Italian-Americanisms? or regionalisms?

[Grant Barrett]

On 7/7/02 17:55, "Peter Farruggio" <pfarr at UCLINK4.BERKELEY.EDU> wrote:

> The pronunciations of ricotta and manicotti are straight from Southern
> Italy, common to a variety of regional dialects (like Neopolitan, Sicilian,
> etc)

and

On 7/7/02 20:47, "Steve Boatti" <Ittaob at AOL.COM> wrote:
> The pronunciations of "ricotta" and "manicotti" said by dropping the final
> vowel is based on Neapolitan or other southern Italian dialects. Northern
> Italian immigrants pronounce these words the "proper" Italian way.

This a fact worth spreading. In New York City there are many
non-Italian-Americans and Italian-Americans who believe "mootzuhrell" and
"manuhcaught" are the *only* Italian pronunciations of such words, and they
judge you disdainfully if you do not conform.

Grant Barrett
gbarrett at worldnewyork.org