Sicilian & Italian Dialect & Language Books

Introduction to Sicilian Grammar

This is a new book researched and written by Dr. Kirk Bonner entitled An Introduction to Sicilian. It takes a fresh approach to the Sicilian language and the best way to speak it, pronounce it, and spell it. Sicilian is not a slightly different version of Italian as is widely held. It is a language as old as Italian; it has its own unique history, grammar, vocabulary, and structure. Sicilian has a separate history, and it evolved in parallel with Standard Italian. Both experienced different influences. For example, Sicilian has many words drawn from Greek and Arabic, and certain points of its grammar are more similar to Spanish than to Italian. To sum up, Sicilian is a distinct language from Standard Italian.

Between 1880 and about 1930, many people arrived in the United States who came from Italy. Most of these immigrants came from Sicily and Southern Italy. Very few of them spoke Standard Italian, which at that time was spoken by only a small number of Italians. Italians from Sicily and Southern Italy spoke their own languages, and the Sicilians who came to the United States spoke Sicilian. This book concentrates on Sicilian as a living language and is designed to appeal to those whose forebears came from Sicily. It is also designed to appeal to people interested in the Romance languages, and in particular the Romance languages of Italy.

DR. KIRK BONNER (a.k.a. JOHN K. BONNER) has an avid interest in languages, cultural history, and the customs of various peoples. Ever since he studied Italian, he had a desire to learn the SICILIAN LANGUAGE, and he set out to accomplish this goal. His natural interest in the language led him to discover that a really good introduction covering the principles of SICILIAN did not exist for English speakers, and he set out to rectify this situation by researching and writing this book. KIRK holds a PH.D. in the HISTORY OF SCIENCE from THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY in Baltimore, Maryland. He conducted original historical research on the crucial work in atomic theory of the Italian scientist, AMEDEO AVOGADRO (1776-1856), and the Sicilian scientist, STANISLAO CANNIZZARO (1826-1910). KIRK presently lives and works in Southern California.

A Student Says: "Thanks Dr. Bonner for everything.
I really enjoyed the class and I am thrilled to see someone who isn't
Italian or Sicilian has taken an interest in our culture."

ORDERING INFORMATION:  
Please send $22 for book rate; $25 for first class;
$35 for rush delivery in the form of check or money order to:

Dr. Kirk Bonner
10142 Samoa Avenue #24
Tujunga, CA 91042-2359 USA 

Three (3) or more books cost only $20 each, and the amount will be deducted manually at the time of billing and will not appear on this order form.

Acknowledgement: I would like to thank Mr. Art Dieli, who graciously consented the use of material from his website, e.g., the Trinacria on this book’s cover. Mr. Dieli also gave me considerable encouragement. I extend my sincerest appreciation to Dr. Gaetano Cipolla, President of Arba Sicula, the well known and renouned Sicilian-American organization. Dr. Cipolla has done a tremendous amount and expended a lot of energy to keeping Sicilian alive as a language and in promoting Sicilian culture. Arba Sicula publishes numerous books on Sicily and Sicilian culture; many of these books are in Sicilian. Dr. Cipolla has also done much to encourage me and to help me in mastering the Sicilian language. My warmest thanks also go to Ms. Emma Sorrentino of the Foreign Language Center of the Defense Language Institute (DLIFLC). Ms. Sorrentino was good enough to review my entire initial effort (called A Sicilian Grammar) and pointed out errors or ways to say things more correctly in Sicilian. I also extend my appreciation to Dr. Karl Nicholas for his support and encouragement. My deepest thanks also to Mr. Joseph Bellestri who kindly read this entire book and made a number of important corrections and suggestions. Finally, I must thank my wife, Mary, for her support and for putting up with me while I wrote this book.

 Can't Find it on this Page? Please Search our Amazon Affiliate
(Items purchased from Amazon through this store help support this website!)

© Copyright 1999-2005 (MCMXCIX) Cristaldi Communications Video, Web Design, Hosting & Promotion - January 7, 2005