What is the difference between むかしっから and むかしから?


In my book I found both `むかしっから` and `むかしから` within the span of a couple
pages, in very similar contexts. What is the significance of that small-tsu
(with regards to the meaning, not the pronunciation)?

The only place where I can find a distinction is in [Google
translate](http://translate.google.com/#ja/en/%E6%98%94%E3%81%A3%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%0A%E6%98%94%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89):

> 昔っから ==> Since old times
>
> 昔から ==> Always

Is the difference between these as subtle as it seems? Can one be used where
the other cannot/sounds unnatural?

EDIT:

Everyone in the comments seems to agree that it's just a matter of emphasis,
but I'll add the context @Tim requested. (I wrote it out like it appears in
the book, but I added the bold)

The lines are said a few pages apart (which is actually some time), but both
are said by two long time friends, one a fighter, the other a healer.

The first one is said by the fighter to the healer. She's saying that he
wouldn't have known if anyone was following them.

> ほんとうに、だいじょうぶかねぇ。あんたは、 **むかしっから**
> 、武術{ぶじゅつ}のほうはからっきしだったから。気配{けはい}をよめなかったんじゃ、ないだろうね。

The second one is said by the healer to the young boy that they're protecting.
The fighter's been asleep and the other two are cooking.

> ほら、見てみろ。おてんばバアさんが目をあけてるぞ。いっただろう？食{く}い物{もの}のにおいをかげば目をさますって。こいつは **むかしから**
> 、そうだったんだ。




[This answer is based on the discussion. If somebody can improve or add to
this please do.]

昔っから is a colloquial variation of the word 昔 ("a long time ago") probably made
to provide emphasis in the spoken language. This practice is not restricted to
昔 and was covered in the question "とっても versus とても". If the word's use in the
example was not for emphasis then it might be a characteristic of the way the
character speaks. I think that is less likely but the two examples you give
are quotes from different characters and possibly only one of them is inclined
to use this colloquialism. Interestingly we both seem to have heard native
speakers vary the their pronunciation of this word for emphasis but not in the
same way and not in the way the speaker does in this book, but possibly that
is just the nature of spoken language.

Any differences in translation would be due to the translator's choice on what
was most appropriate to the context in each passage.




[This answer is based on the discussion. If somebody can improve or add to
this please do.]

昔っから is a colloquial variation of the word 昔 ("a long time ago") probably made
to provide emphasis in the spoken language. This practice is not restricted to
昔 and was covered in the question "とっても versus とても". If the word's use in the
example was not for emphasis then it might be a characteristic of the way the
character speaks. I think that is less likely but the two examples you give
are quotes from different characters and possibly only one of them is inclined
to use this colloquialism. Interestingly we both seem to have heard native
speakers vary the their pronunciation of this word for emphasis but not in the
same way and not in the way the speaker does in this book, but possibly that
is just the nature of spoken language.

Any differences in translation would be due to the translator's choice on what
was most appropriate to the context in each passage.

