LANGUAGE & DIALECT

Italian is a second language for the majority of Italians. Their first tongue is their local, home, dialect. For those from Umbertide, it's Umbertidese, for those from Mercatale, it's Mercatalese. Whatever the town may be, the locals have their own way of speaking and can quickly spot outsiders. Locals at home also cut the ends off most recognizable Italian words. Tomaso, one of our builders, a dear man and now retired, has a dialect so thick that he could have come from the moon. Bepe was another with whom I would have long conversations, understanding every fifth word, or so.

A common greeting is "Salve", health, often used amongst country folk. We have the same word but pronounce it with the final e silent, salve, ointment, for health. A toss of the head or a lift of the chin are often used to acknowledge one, instead of a wave. "Arrivedella", is a formal and respectful way of saying goodbye, used by persons of inferior station to those obviously of higher social standing. "Arrivederci" is the more colloquial way of saying goodbye especially amongst friends and people you know. Another common way to say goodbye or see you later is "ci vediamo".

Local terms include "n'du" - where; "gimo" - to go; "bu" - don't know, often with a down turned mouth, a lift of the chin and a chin flick with the side of the right forefinger. Sounds complicated? I'll do a demo when we meet.

"Cocco" and "coca" are terms of affection, for males and females. One can also address friends of either sex and any age as caro, cara, dear. You'll hear children refer to their fathers as "babbo" and their mothers as "mamma".

In shops they say tell me? Speak to me, "Di mi", with a lift of the chin. "Perla Mor Dio", is really, "Per l'amor d'Dio", for the love of God. "L'Ave Maria", The Hail Mary, often sounds like "Lave Maria", Wash Mary!!! The prefix "Ar" indicates again; "argimo" - to return, "arpiove" - to rain again or to re-rain.

Overall, Italian is a fairly easy language to learn although mastering it might be bit more difficult. Yes, you'll make mistakes but don't be intimidated. Italians are among the warmest and most open people you'll ever meet. Your attempt to speak the language will illicit nothing less than good will and enthusiasm toward you. Foreigners as they begin to learn the language are able to speak and understand to a later and later hour as their knowledge increases. In most cases, the understanding part comes first, then, speaking becomes easier. Just remember that Italian is a phonetic language, meaning what you see is pretty much what you say. For example: the word elefante (elephant) is pronounced e-le-fan-te or eh-leh-fahn-teh.

The most difficult aspect of the language is knowing where to put the stress. In some words, like così, it's easy because the stress is already placed for you. But, other words can be more tricky. As a general rule, most words are stressed on the next-to-the-last syllable. Eventually, your brain will naturally pick up where to put the stress; it will become second nature to you.

Many Italian words are used in English, and Anglicized. We now say concerts, not concerti, all the musical terms are Italian, and now international. Altos are the highs, bassos are the lows, and it's the same with people, hills and valleys. Umbrellone, used in Italy for the shade, as well as the rain, umbrella. Parasole, literally, for the sun, sunshade. Paracaduta, paracadutista, for the falling or for the one who falls, parachute, parachutist. Ink, always used by the monks who worked in cloisters, inciostri, inc/ink is a shortened phonetic form of this word. Studio, is a workshop. Con voi- Convoy, with us, together. And of course many modern words, usually of a technical nature, of English or American origin are used more or less as invented; phone, fone; television, televisione; computer, computer; fax, modem, internet, email, hard disk, etc. etc.