#learning italian

[the-0ther-mother]

25/100 days of productivity

Tuesday, 15 October, 2024

Today was mostly the result of me being sleep deprived. I was just sooo sleepy the whole day.

🪐 went to my Microeconomics lecture

🪐 went to the library

Honestly, the desire to wear cute autumnal outfits is the only thing getting me out of my bed and carrying me through the day these days.

🪐 finished my notes for microeconomics ch. 2

🪐 finished my notes for calculus ch.1.2

🪐 finished my notes for calculus ch.1.3

So, this week will be spent catching up on my last week's material and all the homework. It's a lot but I'll manage. I'm really excited about my micro notes though. I'm going to print them out tomorrow. They'll be very useful.

I've missed two days of my Italian lesson on Duolingo though :(

Breathe in and out. Don't lose track of the big picture.

Arrivederci <3

[h0neytalk]

Italian Audio/Books/Videos Masterlist

Now that I’m at the upper A2/lower B1 level for Italian, I figured I’d compile a quick list of where I’ve found the best stuff to read and listen to.

E-Books and Audiobooks

Kobo Rakuten Italia — where I buy my ebooks. You can read them online, in the app, or download them and [redacted] to export them elsewhere. Has a monthly unlimited subscription that functions like a combo Kindle/Audible subscription.

Storytel — monthly subscription for unlimited access to audiobooks.

YouTube

Learn Italian With Lucrezia — truly the savior of anyone learning Italian. My favorite videos are her Q&As, vlogs, and “n basic phrases you need to know.” I don’t get much out of her grammar explainer videos but that’s because of who I am as a person.

NovaLectio — commentary style mini documentaries. I export them to LingQ to read before watching and it helps me parse what’s going on. Also, they upload some videos dubbed in English so you can watch both.

Vogue Italia — celebrity interviews and fashion content. About 50/50 Italian and English but obviously high production value.

ArtandtheCities — criminally underrated channel imo. 10-15 minute art history/industry videos by an art historian. Super interesting, she’s easy to understand, and has captions.

Chef Max Mariola — utter chaos but fun. A Roman chef cooking various dishes, sometimes with a guest. Gives very “your uncle is hosting Thanksgiving and forgot until yesterday” vibes but in the best way.

TV/Movies/Documentaries

RaiPlay (free!) — Italian version of PBS. Lots of documentaries and some kind of goofy soap operas/narrative shows. You can also watch live TV.

Podcasts and Radio

RaiPlay Sound — basically NPR. Also free! You can find podcasts, live radio stations, audiobooks, and even audio descriptions of movies and TV shows.

Articles

Formula 1 Italia — Formula 1 news. I’m a big Ferrari fan but they cover a lot of news/current events (as long as they can connect it to a driver). The writing is short and to the point so it’s easy to parse for beginners. And honestly the drama is better than a lot of TV shows.

Stile Arte — long, more complex articles about art and archaeology. Cannot recommend it enough if you have an interest in any of those things. There are some straightforward history articles at the B1/B2 level, and also some more creative essays that push C1.

Corriere della Sera — daily news site. I started reading the news only in Italian to keep me from doom scrolling because America is terrifying. This is just the site I have ended up using a lot. Mostly because it’s easy to navigate and they have a ton of content.

[virromanus]

20 Latin Phrases And Their Italian Equivalents Still In Use Today

Latin: "Carpe Diem" - Seize the day. Italian: "Cogli l'attimo" - Catch the moment.

Latin: "Veni, Vidi, Vici" - I came, I saw, I conquered. Italian: "Venni, Vidi, Vinsi" - I came, I saw, I won.

Latin: "In vino veritas" - In wine, there is truth. Italian: "Nel vino c'è la verità" - In wine, there is truth.

Latin: "Aqua vitae" - Water of life. Italian: "Acqua della vita" - Water of life.

Latin: "Caveat Emptor" - Let the buyer beware. Italian: "Acquirente, attento" - Buyer, be careful.

Latin: "Homo Sapiens" - Wise man. Italian: "Uomo sapiente" - Wise man.

Latin: "Ad Astra" - To the stars. Italian: "Verso le stelle" - Towards the stars.

Latin: "Ars longa, vita brevis" - Art is long, life is short. Italian: "L'arte è lunga, la vita è breve" - Art is long, life is short.

Latin: "Tempus fugit" - Time flies. Italian: "Il tempo vola" - Time flies.

Latin: "Amor Vincit Omnia" - Love conquers all. Italian: "L'amore vince tutto" - Love wins everything.

Latin: "Memento Mori" - Remember that you must die. Italian: "Ricorda che devi morire" - Remember that you have to die.

