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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Cultural factors

Greetings everyone,

How are things going?

I decided to write this article about the significant differences between cultures because I find this subject fascinating. I am referring to those details that, according to our culture, we take for granted, while others may take them seriously or personally.

Factor 1: Today, I discovered that in Chinese culture, writing an email signifies the need to discuss a serious matter or warn someone about something. This contrasts starkly with our daily use of emails for reminders, communication, or simply to discuss everyday life.

Factor 2: I noticed that here in Norway, after a day at work, a reunion with friends, or an outing, Norwegians have the habit of saying, “Takk for i dag!” which means “Thank you for today.” For instance, we Italians do not say this, possibly because we tend to take time spent with others for granted. In contrast, Norwegians take nothing for granted and express their gratitude, a practice I have adopted myself. We should learn to appreciate such details. Similarly, after meals, Norwegians say, “Takk for maten!” which means “Thank you for the food!” This is something I have never encountered in my country, and I find it so intriguing that I am learning to say it despite it not being my habit.

Factor 3: In Spain and Latin America, I noticed that everyone calls each other “amor/tesoro/mi vida,” etc., meaning “love/honey/my life,” and many other affectionate nicknames even if they have just met. This practice starts practically from day one! It is entirely different in Italy, where we use such nicknames only when we are well-acquainted with someone. Let me remind you that I left Italy 14 years ago, and surely some things have changed since then. Perhaps they are more passionate than us.

Factor 4: We Italians hug frequently, a habit not shared here in Norway. I recall a few years ago when I went to Italy with a Norwegian friend for a wedding. I couldn’t stop greeting and hugging people because it had been a long time since I had seen them or had the opportunity to be with them. Upon returning to Norway, my friend remarked, “I had such a great time, but I have never seen so many hugs in a day!” What is normal for us is not for them, and vice versa.

Do you know more cultural differences between other countries?

The world is beautiful because of its variety!

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I miss being a tourist…

Greetings Everyone,

What a time we are living in! First and foremost, I hope that all of you are safe and well.

The topic of this article revolves around one of my greatest passions: traveling.

I truly and deeply love to travel! Believe me, I have had the opportunity to visit many different countries, and I would love to explore even more. The world is vast and filled with incredible sights… but who can possibly see it all?

But what type of tourism do I engage in? And what about others? What purpose does tourism serve?

I recently read an article about tourism that classified three different types of tourism: artistic tourism (museums, buildings, art galleries, religious temples, skyscrapers, monuments, etc.); event tourism (conferences, meetings, festivals, concerts, etc.); and nightlife tourism (parties, parties, parties…hehehe). To these, I would like to add “self-discovery tourism” or journeys that help one find themselves. Although, I believe that we do not need to seek external experiences to fulfill our souls, as fulfillment is already within us (a bit of philosophy here!). You can feel the same wherever you go unless you work on your inner self. Thus, travel is not always necessary.

Personally, I engage in a mix of the first three types of tourism. I think being a tourist is akin to being a student in a classroom: you learn and observe the daily life of a place; you taste wonderful foods; you experience things that may be unfamiliar in your own country, like different music or shows; and you learn about new cultures and their traditions. Traveling enriches your soul and makes you feel free to feel, think, see, do, and even buy. What a discovery, right? Haha. I know many of you share my thoughts on traveling, but I write this because I miss buying a flight ticket and dreaming about my next adventure. When I finally have the chance to travel again, believe me, I will savor every moment. After this stressful period and the constant fear for ourselves and our families, we all deserve to go back to where we belong or simply hug each other tightly until we find it hard to breathe! How amazing would that feel?

It is true that we appreciate or miss something much more once it is no longer available, rather than taking it for granted. This situation, caused by Covid-19, has forced us to change our habits and lifestyles: something as simple as a hug or a handshake may have held little importance before because it was taken for granted… but now? Now that we can no longer do these things, how does it feel? Bad, right?

For those who love tourism, I affirm that tourism is beneficial for everyone, not just for consumerism, which benefits society, but for enriching our knowledge, minds, and souls. You can meet people, compare your story to theirs, learn tips to improve your lifestyle or diet, visit new places, and so on. There is an infinite number of benefits we can gain from traveling. The most important thing is to appreciate our own country or home after visiting a place we may not have liked.

