The sicilan dialect

Learing Italian in Sicily presented me with a particular challenge - the problem is that I really like the Sicilian dialect. I like the words and I like the sound - why say 'non lo so' (for I don't know) when you can say 'chi sacciu' (which actually translates to: what do I know). Also, for some strange reason (which I am not sure every Sicilian would appreciate) - I find immense comedy value in saying "u jattu" for a cat, rather than "il gatto". I guess it appeals to me also because I am used to the double life of a language - in Cyprus we also have a Greek-Cypriot dialect and while at school we are taught Greek, in the playground and everyday life everyone uses the dialect. Coupled to the use of the dialect is also an irreverence of pretention and authority - when a Sicilian or a Cypriot want to sound 'sophisticated' they use 'official' Greek or Italian - and then they are often reminded that they better 'speak as they eat'.

Katia (bless her) tries hard to keep me on the straight and narrow, not because she dislikes the dialect (she loves it as well) but because it would be more useful for me if I learned Italian rather than Sicilian. I guess that eventually I will learn both - but I know where my heart belongs already...