Cilentan dialect


The Cilentan dialect, also known as Cilento dialect, is a Neapolitan dialect spoken in the area of Cilento, located in the southern part of the Province of Salerno, Campania, Italy.

Influences

It has been influenced, especially in the Vallo di Diano and in central Cilento, by the Basilicata language as spoken in Potenza and part of its Province of Potenza. In the towns of northern Cilento close to the urban area of Salerno, the language is mainly influenced by Neapolitan, more specifically by the Salernitan dialect. In the southern corner of Cilento, the language is largely influenced by Sicilian, particularly the Calabrian variety of Sicilian.

Phonology

Consonants

Many words in Cilento are similar to their Neapolitan counterparts, but with slightly different consonants.
  • LL: The "ll" in certain Neapolitan words becomes an "dd" in Cilento, e.g. gallenèlla becomes gaddenèdda.
  • NF: The "nf" in certain Neapolitan words becomes an "mp" in Cilento, e.g. nfame becomes mpame.