As any lover of language understands, learning the native tongue of another country is far more than merely learning vocabulary. Language entails culture, religious beliefs, ethos, and gestures. Nowhere is that truer than in the land of da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Pavarotti. Many Americans believe they understand the culture and romance of Italy, because the Italian influence is so great on our country. We eat Italian dishes, study Italian art, and wear Italian fashion. But what most Americans don’t understand are the subtle nuances of Italian culture that greatly influence the language.
Discard American Stereotypes
To truly understand another culture, be it Italian, Spanish, German, or Greek, you must first let go of the common American stereotypes for that culture. Italian food in America is not the same as actually eating in a restaurant in Italy. For example, spaghetti and meatballs is a fairly common staple in any Italian eatery here in the states. In Italy today, the dish is not that common. Many restaurants, other than those in tourist areas, don’t serve it at all. Salads are served with the second course and are used as a way to clean ones palette. However, many Americas visiting for the first time are disappointed because Italy is not the way they envisioned it. They have all these wonderful images formulated in their minds and have great difficulty letting go of the fantasy to experience the true modern Italy.
Italians Move at a Different Pace
This is one of the hardest concepts to grasp for new visitors to Italy. The largest meal of the day is lunch, which is not woofed down at lightning speed so that workers can return to their cubicles. On the contrary, meals in Italy are thought of as more social events. It is common practice for businesses to close midday in order for workers to take a break and return at 3pm. Lunches are times to gather with family or friends and enjoy conversations of life. There is no rush to eat. That would be unheard of, as would dining without a tablecloth or a meal without wine. Wine is served with most meals. As such, Italians learn to enjoy the flavor of alcohol with a meal without overconsumption. While Italians take a leisurely attitude toward their meals, they are passionate about family, soccer, and driving as if they owned a sports car. Crossing a street to get to your favorite restaurant can be a dangerous proposition at the best of times.
Learning to Think in Italian
While it may be possible in most instances to translate English into Italian verbatim, this word for word translation often misses the mark greatly. To truly understand Italian, you must learn to think like a local Italian. You must learn the cultural nuances and how those subtleties weave a rich tapestry that is Italia. Only then will you be able to capture the feel of the language.
Italian is a true romance language, evolving directly from Latin, and learning it can give you years and years of self-fulfillment and happiness. But it’s not only about asking questions such as “what is the correct gender of my verb.” It’s also about the immersion into a completely different world from your own.
