We now proceed to the special consideration, first, of the Sicilian and, secondly, of the dialects of the mainland.
(a) _Sicilian._--The Sicilian vocalism is conspicuously etymological. Though differing in colour from the Tuscan, it is not less noble, and between the two there are remarkable points of contact. The dominant variety, represented in the literary dialect, ignores the diphthongs of _e_ and of _o_, as it has been seen that they are ignored in Sardinia (B. 2), and here also the _i_ and the _u_ appear intact; but the _e_ and the _o_ are fittingly represented by _i_ and _u_; and with equal symmetry unaccented _e_ and _o_ are reproduced by _i_ and _u_. Examples: _téni_, tiene; _nóvu_, nuovo; _pilu_, pelo; _minnitta_, Ital. vendetta; _jugu_, giogo; _agustu_, Ital. agosto; _crídiri_, credere; _vínniri_, Ital. vendere; _sira_, sera; _vina_, vena; _suli_, Ital. sole; _ura_, ora; _furma_, Ital. forma. In the evolution of the consonants it is enough to add here the change of _lj_ into _ghj_ (e.g. _fígghiu_, Ital. figlio) and of _ll_ into _dd_ (e.g. _gaddu_, Ital. gallo). As to morphology, we will confine ourselves to pointing out the masculine plurals of neuter form (_li pastura_, _li marinara_). For the Sicilian dialect we have a few fragments going back to the 13th century, but the documents are scanty until we come to the 14th century.