Latin: "Alea iacta est" - The die is cast. Italian: "Il dado è tratto" - The die is cast.

Latin: "Verbatim" - Word for word. Italian: "Parola per parola" - Word for word.

Latin: "Vox Populi" - Voice of the people. Italian: "Voce del popolo" - Voice of the people.

Latin: "Mea Culpa" - My fault. Italian: "Colpa mia" - My fault.

Latin: "Tabula Rasa" - Clean slate. Italian: "Tavola rasata" - Clean slate.

Latin: "Non sequitur" - It does not follow. Italian: "Non segue" - It doesn't follow.

Latin: "Per se" - By itself. Italian: "Di per sé" - By itself.

Latin: "Status Quo" - The existing state. Italian: "Stato Quo" - The existing state.

Latin: "De facto" - In fact, in reality. Italian: "Di fatto" - In fact.

[babooshkaa]

ways to make duolingo useful

1. jump units

in the new "tree" all the new vocabulary is in the first lesson, then duolingo makes you study it for like a week if you're lucky, so if you're confident you've learnt all the new words just jump to the next unit (I also find myself remembering my mistakes better if I make them while trying to jump than when I make them in regular lessons)

❗after jumping always come back to the stories you missed, they're like the most useful thing there is in the app

2. use other resources

I know this is a post about duolingo, but people, mostly beginners, seem to think that they only need duolingo to become fluent. my mom has a 700 days strike and she still can't keep a simple conversation in english or understand an episode of fucking teletubbies, that should tell you everything. read content for beginners, watch youtube videos, tv-shows, use other apps, I promise the owl won't kill you for it

3. stop when it starts slowing you down

trust me you don't need to use duolingo when you're intermediate, it's just not worth it. leave it for the days you can't study properly and want to do at least something

[rotzaprachim]

I find the dialect issue really interesting in Italian, like it’s been a hot second since I studied it (don’t want to get it mixed up with Spanish etc) but I used to be faaaairly profficient-ish. But Italian has some interesting stuff with dialect and language that is of course super political - absolutely I believe that the minority languages of Italy are LANGUAGES, not “dialects,” eg napolitano, Sicilian, Calabrian etc. However! That doesn’t stop the complicating factors that

a) many are (due to repression in part) somewhat unstable and there’s been clear linguistic pushes in the direction of standard Italian

b) many (not all) young people don’t speak their regional language (which is also geographically associated)

c) the minority languages are for the most part still related to Italian and lend easily to blending and mixed forms

d) the standard language in Italian classes for foreigners is that florentine standardized form and they will almost never tell you regional slang or alterations

in essence there’s a dual issue here: minority languages are called “dialects” in a way that is deeply politically loaded, but for many many speakers there is a kind of language spectrum between minority languages (or remnants and borrowings from minority languages and “standard” Italian) that created a lot of…. Actual dialects in modern spoken Italian

but anyway I do think this all encourages a situation where the reality is that the majority of Italian speakers have some kind of mixed form or where regional dialects affect the standard spoken form at LOT , so that when you learn Italian you’re like oh this is easy. I’m getting an a. I’m a b2. Why the fuck can I not understand anyone ever. What is this. Like the standard form/minority language binary are kind of two ends of a spectrum and class will prepare you for like, official tv channels and Dante but not talking. Italians can understand you and they tend to be very very friendly and accommodating in matching that official form and altering their words/grammar, but you can’t easily follow a lot of *their* conversations and daily pronunciation and the literary language is very ornate. There are also not so many resources for this kind of thing

[reflectionsofthesea]

Some cool expressions in Bergamasco (the dialect from the town I was born and raised in, Bergamo) and a comparison with italian.

Bergamasco is a very interesting dialect, because it borrows terms, sounds and letters from both german and french! This makes it sound very different from italian and other italian dialects.

A lot of grammatical components like the way verbs are structured, the sounds and pronunciation, and articles, are very similar to german and french.

And it also gives bergamasco-speakers like myself an advantage in speaking german, finnish or other languages that have the vowels ä, ö, ü (or the finnish y), since we already know how to pronounce them!

