Don’t you love the way Italians talk? Those long vowels, those rolling “r’s,” that lyrical cadence. It just sounds so…sexy, right? Wouldn’t you like to have that music coming from your own voice? You can. It just takes a little practice. OK, maybe more than a little—so let’s get started!
But languages can’t be learned in the same way that we learn math or physics, and Italian is certainly no exception. You can’t just memorize formulas and expect to become fluent. Yes, a few rules are needed in the beginning. But like most rules in Italy, the rules governing the language are viewed as mere suggestions and therefore must be evaluated on a case by case basis.
A better approach is to assimilate the language more thoroughly. In this book, we will indeed examine the formal parts of speech, along with some common words and phrases. But we will also explore the evolution of the language and its interactions with Italian history and culture. This will give us a deeper understanding of why Italian exists in its current form, which will help us “know” more than we’ve actually studied.
What exactly do I mean by this? Well, what I mean is that we will sometimes be able to figure things out based on patterns that we’ve learned instead of relying only on the things that we’ve memorized outright. At first, this will very much be a conscious process of deduction. But further down the road our brains will begin to do these “calculations” automatically. That’s why, as you’re learning, you’ll occasionally say something (correctly) that you didn’t even realize that you knew!
Motivations are as individual as the learner. So why is it so important for you to learn Italian? After all, everybody in Rome, Florence, and Venice (and the rest of the world) speaks English, right? Well, not everyone. And besides, how boring would the world be if we all spoke the same language, ate the same food, and thought the same way? We largely experience the world through our language(s). In the words of William Gibson, “Language is to the mind what light is to the eye.” Cultures define themselves through languages, and learning Italian will grant you greater access into the rich culture of Italy.
And let’s not stop with the spoken word. When it comes to communicating, never underestimate the power of hand gestures in Italy. For our Italian friends, gestures are used to enhance, underline—or in a better word, improve—communication. It’s one thing to merely say, “What are you looking at?” versus the same phrase accompanied by the appropriate gesture. In fact, the gesture given without the accompanying phrase often carries more weight, more contextual significance. So keep that in mind when someone is giving you a gesture while not actually speaking.
Learning Italian is fun, and as long as you keep that—enjoyment—as your primary goal you will not go wrong. Language acquisition is a slow process and to “succeed,” we must strive to relish the small daily victories without getting hung up on becoming fluent as quickly as possible. In the U.S., we often define our success on demonstrable results. That’s fine for business purposes and career advancement. But you’re in Italy now, if only in spirit. Parla come mangi! (“Talk like you eat!” i.e. Don’t pretend to be such a snob!) So slow down. Relax. Little by little, you will learn to “Talk Like an Italian!”
But languages can’t be learned in the same way that we learn math or physics, and Italian is certainly no exception. You can’t just memorize formulas and expect to become fluent. Yes, a few rules are needed in the beginning. But like most rules in Italy, the rules governing the language are viewed as mere suggestions and therefore must be evaluated on a case by case basis.
A better approach is to assimilate the language more thoroughly. In this book, we will indeed examine the formal parts of speech, along with some common words and phrases. But we will also explore the evolution of the language and its interactions with Italian history and culture. This will give us a deeper understanding of why Italian exists in its current form, which will help us “know” more than we’ve actually studied.
What exactly do I mean by this? Well, what I mean is that we will sometimes be able to figure things out based on patterns that we’ve learned instead of relying only on the things that we’ve memorized outright. At first, this will very much be a conscious process of deduction. But further down the road our brains will begin to do these “calculations” automatically. That’s why, as you’re learning, you’ll occasionally say something (correctly) that you didn’t even realize that you knew!
Motivations are as individual as the learner. So why is it so important for you to learn Italian? After all, everybody in Rome, Florence, and Venice (and the rest of the world) speaks English, right? Well, not everyone. And besides, how boring would the world be if we all spoke the same language, ate the same food, and thought the same way? We largely experience the world through our language(s). In the words of William Gibson, “Language is to the mind what light is to the eye.” Cultures define themselves through languages, and learning Italian will grant you greater access into the rich culture of Italy.
And let’s not stop with the spoken word. When it comes to communicating, never underestimate the power of hand gestures in Italy. For our Italian friends, gestures are used to enhance, underline—or in a better word, improve—communication. It’s one thing to merely say, “What are you looking at?” versus the same phrase accompanied by the appropriate gesture. In fact, the gesture given without the accompanying phrase often carries more weight, more contextual significance. So keep that in mind when someone is giving you a gesture while not actually speaking.
Learning Italian is fun, and as long as you keep that—enjoyment—as your primary goal you will not go wrong. Language acquisition is a slow process and to “succeed,” we must strive to relish the small daily victories without getting hung up on becoming fluent as quickly as possible. In the U.S., we often define our success on demonstrable results. That’s fine for business purposes and career advancement. But you’re in Italy now, if only in spirit. Parla come mangi! (“Talk like you eat!” i.e. Don’t pretend to be such a snob!) So slow down. Relax. Little by little, you will learn to “Talk Like an Italian!”
