Writing System: Sardinian uses the Latin alphabet, traditionally with 21 letters adapted for local pronunciation needs. The language employs digraphs such as gh, ch, tz, and sc to represent sounds unique to Sardinian, particularly those retained from Latin and not found in standard Italian. Diacritical marks are occasionally used to indicate stress and pronunciation nuances.
Grammar: Sardinian grammar largely follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, but it can vary, particularly in spoken forms. It does not exhibit the same initial consonant mutations as found in other minority Romance or Celtic languages. The language is known for its preservation of Latin case distinctions in its pronominal and definite article systems, offering insight into early Latin syntax.
Phonology: Sardinian’s phonemic inventory includes consonants like /p, b, t, d, k, g, m, n, ɲ, l, ʎ, f, v, s, z, r/ and vowels /i, e, ɛ, a, ɔ, o, u/. Sardinian preserves Latin phonological features such as the pronunciation of “k” and “g” before front vowels, which in other Romance languages have typically shifted to softer sounds. Additionally, the language retains distinct vowel harmony and is notable for maintaining Latin consonant clusters like -ct- and -gn-.
Lexicon: The Sardinian lexicon is unique among Romance languages, maintaining numerous words directly inherited from Latin, alongside vocabulary influenced by Phoenician, Greek, Byzantine, Catalan, and Spanish due to Sardinia’s varied historical rulers. More recently, there has been some influence from Italian, yet Sardinian speakers have preserved an extensive body of indigenous words and expressions that reflect ancient pastoral and agrarian life.
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