Korean as my 6th language?

Greetings Everyone,

After a two-year hiatus, I am delighted to share that I have embarked on a journey to learn my sixth language: Korean. You might wonder, why embark on this new endeavor? Wasn’t mastering five languages enough? Does she still have the desire to study?

I would like to share my latest interest, which seems to be a growing trend—Korean dramas (K-dramas) on Netflix. As I listen to them in their original version with Italian subtitles, I find myself captivated by the sound of the Korean language.

Firstly, let me explain why I watch K-dramas:

Contrary to what one might assume, I do not watch them for their romantic elements or the attractiveness of the characters. My interest lies elsewhere. I find myself weary of the violence depicted in American and other international series and movies, which often showcase guns, murders, and drugs. In these tumultuous times, I prefer to immerse myself in the peaceful and soothing world of K-dramas. While K-dramas can evoke deep emotions and may even bring tears, they do not elevate stress levels as Western media does. They focus on personal strength, energy, and emotions rather than on crime and violence.

Secondly, let me explain why I decided to study the Korean language:

As I listened to the Korean language, I found its sound appealing. I began to identify linguistic elements, aided by the Italian subtitles. However, subtitles often summarize the dialogue, leading me to notice differences between what was said and what was written. For instance, expressions like “Thank you” and “I am hungry” sounded different from their textual counterparts. Moreover, I was fascinated by the various ways Koreans address people, similar to our formal and informal speech.

Through my study, I discovered that Korean has multiple speech levels, influenced by the vertical hierarchy of Confucianism, where age and social status play significant roles. This piqued my curiosity, and I felt compelled to delve deeper.

Thirdly, I have always been intrigued by Korean symbols and writing:

To understand Korean writing, I started with the alphabet, which comprises 40 letters (19 consonants and 21 vowels). What struck me as elegant and fascinating is that the letters are formed by three symbols: a vertical line (“I”) representing humans, a dash (“-“) representing the earth, and a dot (“.”) representing the sky. Additionally, the concept of bright and dark letters is inspired by the yin and yang philosophy, which is truly remarkable.

So, no, five languages are not enough for me, and I am eager to study more. When you are passionate about something, learning it becomes effortless and enjoyable.

What about you? Have you developed any new interests lately? Are you ready to embark on a new journey?

Korean Phrase: 곧 보자, 안녕 English Translation: See you soon, goodbye

Image created by AI.

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Formal vs Informal

Hello everybody!

Today I got to think about personal pronouns and how they are used differently according to the language you speak. I’ll clarify. I’m referring in particular to the personal pronouns (You-second person singular and plural/he/she) that we use in both formal and informal contexts. In our daily conversations using the correct form is important because it can denote intimacy, distance or higher/lower social rank. I speak four other languages, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Norwegian, and I’d like to explain very briefly below the use of these pronouns in formal vs informal situations.

In Italian, we use the pronoun lei (third person singular) in formal situations and we use it with people we don’t know, such as authorities or high-level professionals. In a conversation with friends and family, we use tu (you, second person singular) instead.

In Spanish, they use usted (you) as a formal pronoun. I’ve lived seven years in Spain and if you have ever had the chance to get to know Spanish people or live in their wonderful country you’ll have perhaps noticed how friendly these people are. In fact, even if the formal pronoun should have been used in formal situations, using an informal pronoun such tú (you) is still okay. But I did meet people, such as professors, who still like to use the formal way.

Instead, in some countries of Latin America, they still use usted even in informal instances or vos (you) from voseo (this is the use of the pronouns vos in place of tú or vosotros in combination with the verb conjugated in the 2nd person plural) .

In Norway, du (you) is always used no matter the context or social rank, like in English today. The form de is a very old form which is not used anymore, as thee in English.

In Portuguese, the general rule is the same as in Spanish : tu (you) for informal situations, você (you) for formal situations. But in Brasil they always use the formal way você/vocês (you-second person singular and plural) for both formal and informal situations. 

Personally, I like to use the informal way as in Norwegian and in English, I feel comfortable with it because I think that giving importance to social rank or expressing distance is not necessary.  Respect should not be defined by grammar or by the use of formal pronouns. We can respect someone simply by using the right words.

How amazing are languages? And how hard is it to learn and remember all those rules?

What do you prefer to use: formal or informal way? What do you think?

I would love to read your opinions.  

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Did you know that?

Hello Everyone and Welcome to Sunny Days!

Finally, we have some summer days here in Norway, and having them here is big news!

Today, I would like to share my thoughts on two articles that I have found particularly interesting lately:

Why Do People Throw Rice at Newlyweds?

According to an article I read online, in ancient times, cereals were considered a symbol of prosperity. Bread has always been a staple in our daily lives, and traditionally, brides would incorporate spikes of wheat into their hairstyles, while grooms would place a wheat pie on their heads to serve to guests after the ceremony. Guests would throw almonds and nuts at the newlyweds as a wish for children. Over time, dried fruit was replaced by rice, which continues to symbolize prosperity and abundance. Recently, petals of roses, soap bubbles, or feathers are also thrown to the bride and groom, as rice can sometimes get in their eyes or soil their dresses. Curious, isn’t it?

