Language Practice: from Lucca to Hazelbrook.

Dante and Chaucer

I grew up in a bilingual household in Perth speaking both Aussie English and a Sicilian dialect, although radio programs playing in the background were in mainstream or "proper" Italian. Even friends and neighbours spoke "proper " Italian.  But that's Italy for you: regional dialects against a national backdrop of the language of Dante Aligheri in classrooms and the media. In England substitute Dante for Chaucer. Is it also a generational thing? Or is it like Austrian German v that spoken in Berlin and Bremen? Or French in Paris v Montreal. Most amusing are the anglo words in popular use in Italian communities: carro or buso. Australian comedian Joe Avati sees the funny side of Italo-Australians language and life. See video at end of this blog.

Joe Avati on Youtube

A visit to Italy in 2012 to cousins reflected this dichotomy. Visiting family in Perth today is very much the same. Many Sicilian words are closer to Spanish which I can also speak in a fashion. Lavoro or travaggio (trabajo in Spanish) is but one example of this linguistic duality, of this clinging to one's roots. In this way, Italians can understand Spanish and Portuguese speakers and visa versa. But it makes it harder for the learner who can get words mixed up.

Over the years I've brushed up on my Italian, or that spoken in Rome, Florence, and Milan. This year I've abandoned my revival of Spanish and opted to concentrate on the language of my forebears. Cathy who is brushing up on her high school German suggested I go down the same road and enrol in a University of the 3rd age course. But what level I thought and rang about a place in an advanced conversation course. I was invited to attend and see if it suited me. I had a better idea and I contacted an old journalist friend formerly of Milan but presently living in Lucca, Tuscany. Domenico Megali co-authored a book on Milan: Poco Mama, Poco Butana, or Milan, Part Mama and Part Bitch. On occasions, I contributed to his news website: the Australian bushfires and the recent Djokvic sage in the Australian Open. Australian comedian Joe Avanti sees the funny side of Italo-Australians language and life.

Are you interested Domenico in a weekly WhatsApp conversation with you speaking mainly English and I mainly Italian? Five weeks later our hourly sessions are an important part of our week. There have been technical issues like an electrical storm and the worry about damage to our computers, getting the best sound, and getting our time differences sorted out -  he in the morning and me in the evening. It has been working well with proficiency in language improving. Indeed between our conversations, I manage a bit of time revising on Duo Lingo and other resources on YouTube. 

Lapses in our first languages are inevitable but we try to avoid them. The next step is to take notes and pass them on in notes to further language improvements, from me as a former language teacher and Domenico as a still practicing journalist. I'm having trouble remembering the Italian word for development which is Spanish and Portuguese: Domencio says "said me" and I keep correcting him as he corrects me. 

We have covered many important topics from family matters to world events. I noted the typical pronunciation difficulties have with spoken English, or the addition of a vowel sound. eg live > liva keep > keepa. 
A classic case of linguistic interference. A sing-song sound. 

Domenico may be contributing to this blog but in Italian. He is a journalist after all.

Over to you Domenico.