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!

culture-word-
Source

gregoracetranslationsLeave a comment

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!

22319.carpe-diem
Source

gregoracetranslations2 Comments

They came back home!

Hello Everyone,

Words travel all around the world, and after so many decades, they come back home. As I continue reading “L’Italiano e’ bello” by Mariangela Galatea Vaglio, I came across some fascinating insights that I would like to share with you. It turns out that many words we think are of Anglo-Saxon origin are actually Latin. So, even when we believe we are borrowing these words from another language, we are, in fact, using them correctly because they originate from Latin, our mother tongue!

For example:

Sport: While it is commonly associated with English, its origin is Latin (sportula). Sportula was a small basket used by housewives to buy food. In ancient Rome, during sports competitions, winners received a crown and a sportula, which was useful and significant for everyday life.

Computer: This word also derives from Latin (computo, meaning calculation). Interestingly, the first personal computer was Italian, created by Olivetti. It was called Perottina, named after its inventor, Perotto. It was even used in NASA operations that sent humans to the moon. Curious, isn’t it? A small yet significant step for mankind made by Italians… just saying… 😊

Jeans: The term “blue jeans” comes from “blu di Genoa, Genova” (the cloth used by dockworkers for their uniforms due to its durability). Similarly, jeans became the uniform for American workers.

To sum up

these words and many others have Latin roots (Latin is considered a dead language today, except for its use in writing Catholic books by the church). They were exported abroad and became part of the English language, causing confusion by making people believe they had a completely different origin.

Incredible, right? This is just another example of how a language evolves!

words
Source

gregoracetranslationsLeave a comment