Why Are Pizza Boxes Square?

Another intriguing fact is the reason behind the square shape of pizza boxes. As children, we learned to recognize geometric shapes and fit them into the correct slots in educational toys. This might explain why the question “Why are pizza boxes square?” arises. Pizza makers often create round pizzas that are not perfectly circular. Placing these in square boxes allows for variances in size. Additionally, producing a square box is cheaper than a round one because it requires only one sheet of cardboard, whereas a round box would need two sheets plus extra time to cut the angles precisely. The side holes in square boxes are necessary to let steam escape, preventing the pizza from continuing to cook and becoming burnt. Interesting, isn’t it?

Learning new things, especially about everyday items we take for granted, is always fascinating.

I hope you enjoyed my post and have a wonderful summer, even in these unusual times.

Follow my posts and please share your opinions.

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Latin still lives!

Hello Everyone,

As time progresses, everything around us evolves, and our language is no exception. In our daily routine, we use English words, and our vocabulary is continuously updating. However, today I would like to focus on how we Italians still keep our linguistic roots alive!

Despite the prevalence of modern language, we continue to use Latin words and expressions such as: carpe diem, curriculum vitae, alias, Deo gratias, etc., which have Italian equivalents. But why do we do this if Latin is no longer spoken in our daily lives?

Is it to showcase our intellectual prowess? Or do these specific Latin words and expressions convey our intended meaning more accurately?

To help unravel this little mystery of mine, driven by curiosity, I had an interesting conversation with one of my dearest friends. We have known each other for many years. He is an Italian, Latin, History, and Geography professor, also qualified to teach Greek. He resides in a small and beautiful town in Southern Italy named Mesoraca. I sought his opinion to compare our perspectives and to learn more from an expert. His name is Francesco Grano, and here I share his explanation:

He explained that we use these Latin words and expressions because they are “linguistic fossils,” some of which, over time, have permeated our daily speech due to their cultured origin. Many are common sayings embedded in our historical and linguistic memory, such as sic et simpliciter (thus and simply) and ex abrupto (without preparation). Others originate from literary traditions, like famous Latinisms still used in literature today. These belong to the refined lexicon of poets and prose writers. Additionally, some are cultured quotes memorized and repeated over time, present in the works of those who preceded us (for example, carpe diem by Horace and alea iacta est by Caesar). They have various levels of continuity.

Reading his messages was enlightening! The wealth of knowledge he shared was fascinating. What I cherished most was his quote, “If you think well, Italian is Latin!” This statement made me realize that we have a vast cultural and linguistic heritage that we will always carry with us.

A special thanks to my wonderful friend Francesco Grano, who is not only a learned professor but also a beautiful and warm-hearted human being!

I hope you enjoyed this article!

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Mi scusi? O scusa?

Hello Everyone,

Today, I would like to discuss the polite forms we use when speaking to people. Specifically, I am referring to the formal and informal ways we converse.

In Italian, we have the “tu” form and the “lei” form. What do I mean by these?

When we talk with someone we know or are related to, we use the “tu” form. When we talk to someone we do not know, an older person, or an authority figure, we use the “lei” form, which is considered a form of respect:

Formal: Mi scusi, lei sa che ore sono? (Excuse me, do you know what time it is?)

Informal: Come stai? (How are you?)

Let’s see how this works in the other four languages I know.

In Spanish, they have the “tú” form and the “usted” form, and they use them exactly like the Italians:

Formal: Usted sabe dónde se encuentra la farmacia? (Do you know where the pharmacy is?)

Informal: Sabes tú qué hicieron ayer? (Do you know what they did yesterday?)

In Portuguese, they use the “tu” form and the “você” form in Portugal, while in Brazil they mainly use just the “você” form:

Informal: Te quero (I love you)

Formal: Quero você (I love you)

But what about English? They have only the “you” form now. English once had a “thee” form, which dates back to Early Modern English. “Thou” was used for the subject, “thee” for the object, and “thy/thine” for the possessive. Although they use “you” for everyone today, they add “Madam” or “Sir” to indicate politeness:

Formal: I love thee (very old form) Informal: I love you

Formal: Thou worked all day long (very old form) Informal: You worked all day long

Formal: Thine dog is smart (very old form) Informal: Your dog is smart

Today: How are you, Sir?/ How are you, my friend? (Notice the difference?)

Finally, we have Norwegian, which now uses just the “du” form. Seventy years ago, they had the “De” form. Norwegians used “Herr” (Mr.) and “Frøken/Fru” (Miss/Mrs.), but they no longer do so, except perhaps with the Royal family. Today, they use the first name and last name at the first meeting and then just the first name in subsequent interactions:

Formal: De er vakker fru Hanne (old form) Informal: Du er vakker Hanne (today)

It is important to know these distinctions, especially when working with Norwegian-Italian interpretation or speaking in Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese. It can be challenging to remember to distinguish between both forms, as Norwegian always uses “du“, but Italian does not. When working for an Italian client conversing with a Norwegian professional, I have to use the “lei” form for the Italian customer. This means being proficient in my job and using the formal way with the Italian customer, while the “du” form is acceptable with the Norwegian person.

Curious, isn’t it?

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