Qormi Dialect
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One of the dialects found in the Maltese language is the Qormi Dialect (in general Maltese termed as Qormi and by the speakers as Qurmi, and affectionately as it-Tuf, and standard Maltese is called it-Taf. Literally, Taf is the Maltese word for "you know"). This dialect is used by many of the Qormi inhabitants and in other settlements around this city, that consists of around twenty-thousand people. The Qormi dialect basically consist of corrupted vowels.
Although there is no strict rule, generally the vowels in the dialect take the following forms. Usually the first syllabes are changed, but sometimes the ones in the middle are changed as well. However, if the word ends in a vowel, it is very rare that it is changed.
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[edit] The Vocal 'A'
The vocal 'A' changes into the vocals 'U'. If in the end, it becomes an 'O'.
| English | Maltese | Qormi Dialect |
|---|---|---|
| steeple (church tower) | kampnar | kampnur |
| seriousness | serjetà | serjetò |
| seminary | seminarju | seminurju |
| potato | patata | patuta |
| fog | ċpar | ċpur |
[edit] The Vocal 'O'
The vocal 'O' in the Qormi dialect is also changed into 'U'. Example:
| English | Maltese | Qormi Dialect |
|---|---|---|
| we went | morna | murna |
| go (imperative 3rd pers. pl.) | morru | murru |
| spring coil | molla | mulla |
| car | karozza | karuzza |
| glue | kolla | kulla |
| postage stamp | bolla | bulla |
This form happens to roughly all of the words that have the vowel ' O ' in the first syllabe, although there may be exceptions.
[edit] Vowels after the Għ
The vowels after the 'Għ' change their sound as well.
- The syllabe Għi, instead of an 'AJ' sound, takes an EJ sound. Example: Għid il-Kbir (Easter) would be pronounced as ejd il-kbir instead of ajd il-kbir
- The syllabe Għe, instead of an 'E' sound, takes an 'A' sound. Example: Qiegħed (to stay) would be pronounced as qijad instead of qijed.
- The syllabe Għu, instead of an 'OW' sound, takes an 'EW' sound. Example: Għuda (piece of wood) would be pronounced as ewda instead of owda.
[edit] Exceptions
Although there may be exceptions, such as Kollha (all of it) would be pronounced as Killha, Meta (when) as Mita, etc. one must note that the vowels are never elongated, and their accent remains as the natural Maltese one. The syllabes are never stressed. In general it is very close to the Maltese language.
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