> There is no need of parallel, remember your own example. "zi" is
>simply a DR backformation from "ziuã" < "dies illa" by loss of
>final unstable ending -uã (there is no "zi" in Aromanian, only
>"ziuã").
Not only in Aromanian, but also *at least* in Transylvanian and
Banate parts of the DR dialect. The shortened & official word
<zi> has been imposed with and because of the official language
(which is influenced by the Southern Muntenian subdialect).
Thus, a native-speaker in most of the central+western regions
of RO will always say <zîuã> [zIw&] or <dzîuã> or even <zúã>
[zuw&] in westernmost areas. The mere <zi> is kinda... recent
import from beyond of the Carpathian range.
Moreover, in various idiomatic locutions only <ziuã>, e.g.
<se face de ziuã (albã)>; <pânã în/la ziuã>; <la ziuã>; <de
cu ziuã>; <ziurel de ziuã> (in Xmas carols) etc. This <ziuã> has
to stay so in such environments even in those subdialectal areas
where people *otherwise* prefer to use the short form <zi>
(singular, without definite article): <zi de zi;> <zi cu zi;>
<zi-muncã;> <zi bunã>.
Otherwise, <zi> and <ziuã> share common sing. art. and
plural forms: (1) <ziua> & (2) <zile> + plur. art. <-le> (or,
regional ones, <(d)zîua> & <(d)zîle>+<-le>).
NB: <u> in <ziuã> and <ziua> (along the regional variants
with dz and î/â) is always a semivowel, [w].
> >>which si Santa Diana ( sân+ziana, where sân< Latin santu)
>
>Sânziene < Sanctus dies Johannis.
Regional variants: sâmziánã [sIm-zi-'a-n&], sâmzâianã [sIm-zI-'ja-n&].
> Marius Iacomi
George
--
[a] "Cine-o fãcut hori în lume / Aibe numa' zîle bun~e!" (from a
country song, West. Transylv.) || [b] "Unde S'a nãscut Hristos / Ziu-
rel de ziuã / Mesía, chip luminos / Ziurel de ziuã / Sus în deal la Gali-
leu / Ziurel de ziuã / La casa lui Dumnezeu / Ziurel de ziuã." (Xmas
carol, excerpt)