\chapter{Phonology of Italian}

We study the patterns of sounds in standard Italian (contrasted to phonetics, which studies how sounds are produced physically).


\section{Vocali (Vowels)}
Standard Italian phonetics consists of 7 vowels.
ä	(central open unrounded)
i	(front close unrounded)
u	(back close rounded)
e	(front close-mid unrounded)
o	(back close-mid rounded)
ɛ	(front open-mid unrounded)
ɔ	(back open-mid rounded)



\section{Consonanti (Consonants))}


ʎ
aglio
r
ruota
ɾ
sera
ɲ
agnello
(ʒ)
j
aiuto
w
uovo
t͡s
d͡z
t͡ʃ
zaino


m
macchia
n
nonno
p
palla
b
bene
t
telefono
d
donna
k
capello
g
gola
d͡ʒ
f
farfalla
v
voce
s
saetta
z
lusingare
ʃ
scivolo
l
ala
n
nero


\section{Dittongi (Dipthongs)}
aiuto [äˈjuˌto]
schiena
uovo [ˈwɔˌvo]
questo [ˈkwesˌto]

\section{Stress}
Primary stress [ˈ] and secondary stress [ˌ]
\section{Length}
lengthening [ː]

\chapter{Phonology of Italian}

\section{Euphonic 'D'}

Italians are stylish; they ensure their language matches their philosophy.

There are 4 words in italian that are made up of only 1 letter; a, i, e, o. For aesthetic purposes, Italian imposes the rule of the euphonic D on these words.

e becomes ed if the next word starts with e but not ed
o becomes od if the next word starts with o but not od
a becomes ad if the next word starts with a but not ad

Note that due to the rules of the definite article, 'i' will never follow a word beginning with the letter i.

\section{Dropping final 'e' of infinitives}

\section{Merged words}
Chi sa -> chissà
chissà is used in a rhetorical sense

Se no -> sennò
va bene -> vabbè
là giù -> laggiù



\chapter{Phonetic of Italian}