Basic Sicilian Language from Udemy

In this course you’ll learn how to say hi in Sicilian, how to introduce yourself, how to ask for directions and of course, how to order food and drinks. Everything you need to know on your first trip in Sicily.

In the first part we’ll be talking about greetings and simple present tense sentences like “comu si?” (how’re you doing)?

The following chapters will focus on useful sentences in different contexts like talking about your family, understanding basic directions like “ccà” (here) and “ddà” (there), numbers, time and food.

It's important to know there’s not only one Sicilian language. In different parts of Sicily we can find different words and different sentences. For example: the verb "to watch", in the north-east of the island is “vaddàri”, whereas in other areas is “taliàri”. Two completely different verbs for the same meaning.

Also, Sicilian has a lot in common with Italian. What you hear in Sicily nowadays is a mix of the two languages but Sicilian is not taught in schools, so it doesn’t have an "official grammar" and everything is written just to make it sound as close as possible to its most common pronunciation. Knowing all of this you’ll find learning Sicilian like a way to dive into the history of the island and the way of thinking of its people.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Introduce yourself in sicilian
Make basic sentences using present tense
Ask for directions

Order food and drinks
Say what you like and what you don't like

Introduce yourself in sicilian
Make basic sentences using present tense
Ask for directions
Order food and drinks
Say what you like and what you don't like

Syllabus

Let's introduce ourselves

Salutàmu! (Greetings!)

Io sugnu, tu sì... (I am, you are...)

Find the mistake

A me famìgghia (My family)

Io àiu, tu hai... (I have, you have...)

Chi fài? (What do you do?)

Let's ask for directions

Cu c'è? (Who's there?)

Unni sèmu? (Where are we?)

A chi ura? (At what time?)

Let's learn how to order food

Manciamu! (Let's eat!)

Ti piaci chistu o chiddu? (Do you like this one or that one?)

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on practical phrases for greetings, introductions, directions, and ordering food, which are essential for travelers

Highlights the variations within the Sicilian language and its relationship to Italian, offering insights into language development

Learning Sicilian is presented as a way to understand the history of the island and the way of thinking of its people

Teaches basic sentences using the present tense, which provides a foundation for further language learning

Sicilian is not taught in schools and lacks an official grammar, which may be challenging for learners seeking formal instruction

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Basic Sicilian Language with these activities:

Review Basic Italian Phrases

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Reviewing basic Italian phrases will help you understand the similarities and differences between Italian and Sicilian, making it easier to grasp new concepts.

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Review common Italian greetings and introductions.
Practice basic Italian sentence structures.
Compare Italian and Sicilian vocabulary.

Reading: 'Sicilian Stories' by Giovanni Verga

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Reading Sicilian literature provides cultural context and exposes you to the language in a natural setting.

View Under the Shadow of Etna: Sicilian Stories from... on Amazon

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Read a selection of short stories from 'Sicilian Stories'.
Identify common themes and cultural references.
Note any unfamiliar words or phrases and research their meanings.

Practice Present Tense Conjugation

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Practicing present tense conjugation will solidify your understanding of basic sentence construction in Sicilian.

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Choose a set of common Sicilian verbs.
Write out the present tense conjugation for each verb.
Create simple sentences using each verb in different forms.

Three other activities

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Reading: 'Teach Yourself Sicilian'

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Using a dedicated Sicilian language textbook will provide a more structured and in-depth learning experience.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Work through the lessons in 'Teach Yourself Sicilian'.
Complete the exercises and activities in the book.
Use the book as a reference for grammar and vocabulary.

Create a Sicilian Phrasebook

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Creating a phrasebook reinforces vocabulary and grammar learned in the course, and provides a practical resource for future use.

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Compile a list of useful Sicilian phrases from the course.
Organize the phrases by category (greetings, directions, food, etc.).
Add English translations for each phrase.
Include notes on pronunciation and cultural context.

Record a Dialogue in Sicilian

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Recording a dialogue allows you to practice speaking and listening skills, and apply what you've learned in a practical context.

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Write a short dialogue in Sicilian on a topic covered in the course.
Record yourself speaking the dialogue.
Listen to the recording and identify areas for improvement.
Re-record the dialogue until you are satisfied with your pronunciation and fluency.

Career center

Learners who complete Basic Sicilian Language will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Tour Guide

A tour guide leads groups of people through a specific area, providing information and insights on the history, culture, and local attractions. This course in Basic Sicilian Language may be useful for anyone looking to become a tour guide in Sicily. The ability to greet people, introduce oneself, ask for directions, and order food are skills directly covered in this course. The material also covers aspects of Sicilian culture and context. Speaking the local language allows a tour guide to connect with locals and provide a more authentic experience.

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Hospitality Worker

A hospitality worker provides services to guests in hotels, restaurants, or other establishments. A common task is taking orders and providing information to guests. This Basic Sicilian Language course helps hospitality workers learn how to greet people, introduce themselves, ask for directions and order food, which are common interactions in the hospitality setting. The course also introduces common phrases, some about family. Learning to communicate in another language allows a hospitality worker to better serve customers from a wider range of backgrounds and cultures.

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Immigrant Services Assistant

An immigrant services assistant provides support and resources to individuals and families who have recently immigrated to a new country. This Basic Sicilian Language course may be useful for the role, as it introduces basic phrases and cultural context. The course provides phrases for greetings, introductions, and asking for directions, which can help a worker with initial client interactions. The course also covers common topics like family, time, and food. This can help an immigrant services assistant to better understand the personal context of those they are helping.

