Why study Italian?

1. Why study Italian?

2. 1.Italian: a language for everybody We can all speak some Italian – in fact we probably already know more than we think! Because Italian is so closely related to Latin (the official language for most of Europe, including England, for nearly a thousand years in the past) you will find that Italian has many similarities with English as well as French and Spanish.

3. Also, Italian is remarkably phonetic. Follow simple rules and, by reading what you see written, you will pronounce understandable Italian from day one. You will delight the Italians you meet on holiday as well as your Italian business contacts and the staff of your local trattoria. For a native English speaker, Italian is easy to learn and speak correctly.

4. As David Ashby (a UK Member of Parliament) once said: “Italy is one of the greatest civilisations in Europe. To be able to converse in its musical language is a pure personal delight. Italian for the sake of Italian, for no other reason.”

5. 2. Art & Architecture Italy has long been gifted with outstanding architects and artists. The architecture of Rome (and the engineering skills required) is still one of the marvels of the world.

6. At the time of the Renaissance, Italy produced outstanding multi-talented artists such as Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) who was not only a brilliant sculptor and painter but also designed, and supervised the building, of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

7. The list is almost endless with every city and town in Italy having its own art treasures. Not only are major cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice well-endowed but many small towns also have a rich inheritance.

8. In modern times, architects such as Renzo Piano have become well-known world over and have attracted commissions from major buildings in many of the world’s leading cities.

9. 3. Fashion & Style Armani, Benetton, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Versace – the names of Italy’s contemporary fashion houses are synonymous with elegance and style. They have been especially influential in the area of man’s fashion which underwent a complete liberation during the second half of the last century thanks to Italian leadership.

10. The Milan Fashion Show is one of the highlights of the fashion calendar. But Italian influences stretch well beyond the fashion world. The design of domestic appliances like Alessi, furniture such as Vico Magistretti, Zanotta, Citterio, almost anything you find in modern houses shows traces of Italian design influence.

11. 4. Science, Engineering & Industry Italy has been a place for scientists and engineers for many centuries. Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642) is world-famous for his fundamental astronomic discoveries. More recently Guglielmo Marconi (1874 – 1937), the physicist, is regarded as the father of radio communication.

12. In the 20th century Italian design flair and engineering skills have given us the exclusive cars of Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini which continue to delight on the racing circuits and on the street. For those on a more modest budget, Alfa Romeo and Fiat produce stylish cars which are on the roads of every country of Europe.

13. And the vocabulary comes with it: astronomy, automobile, car, motor, all have Italian roots. Italy is also one of the world’s leading producers of domestic appliances. Indesit and Zanussi are household names in the UK and, recently, Italian companies have taken responsibility for the Hotpoint and Hoover brands as well.

14. 5. Italy & Europe Italy was an enthusiastic founder member of the European Economic Community (the ECC) which has now grown into the European Union. It is also a founder-member of the currency union and is part of the euro zone.

15. It could also be argued that the original European union was the Roman Empire which gave us the concept of the rule of law, impartially administered, and brought to most parts of Western Europe the foundations of public administration as we know it today.

16. 6. Opera & Contemporary Music Italian is the first language of music and opera worldwide – think of crescendo and piano. Italian composers are at the root of modern western orchestral and choral music from Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525/6-1594), through Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) to Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901).

17. Today Italian singers such as Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Cecilia Bartoli and Roberto Alagna are well-known to opera lovers around the world.

18. When Franco Zeffirelli was asked “Why do you think Italian is important?”, he replied “For the opera, of course!” In spite of all the best efforts, an Italian opera is never quite the same when translated.

19. But it doesn’t stop there. Italy has always been a major contributor to pop music and now Italian DJs are making a noticeable contribution to House dance music.

20. 7. Cinema & Theatre Italy has continued to produce artistic talent with twentieth century audiences flocking to see films made by the likes of Federico Fellini, Roberto Benigni, Nanni Moretti and film stars such as Sofia Loren, Marcello Mastroiannni and Claudia Cardinale.

21. After World War II Italian film making has provided an authentic portrait of everyday Italian life, i.e. the “Neorealismo” movement with world famous directors like Vittorio De Sica and Roberto Rossellini. Nowadays Italian films are often not only a box-office success, but also a genuine representation of modern Italy.

22. The roots of Italian cinema lie in Italian representational art, literature and theatre, that go back to ancient times influenced by the Greek culture and its subsequent revival in the Renaissance. The “Commedia dell’arte” is the cornerstone of an Italian theatrical tradition that can still be noticed in the works of Luigi Pirandello and Dario Fo.

23. 8. Sand & Sea, Snow & Ski Italy stretches from the high Alps in the north to the middle of the Mediterranean. The country has thousands of kilometres of coastline with cliffs, beaches, fishing villages and every kind of attraction for visitors and holiday-makers.

24. Snow covers much of Italy’s northern border during winter and there are many well-established ski resorts. At the foot of the Alps there is the lake district with jewels such as Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Lake Garda.

25. There is indeed something for everybody. Everywhere, visitors are made to feel welcome and the ability to speak a bit of Italian doubles the warmth of the reception.

26. 9. Football & Sport Italy is a world-class football nation. It is also a football-mad nation with fans devoting perhaps even more time and emotion to their favourite team than British fans do. Names such as Juventus, Roma, Lazio, Inter and Milan are as much a part of British fans’ vocabulary as Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and United!

27. There are also well-known Italian footballers playing for English Premiership and League clubs. Giuseppe Rossi (Manchester) and Arturo Lupoli (Arsenal) are just the tip of the iceberg.

28. With Italian football League on British TV every week it is now easy to share the passion for this sport with the Italians and, if you learn some Italian, you’ll even be able to talk with them about one of their favourite topics.

29. 10. Food & Drink Pizza, spaghetti, pasta, polenta, cappuccino, espresso, caffelatte – the list of Italian words which have come into the British High street and become part of normal English goes on and on!

30. Italy is also a producer of good wine and many of the leading brands are now widely available in restaurants and supermarkets in the UK. Asti Spumante, Lambrusco, Chianti, Frascati have all become favourites among Britain’s wine drinkers.

31. Italian is the language of everyday food and drink. Understanding and speaking Italian will give you many insights into everyday eating and, after your first few weeks into an Italian language course, you’ll be reading the menu in your local Italian restaurant like an expert!