Pronunciation:
* Vowels: Sicilian has a wider range of vowel sounds than standard Italian, including some sounds that don't exist in standard Italian, like the "open e" (like the "e" in "bed") and the "open o" (like the "o" in "boat").
* Consonants: Sicilian has a few consonant sounds not found in standard Italian, such as the "r" sound which is a tap (like the Spanish "r") instead of a trill. Some consonant sounds, like the "c" before "i" or "e," are pronounced differently in Sicilian than in standard Italian.
* Intonation: The intonation pattern of Sicilian is also quite different from standard Italian. Sicilian tends to have a more rising intonation at the end of sentences.
Grammar:
* Article usage: Sicilian uses articles differently than standard Italian. For example, the definite article is often omitted before singular nouns, and the plural definite article is often used where standard Italian would use the singular.
* Verb conjugation: There are some differences in verb conjugation between Sicilian and standard Italian, particularly in the past tense.
* Word order: Word order can be different in Sicilian compared to standard Italian.
Vocabulary:
* Sicilian has many words that are not found in standard Italian, and it often uses words differently from standard Italian. Many of these words come from Arabic, Greek, and other languages.
Examples:
* "Ciao" (hello) in standard Italian, "Bonu dì" (good day) in Sicilian.
* "Grazie" (thank you) in standard Italian, "Grazzi" in Sicilian.
* "Mi chiamo..." (My name is...) in standard Italian, "Sugnu..." (I am...) in Sicilian.
Overall, Sicilian dialect is considered a separate Romance language from standard Italian. It is heavily influenced by Arabic, Greek, and other languages, and its pronunciation and grammar are quite distinct from standard Italian.
While it is often called a dialect, it is more accurately described as a separate language, with significant differences from standard Italian.