with -Template:Vr, -Template:Vr if preceded by a vowel ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "skirt" → {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "skirts", {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "suitcase" → {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "suitcases") or with -Template:Vr, -Template:Vr if preceded by a consonant ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "province" → {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "provinces"). This rule has been established since the 1950s; prior to that, etymological spellings such as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} were in use.

The letter combination Template:Angbr is pronounced the same as Template:Angbr and occurs when the ending {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (1st person plural present indicative and 1st person plural present subjunctive) or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (2nd person plural present subjunctive) is attached to a stem ending in Template:Angbr: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "to dream" → {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "we dream".

C and QEdit

Normally {{#invoke:IPA|main}} is represented by Template:Angbr, but it is represented by Template:Angbr in some words, such as Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, and Template:Wikt-lang. These words all contain a {{#invoke:IPA|main}} sequence derived from an original {{#invoke:IPA|main}} which was subsequently diphthongised. The sequence {{#invoke:IPA|main}} is always spelled Template:Angbr (e.g. Template:Wikt-lang), with exceptions being spelled Template:Angbr in the words Template:Wikt-lang, its derivation Template:Wikt-lang, and Template:Wikt-lang and Template:Wikt-lang, two alternative forms of Template:Wikt-lang or Template:Wikt-lang.Template:Sfn

S and ZEdit

Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr are ambiguous to voicing.

Template:Angbr represents a dental sibilant consonant, either Template:IPAslink or Template:IPAslink. However, these two phonemes are in complementary distribution everywhere except between two vowels in the same word and, even with such words, there are very few minimal pairs.

Template:Angbr always represents voiceless {{#invoke:IPA|main}}: Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, etc.

Template:Angbr represents a dental affricate consonant; either Template:IPAslink (Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}) or Template:IPAslink (Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}), depending on context, although there are few minimal pairs.

Between vowels and/or semivowels ({{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}}), Template:Angbr is pronounced as if doubled ({{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, e.g. Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}). Generally, intervocalic z is written doubled, but it is written single in most words where it precedes Template:Angbr followed by any vowel and in some learned words.

Template:Angbr may represent either a voiceless alveolar affricate {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or its voiced counterpart {{#invoke:IPA|main}}:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> voiceless in e.g. Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, voiced in Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. Most words are consistently pronounced with {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}} throughout Italy in the standard language (e.g. Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "magpie", Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "mug"), but a few words, such as Template:Wikt-lang, "effervesce, sting", exist in both voiced and voiceless forms, differing by register or by geographic area, while others have different meanings depending on whether they are pronounced in voiced or voiceless form (e.g. Template:Wikt-lang: {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (race, breed) or {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (ray, skate)).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Dizionario di pronuncia italiana online.</ref> The verbal ending -izzare from Greek -ίζειν is always pronounced {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (e.g. Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}}), maintained in both inflected forms and derivations: Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "I organise", Template:Wikt-lang {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "organisation". Like Template:Wikt-lang above, however, not all verbs ending in -izzare continue suffixed Greek -ίζειν, having instead -izz- as part of the verb stem. Template:Wikt-lang, for example, of Latin origin reconstructed as *INDIRECTIARE, has {{#invoke:IPA|main}} in all forms containing the root indirizz-.

Silent HEdit

In addition to being used to indicate a hard Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr before front vowels (see above), Template:Angbr is used to distinguish Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang (present indicative of Template:Wikt-lang, "to have") from Template:Wikt-lang ("or"), Template:Wikt-lang ("to the", m. pl.), Template:Wikt-lang ("to"), Template:Wikt-lang ("year"); since Template:Angbr is always silent, there is no difference in the pronunciation of such words. The letter Template:Angbr is also used in some interjections, where it always comes immediately after the first vowel in the word (e.g. Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang). In filler words Template:Wikt-lang and Template:Wikt-lang both ⟨h⟩ and the preceding vowel are silent.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> ⟨h⟩ is used in some loanwords, by far the most common of which is Template:Wikt-lang,Template:Sfn but also handicap, habitat, hardware, hall ("lobby, foyer"), hamburger, horror, hobby.<ref>Google Books Ngram Viewer</ref> Silent Template:Angbr is also found in some Italian toponyms: Chorio, Dho, Hano, Mathi, Noha, Proh, Rho, Roghudi, Santhià, Tharros, Thiene, Thiesi, Thurio, Vho; and surnames: Dahò, Dehò, De Bartholomaeis, De Thomasis, Matthey, Rahò, Rhodio, Tha, Thei, Theodoli, Thieghi, Thiella, Thiglia, Tholosano, Thomatis, Thorel, Thovez.<ref>The surname Pamphili is pronounced as Panfili.</ref>

J, K, W, X and YEdit

The letter Template:Vr ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "long I", or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) is not considered part of the standard Italian alphabet; however, it is used in some Latin words, in proper nouns (such as Jesi, Letojanni, Juventus, etc.), in words borrowed from foreign languages (most common: jeans, but also jazz, jet, jeep, banjo),<ref>Google Books Ngram Viewer</ref> and in an archaic spelling of Italian.