So, my friends, I truly hope that this lockdown will end soon and we can return to our routines, traveling once again to discover more of this wonderful world! I know it will take some time, but never lose hope!

What are your thoughts on this?

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What is difficult?

Hello Everyone,

For those of you who have been following my blog since the beginning, you already know that I constantly question myself about the things I do. Learning a language is not an easy task; it requires dedication and cannot be approached with half-heartedness. In previous articles, I have shared simple tricks that I have used over the years to study different languages.

In today’s article, I want to share with you the challenging aspects of each language I have learned.

Aside from Italian, I will start with English. English was the first language I began to learn, and let me tell you, even after many years, I still have a lot to learn, especially regarding the appropriate context for different words. I remind myself that this is normal, particularly because Norway, where I live, is not an English-speaking country. Additionally, I do not use all the contexts, and I do not speak English as often as I should, although thankfully, we can always watch movies in their original versions.

So, what can I do to improve? I am currently reading an English book, which I believe is a good exercise to refresh my memory and learn new words. Given that we are in the Academy Awards season, I am watching all the nominated movies in their original versions, which are far superior to dubbed ones.

When I started university, I began learning Spanish and Portuguese. These languages were not too difficult to learn, but… there is always a “but.” I struggled with correctly placing accents on words and constructing hypothetical sentences in Spanish. Living in Spain for seven years certainly helped me improve my Spanish to an almost native level. As for Portuguese, the most challenging aspect was learning the nasal sounds and correct pronunciation, particularly in Brazilian Portuguese.

However, with these three languages, including my native Italian, it can be hard not to confuse words, especially false friends, as they are similar in all three languages but have different meanings. This can be quite confusing! Fortunately, I have the opportunity to practice speaking these languages with the Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian people I know here, allowing me to learn through trial and error.

The last language I tackled was Norwegian, which I had to learn because my life circumstances brought me to this beautiful country: Norway! Norwegian is similar to English, and like English, I find it challenging to know which words correspond to each context and use them correctly. Another difficulty is learning the various accents and dialects spoken here. It is challenging but also fascinating. Living here, working with Norwegians, watching Norwegian TV, and listening to the radio help me continually improve my language skills.

At this point, I wonder: Am I crazy? No, I just have a lot of information in my head. As I try to organize my brain into five compartments, one for each language, it takes time to put everything in its place. This is a bit crazy, hehehe!

Good luck to me!

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The opposite way!

Hello Everyone,

In a previous article, I discussed the foreign words that we Italians use in our daily lives and at work. This time, I thought it would be interesting to look at the opposite—foreigners who use Italian words.

Let’s consider some examples:

Food: Words like pizza, pasta, spaghetti, tiramisù, risotto, and cappuccino are widely used internationally.

Classical Music: Terms such as adagio, vivace, allegro con brio, aria, and opera lirica are integral to the vocabulary of classical music.

Expressions: The phrase “la dolce vita” has become famous thanks to Federico Fellini’s wonderful film. It embodies the Italian spirit of enjoying life to the fullest.

Transportation: Names like Vespa, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat are globally recognized. Although most of them are surnames, they are distinctively Italian.

Paparazzi: This word is used internationally to describe photographers who relentlessly pursue celebrities. Unfortunately, it implies that these famous individuals have no private life.

Greetings: The word “ciao” is famous worldwide. While in Italian, we use it both to greet and say goodbye, in other languages, it is mainly used to say goodbye. Curious, right?

Mafia: Regrettably, the word “mafia” is one of the most recognized Italian words worldwide. I feel a bit ashamed because, every time someone asks me where I’m from and I say “La bella Italia,” they often respond with “Oh, Berlusconi, bunga bunga, mafia.” Not funny at all.

I believe Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, filled with art, history, culture, stunning beaches, and so much more. I am genuinely proud to be Italian!

As you can see, Italian words are everywhere. Why do foreigners use them? Simply because they do not have proper translations in their own languages. This is different from our tendency to use English words to feel cool and a bit more international. They use Italian words because they need to, not because it’s trendy.

For now, I will say goodbye in my way:

Ciao ciao! 🙂

italy

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