LA BELLA MA SBAGLIATA ITALIA

Dear Readers,

After some delightful and relaxing holidays, I am back! How are you all? I can say that I am doing well, back to study and work… I could use a holiday after the holidays, hehe!

Now, let’s focus on the topic I would like to discuss today: the frequent errors we encounter on Italian menus in Italian restaurants around the world. There are so many! I believe that the presentation of a menu and culinary culture are crucial when you sit at the table of a restaurant representing your country.

The first thought that comes to mind when I read these mistakes is: the author is not Italian. However, this is not always the case, unfortunately. Even Italians themselves sometimes make errors when writing in their language.

But what are the mistakes commonly made by those who own Italian restaurants?

Orthographic and grammatical mistakes.

How often do we read: “Spagheti, Spagetti, Veggetariana, Capriciosa, Coze,” etc., when it should be: “Spaghetti, Vegetariana, Capricciosa, Cozze,” etc.?

Or how frequently do we come across: “Buoni sapori ce puoi assagiare sul nostro tavola,” which should be: “Buoni sapori che puoi assaggiare sulla nostra tavola!” or “I nostri clienti sono benvenuto,” when it should be “benvenuti,” the plural form?

I don’t know about you, but I go crazy every time I encounter such experiences, which unfortunately happens quite often!

However, let’s hope that now, with Google at our fingertips, these errors can be checked before being written… hehe!

For those who have been following my blog from the beginning, you already know how curious and particular I become when it comes to “language”! Mistakes should not be made, especially when they appear on a menu that hundreds of people can see!

Anyway, let’s try to stay positive and hope for fewer experiences like these in the future!

Have a wonderful day and a pleasant end of summer!

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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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If I was…

Hello Dear Readers,

Christmas is around the corner… 🙂 🙂 🙂

Let’s be honest Christmas is all about giving and receiving gifts, celebrating love with friends and family. At least that’s the mindset many of us have today. And since you all know my love for books, why not consider buying one for your family and friends?

But why books?

Well, I believe a book opens up new worlds to the reader. It allows the imagination to travel and create vivid images from the descriptions on the pages. It enriches our souls and minds, and also helps refresh our vocabulary and grammar rules, this is my primary reason for reading!

Why am I talking about books? The other day, I was watching some videos on YouTube, and one caught my attention: it was the video of the Italian song “Congiuntivo” (Subjunctive) by Lorenzo Baglioni, who participated in the Sanremo Festival, a significant Italian music event. This song highlights the use of the subjunctive in the Italian language. Unfortunately, many of us still struggle to use it correctly in hypothetical sentences, where it is necessary!

To illustrate:

Correct: Se fossi ricca, viaggerei sempre (If I were rich, I would always travel)

In the subordinate clause, we must use the subjunctive, while in the main clause, we use the conditional.

Incorrect: Se sarei ricca, viaggerei sempre (If I would be rich, I would always travel)

This is a common mistake and sounds terrible.

This song serves as a reminder to all Italians to use the subjunctive correctly! Music is a great trick to remember this, and reading also helps as our minds unconsciously memorize grammatical structures. After some reading, we automatically speak better Italian. So, everyone, buy as many books as you can! This advice applies to me as well, hehehe. Speaking a language correctly is important because it’s pleasant to listen to and, more importantly, ensures we are understood.

Good luck! Ah, and Merry Christmas to all!!! Happy 2020!!!

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Different sounds!

Hello Everybody,

Have you ever considered how wonderful the sound of a language is? And, at the same time, how different and sometimes amusing a non-native speaker sounds, especially when their pronunciation reflects their native language?

In my personal experience, even though I strive to speak the languages I know very well and try to hide my native accent, my Italian intonation still comes through! It is quite amusing, especially when I speak Spanish. To tell you the truth, I often get asked, “Where are you from?” by people. At this point, I think it would be helpful to share a bit of my background so you can understand the different language influences I’ve absorbed over the years.

I lived in Seville for six years and one year in Palma de Mallorca, where I met many Caribbean people. As a result, my accent is a unique blend of Andalusian and Cuban! Curious, isn’t it? Many Spanish speakers ask if I am from the Canary Islands because there is a significant population of Cubans there who mix Castellano with Cuban expressions. I must admit, I am like a sponge, absorbing the sounds I hear around me.

The same happens with Portuguese speakers who ask me if I am Brazilian because I learned Brazilian Portuguese. Thanks to my several Brazilian friends who help me practice, I sound quite Brazilian, or so they say!

But now let’s talk about those who use their native accents to speak another language. Spanish speakers, particularly those from mainland Spain, caught my attention. They speak English with their native sounds, which can sound quite unusual. For example, English words beginning with “s” are pronounced with an “es” sound, as in Spanish. It is challenging for them to drop the “e“:

Study – estudy (Spanish pronunciation)

School – eschool

Spain – Espain

The word Google is often pronounced “Googel,” and the letter “h” is pronounced like the Spanish “j” with its guttural sound, so “hip-hop” becomes “ji-jo.” This can be confusing for native English speakers, who may struggle to understand due to these pronunciation differences.

It is not entirely their fault, as Spain extensively dubs TV programs and films, making it harder to learn proper English. Additionally, they are quite nationalistic, translating almost everything from English to Spanish.

Conversely, Italians often mix English and Italian, sounding Americanized, but they also face challenges due to extensive dubbing.

I have heard Portuguese speakers speak English well, despite their nasal sounds. Norwegians, including myself, tend to sing when speaking English, influenced by their native intonation. I have been told my English carries a mix of Italian, Spanish, and Norwegian accents by my American friends, hehehe!

What about American or English speakers speaking Spanish or Italian? Forgive me, but it sounds amusing (in a good way, of course)!

First, their “r” sound and, particularly among Americans, their “t” sound often comes out as “d“:

Ristretto – ristredou (American pronunciation)

Salita – salida

Vecchietta – vechieda

Lastly, Germans (even though I do not know German, their accent when speaking Italian caught my attention) speak Italian with a very pronounced accent, substituting “ge” with “ce“:

Germania – Cermania (German pronunciation)

Gente – cente

How funny do we all sound? And how beautiful is every language, with all its pros and cons?

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