Help with notation on back of photograph

[carubia]

It doesn't really look like Sicilian at all. I don't know that much of the language, but I grew up hearing it, in 2 different dialects from opposite sides of the island (Messina and Agrigento). Even superficially, Sicilian words end in u, a, or i, not o (unless it's accented) or e. You'd see words with "dd" or "gghiu" or beginning with "nn" or "nt". Here's a sample: https://scn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_siciliana

Granted, spelling "questa" with a "c" does strike me as a Sicilianism, but that's about it.

OTOH, it could be someone who doesn't normally speak standard Italian trying to write in the standard way. Then again, Sicilian wasn't usually a written language, even before the risorgimento.

[AngelaGrace56]

I really wouldn't know whether it was Sicilian or not. I have only ever met one Sicilian and his English was superb so never heard him speak in dialect. I grew up in an Italian immigrant community where we mainly spoke Saponarese (Grumentino) and Napoletano. I understand Saponarese perfectly and mostly understand Napoletano, although there are some words spoken at times that I miss. I'm not confident speaking in dialect but do so if absolutely necessary. I have a friend whose parents were from Stromboli and when she speaks in her local dialect I mostly understand what she is saying, if she speaks sloooooooooowly. I can't remember what she calls the dialect now, but it wouldn't surprise me if it is a variation of Sicilian. The Southern dialects seem to have some words in common.

I think that possibly Zia Dorotty, the woman who sent the card, only had a few years at school, and has written mostly phonetically in a mix of Italian and her local dialect, whatever that may be. (Just my thoughts.)
Angela

[MaryMena]

Still trying to solve bits of the puzzle. ....e come la mira siamo adetto (andati?) allo sposalizio....= and as you can see we went to the wedding. Mirare = to look at/to see. I seem to recall an older Sicilian neighbour saying "mira, mira", -- "look, look", when she wanted us to see something. Still working on the very last bit. This is probably someone who had very little formal education and is doing her best to write down what she wants convey.

MaryMena

oops -- wrote the above not realizing there was a page 2. Angela, we seems to think alike regarding her schooling.

[AngelaGrace56]

oops -- wrote the above not realizing there was a page 2. Angela, we seems to think alike regarding her schooling.

The word "Mira" appears in other dialects as well. Mum would say (phonetically) "v(ee)ra" for look, and also the Italian "guarda" with a "w" sound at the beginning. I am hoping to take Italian lessons next year, but I've been warned that it is particularly difficult for people like me who are use to dialect. Apparently people who have gone before me, with a grasp of one of the dialects, have found it really difficult because they have such quick recall of the dialectal word, which normally sounds nothing like the Italian word e.g. boy (ragazzo-Italian) (guaglione-Napolitano) ((w)alione(sp?)our local dialect).
Angela