Until the 19th century, Template:Angbr was used in Italian instead of Template:Angbr in word-initial rising diphthongs, as a replacement for final -Template:Vr, and between vowels (as in {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}); this rule was quite strict in official writing.

The letter Template:Angbr represents {{#invoke:IPA|main}} in Latin and Italian and dialect words such as Romanesco dialect ajo {{#invoke:IPA|main}} ("garlic"; cf. Italian {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}); it represents Template:IPAslink in borrowings from English (including judo, borrowed from Japanese via English); and Template:IPAslink in borrowings from French (julienne, bijou).

The letters Template:Vr ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), Template:Vr ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "double V"), Template:Vr ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) and Template:Vr ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "Greek I") are not part of the standard Italian alphabet and are used only in unassimilated or partially assimilated loanwords.

The letter Template:Angbr is used in karma, kayak, kiwi, kamikaze,<ref>Google Books Ngram Viewer</ref> etc.; it is always pronounced {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. It is often used informally among young people as a replacement for Template:Angbr, paralleling the use of Template:Angbr in English (for example, ke instead of che).

The letter Template:Angbr is used in web, whisky, water, "water closet / toilet", western, "Western movie", watt,<ref>Google Books Ngram Viewer</ref> etc; it is alternately pronounced {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (in web, whisky, western) or {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (in water, watt). A capital Template:Vr is used as an abbreviation of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("long live"). Although Template:Angbr is named {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, in initialisms such as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} it is normally read simply as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.

The letter Template:Angbr represents either {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, as in {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, or {{#invoke:IPA|main}} when it is preceded by Template:Angbr and followed by a vowel, e.g. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In most words, it may be replaced with Template:Vr or Template:Vr (with different pronunciation: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}/{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}/{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) or, rarely, by Template:Vr (with the same pronunciation: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}/clacson). In some other languages of Italy, it represents {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (Venetian), {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (Sicilian), or {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (Sardinian and Ligurian).

The letter Template:Angbr is used in yoga, yogurt, yacht, Uruguay, etc. This letter is sometimes replaced by Template:Angbr in some words such as yoga/ioga and yogurt/iogurt, but the spellings with Template:Angbr are much more common.

DiacriticsEdit

Template:Refimprove section

File:Costituzione della Repubblica Italiana.jpg
lang}}

The acute accent (´) may be used on Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr to represent stressed close-mid vowels. This use of accents is generally mandatory only to indicate stress on a word-final vowel; elsewhere, accents are generally found only in dictionaries. Since final Template:Angbr is hardly ever close-mid, Template:Angbr is very rarely encountered in written Italian (e.g. Template:Wikt-lang, "subway", from the original French pronunciation of Template:Wikt-lang with a final-stressed Template:IPAslink).Template:Citation needed

The grave accent (`) is found on Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr. It may be used on Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr when they represent open-mid vowels. The accents may also be used to differentiate minimal pairs within Italian (for example Template:Wikt-lang, "peach", vs. Template:Wikt-lang, "fishing"), but in practice this is limited to didactic texts. In the case of final Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr, both diacritics are encountered. By far the most common option is the grave accent, Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr, although this may be due to the rarity of the acute accent to represent stress; the alternative of employing the acute, Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr, is in practice limited to erudite texts, but can be justified as both vowels are high (as in Catalan). However, since there are no corresponding low (or lax) vowels to contrast with in Italian, both choices are equally acceptable.Template:Citation needed

The circumflex accent (ˆ) can be used to mark the contraction of two unstressed vowels {{#invoke:IPA|main}} ending a word, normally pronounced {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, so that the plural of Template:Wikt-lang, "study, office", may be written Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr. The form with circumflex is found mainly in older texts, although it may still appear in contexts where ambiguity might arise from homography. For example, it can be used to differentiate words such as Template:Wikt-lang ("genes", plural of Template:Wikt-lang) and Template:Wikt-lang ("geniuses", plural of Template:Wikt-lang) or Template:Wikt-lang ("princes", plural of Template:Wikt-lang) and Template:Wikt-lang ("principles", plural of Template:Wikt-lang). In general, current usage usually prefers a single Template:Angbr instead of a double Template:Angbr or an Template:Angbr with circumflex.Template:Sfn

Monosyllabic words generally lack an accent (e.g. Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang). The accent is written, however, if there is an Template:Angbr or a Template:Angbr preceding another vowel (Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang). This applies even if the Template:Angbr is "silent", i.e. part of the digraphs Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr representing {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang). It does not apply, however, if the word begins with Template:Angbr (Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang). Many monosyllabic words are spelled with an accent in order to avoid ambiguity with other words (e.g. Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang versus Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang). This is known as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and also occurs in other Romance languages (e.g. the Spanish {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}).Template:Citation needed

Sample textEdit

"Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita
mi ritrovai per una selva oscura
ché la diritta via era smarrita."

Lines 1–3 of Canto 1 of the Inferno, Part 1 of the Divina Commedia by Dante Alighieri, a highly influential poem. Translation (Longfellow): "Midway upon the journey of our life \ I found myself in a dark wood \ for the straight way was lost."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

BibliographyEdit

External linksEdit

Template:Language orthographies

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