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Cultural Liaison

A cultural liaison facilitates communication and understanding between people from different cultural backgrounds. A cultural liaison uses language skills to assist in this. This Basic Sicilian Language course may be helpful for this role, as it provides key phrases for greetings and introductions. The course’s description notes the nuances of the language, and how it differs from Italian. This course covers key topics such as family, time, and food, which are crucial to understanding a culture. Those working in this field may find the course helpful.

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Language Tutor

A language tutor provides instruction to individuals or small groups who are looking to learn a specific language. This Basic Sicilian Language course introduces the basics of the language. The course explains key aspects of Sicilian, such as pronunciation, how the language differs from Italian, and some useful phrases. A language tutor may find that this course may provide a good starting point for learning the language, and may be helpful for anyone who intends to tutor in this language. The course discusses the cultural context of the language as well.

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Travel Writer

A travel writer crafts engaging narratives about destinations, cultures, and experiences. This course in Basic Sicilian Language may be useful for a travel writer intending to report from Sicily. This course emphasizes important language skills like greetings, self introductions, and ordering food and drinks. The course also covers numbers, direction, and time. Such knowledge can greatly assist a travel writer in gathering information and better understanding the local culture. This course provides cultural insights that can be included in a travel writer's reports.

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Translator

A translator converts written or spoken text from one language to another, ensuring accuracy and cultural relevance. This course in Basic Sicilian Language may be useful for anyone seeking to work as a translator. The course introduces basic vocabulary, sentence structure, and common phrases, which serve as a foundation for further language learning. Understanding how Sicilian can vary from Italian, as is discussed in the course, helps a translator understand the nuances of meaning. This course may help an aspiring translator to develop the basic skills required for the job.

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Market Researcher

A market researcher gathers and analyzes data to understand consumer behavior and market trends. While usually focused on quantitative data, there is often a qualitative element, where local language skills can be beneficial. This Basic Sicilian Language course may be helpful for market research that needs to be conducted in Sicily. The course introduces basic vocabulary, sentence structure, and common phrases, which serve as a base for more advanced language learning. This course also covers greetings, introductions, directions, food, and other topics which help with a deeper cultural understanding.

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Journalist

A journalist researches and reports on current events for different media outlets. This Basic Sicilian Language course may be helpful for a journalist who would like to report on stories from Sicily. The course introduces basic phrases and vocabulary which can enable a journalist to better understand the local context. The ability to greet people, introduce oneself, and ask for directions helps enable the journalist to conduct interviews with members of the community and investigate leads.The course also discusses cultural context, which creates a better understanding of the people profiled.

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International Business Professional

An international business professional works in a role that involves communication, negotiation, and management across different countries. This Basic Sicilian Language course may be useful for someone conducting business in Sicily. The ability to greet people, introduce oneself, and understand basic directions, are covered directly in the course. Additionally, the course introduces many words related to food, which allows a business professional to navigate the world of restaurants and catering that is often tied to business dealings. A business professional with some local language skills can build stronger rapport with business partners.

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Local Historian

A local historian researches and documents the history of a particular region or community. This Basic Sicilian Language course may be useful for a local historian of Sicily. The course introduces aspects of the language and its relation to Italian. The course emphasizes how the language is not taught in schools and has an oral history. Understanding such nuances of the language is critical to understanding the culture, which is what the course emphasizes. A local historian, focused on Sicily, may find the information in this course of assistance.

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Chef

A chef is a culinary professional who prepares and cooks food in a restaurant or other food service establishment. This Basic Sicilian Language course may be helpful for the role of a chef who specializes in Sicilian cuisine. The course introduces phrases related to ordering, eating, and talking about food. The course also provides some context on the culture, which can help a chef better understand how to work with regional ingredients. A chef with such knowledge can build a more authentic menu.

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Linguist

A linguist studies the structure, history, and development of language. Linguists often specialize in a particular language or family of languages. This Basic Sicilian Language course introduces the basics of the language, and notes the historical context of its evolution. It explains the key aspects of the language, such as pronunciation, use, and how the language differs from Italian. A linguist may find this course a good starting point for a deeper study of the Sicilian language. Those in this role typically hold an advanced degree.

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Archaeologist

An archaeologist studies past human life and activities through the excavation and analysis of material remains. An archaeologist may need to interact with local communities. This Basic Sicilian Language course may be helpful for an archaeologist working in Sicily. The course introduces aspects of the language and its relation to Italian. The course also touches on basic phrases and conversations. This can be particularly useful because language allows communication with the local community. Those in this role typically hold an advanced degree.

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Anthropologist

An anthropologist studies human societies and cultures and their development. This Basic Sicilian Language course may be helpful for an anthropologist working in Sicily. The course covers greetings, introductions, and basic conversation. The course also provides context for the culture of Sicily as it is embedded in the language. This will help an anthropologist more deeply understand the people and practices of the region. Those in this role typically hold an advanced degree.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Basic Sicilian Language.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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'Teach Yourself Sicilian' comprehensive guide to the Sicilian language. It provides a structured approach to learning grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. useful reference tool and provides additional depth to the course.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

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Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

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Under the Shadow of Etna

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Giovanni Verga's 'Sicilian Stories' provides cultural context and insight into Sicilian life. Reading these stories will enhance your understanding of the language's nuances and its connection to Sicilian culture. is more valuable as additional reading to provide cultural context.

Under the Shadow of Etna: Sicilian Stories from the...

Paperback

Basic Sicilian Language

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Good to know

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Activities

Career center

Reading list

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