Is Italian and Sicilian the same?

Answer 1

Sicily is an Island off of the tip of the "boot" of Italy.

So...

Someone or something (like food for example) that is Sicilian would be Italian, but not everyone or everything Italian is necessarily Sicilian as he/it may come from another region of Italy.

Answer 2

Nope, Sicily is a part of Italy. So...all Sicilians are Italians, but not all Italians are Sicilians! :-D

Answer 3

No, it isn't, both are Italian descendents. But, their dialogue is different, food is different and they're are not especially fond of one another. It's much like the differences here between the north and south. Sicily is an Island south of Italy.

Answer 4

It depends on the context.

Geographically, Sicily is an island off the coast of mainland Italy, and it is now part of the nation of Italy. (In times past, Italy was divided up into various kindgoms and nations depending on what time period you're looking at.) Culturally and linguistically, it has shared most/many of the same cultural traditions and customs of "Italian" culture for many centuries.

Culturally and ethnically and linguistically, it is quite different in ways.

I am an American with part Italian ancestry, and from what i've experienced thru talking with my Italian relatives and the histories that they've told me, Mainland Italians are different in ways (culturally, linguistically, gastronomically, economically, etc.) from Sicilian Italians, just as Northern (mainland) Italians (for instance, someone from Milan or Florence) are different in customs and attitudes from Southern Italians (from Naples or the South).

Many Italians and Italian-Americans have stereotypes of one or the other depending on what part of Italy they came from. Even though Sicily is now and has been part of Italy officially for some time, and was part of the "Italian" cultural world for some time long before that, there are important similarities and differences between them.

Sicilians are often associated (rightly or wrongly) with: the Mafia, a deeper attachment and devotion to religion and the Catholic faith, a unique cuisine (different ingredients, different dishes, etc), an even stronger devotion and commitment to La Famiglia (the family) including pride and commitment to the family name and one's ancestors, than ordinary Italians.

As for more opinionated and unsubstantiated stereotypes:

Many Southern Italians and Sicilians may perceive Notherners as being too arrogant or proud, and may resent what they perceive as a Northern condecension or prejudice against Southerners/Sicilians. They may also resent Northerners' affluence and overbearing ways in matters of national governance. Northerners may be perceived as having too much control over economic and governmental policy, and may be seen to have too much influence or representation in politics and public life and prominent positions. Northerners may also be seen as not Italian enough in the sense that they don't necessarily uphold traditional values as much (values such as a strong family, strong belief in God and the Catholic Church etc). Positively, they may be admired for their past contributions to Italian culture and science and art.
Southerners and Sicilians may be perceived as being less affluent and too devoted to "traditional" values such as a strong family attachment, too strong devotion to ancestors and the family name, overly superstitious and attached to old myths and beliefs, less concerned with having a more corrupt public and political world, etc. Southern Italian/ Sicilian areas may be perceived as being rife with corruption and not able to have a stable political life, with powerful families or groups holding too much power due to financial power. Also, Southerners may be perceived as being more "passionate" or "excitable" and Sicily, in times past, has been associated with being unsafe due to murders and attacks on persons.
Usually, the stereotypes about Sicilians often overlap to a certain degree with the stereotypes about Southern Italians (although again, there are also important differences between these two as well). Many Italians perceive "Northern Italians" quite differently from "Southern Italians" (usually in a strongly positive or negative manner, depending on their origin!) even though most Italians are proud of their Italian heritage in general no matter whether North or South.
Some Italians (especially of the older generations) may have various beliefs that Sicilians are not "true" Italians, just as some Sicilians of the older mentality may believe that mainland Italians are not as "Italian" as Sicilians themselves!

Another interesting difference is language. Although Italian is the official and mostly widely used language by far in all parts of Italy (including Sicily), the vocabulary and rates of usage of various words, and pronunciations of some words can vary depending on what part of Italy. Generally, there is a continuum, with linguistic differences appearing gradually in a continuum from north to south. Sicily has many unique qualities to their language, including differences in vocabulary and usages of words, enough to make the regional speech there almost unintelligible in various ways to mainland Italians.

Various unique dialects still occur (though their frequency has rapidly and sharply decreased in recent years) in every part of Italy. Sicily has Sicilian, which is related to Italian but is different enough to be considered a separate language. Mainland Italy has many various regional dialects that are also quite distinct from the standard Italian language.

Answer 5

No