(green: Bergamasco, white: italian) Some expressions:

se fet? cosa fai? = what are you doing?

so mia. non lo so. = i don't know.

n'doe? dove? = where?

n'do set? dove sei? = where are you?

mochela. smettila. = stop it.

lassa sta'. lascia stare. = don't bother/leave it alone.

fa frecc. fa freddo. = it's cold.

fa colt. fa caldo. = it's hot.

mola mia. non mollare. = don't let go/don't give up.

fa' mia isè. non fare così. = don't be like that.

n'dondaret? dove vai? = where are you going?

n'che manera? perché? = in what way/ means 'why?'

borlà zò cadere = fall down

desdes fo'./rampa fo'. svegliati/muoviti = wake up, hurry up

gregnà ridere = to laugh

usa drè urlare dietro = to scream at someone

porta drè negot. non portarti dietro niente. = don't bring anything (with you)

lèa de terra levare da terra = scream/argue at someone so much you're lifting them from the ground

an va? andiamo? = shall we go? (from french on y va?)

so dré a maià. sto mangiando. = i'm eating. (from french  je suis en train de manger)

usa mia. non urlare. = don't shout

Some words:

rüt sporco = dirt (from german)

hümmia scimmia = monkey

cì maiale = pig

ca'al cavallo = horse

formagèr formaggiaio/lattaio = cheese maker (from french fromager)

articiòk carciofo = artichoke (from french artichaut)

oeuf, öf uovo = egg (from french oeuf)

frèr ferro = iron (from french fer)

rasga sega = handsaw

scèta bambina = little girl

Bergamasco is mostly spoken in the countryside and especially in the mountain villages and hills around Bergamo by older generations. It is not as commonly spoken in the main city, or used by younger generations. I learned it from my mom, and we speak it in the house daily. You can often hear it spoken by handymen, construction builders, artisans, and older men in the town.

A political party popular in Lombardia (Bergamo's Region) proposed years ago that Bergamasco should be thought in schools in Bergamo and around the province, but the idea was rejected. The sad reality is that Bergamasco, like a lot of italian dialects, is in danger of disappearing due to how less and less it's spoken and taught to younger generations. I personally really love Bergamasco and I love how unique and cool it sounds, and how it clearly shows the history of Bergamo as well: we went through the Austrian invasion, the German influence and also trades/exchanges with France, that contributed in the years to make the dialect sound the way it does now. It's a collection of my town's history and cultural exchanges and interaction (even if unfortunate ones, with Germany and Austria)

Most people from Bergamo and that speak Bergamasco have a very prominent specific accent (I do!) even when speaking normal italian. People from Bergamo are considered very matter-of-fact and straightforward, and the dialect reflects this nature very well: a lot of words and verbs are shorter than their italian counterpart, and the borrowed sounds from German make it sound harsher/more direct than italian does.

Bergamaschi wanted to avoid speaking so badly they even made their dialect as short and direct as possible, so they could use less words than regular italian and get to the point quicker.

[lalalunar]

ITALIAN SOUNDS + PRONOUNCIATION

i. Intro

ii. The alphabet + the sound each letter makes

iii. Combinations of letters + the sounds they make

i. Intro…

The Italian language is one of the more phonetic languages, meaning each letter (or combination of letters) only make one specific sound each.

You must also pronounce every sound possible in a word with the exception of the letter H, which is silent. For example, in the word video, you would pronounce it vee-day-oh. Even in longer words such as cinquantasette which would be pronounced Cheen-quahnta-sehteh

Of course, as mentioned with the letter H, there are some exceptions to this. For example, with the combinations of letters.

ii. The alphabet + the sound each letter makes

— the Italian alphabet is missing a few of the English alphabet letters. Namely J, K, W, X, and Y.

A - Ah

B - English B

C - English letter K

D - English D

E - eh/ay

F - English F

G - English hard G (like the word green)

H - silent

I - ee

L - English L

M - English M

N - English N

O - oh

P - English P

Q - English Q

R - rolled R

S - almost always S, almost never sounds Z

T - English T

U - OO

V - English V

Z - English Z

iii. Combinations of letters + the sounds they make

— Just like in English, Italian has some combinations of letters that change the sounds of the letters themselves. Some are harder to pronounce for foreigners.

Ci/Ce - when C is followed by an I or an E, the C sound then becomes the English CH sound. The exception to this is if there is an H between the two letters (Chi/Che). The C sound then stays the same as normal.

Gi/Ge - when G is followed by an I or an E, the hard G sound then becomes the English J sound. The exception to this is if there is an H between the two letters (Ghi/Ghe). The G sound then stays the same as normal.

Gli - the best way I can think to describe this is how the LL is pronounced in the English word million. Almost like a rounded L sound. This sound is especially hard for foreigners.

Gn - like the N in the word onion.

— some examples with these would be Cinque (five), Giorno (day), Luglio (July), Bagno (bathroom)

[dranna]

so I’m still beginner at German but decided to start Italian as well, just because. It makes me happy :)

and for that, I made these for Italian articles and the ‘to be’ conjugation. Feel free to use these for your studies. If there are any errors let me know and I’ll correct it<3

(also just ignore: “ti vagytok, határozott, határozatlan and részelő” words. They are in my mother tongue and mean the same thing as their English pairs)

I hope @giosnape will approve 🫡

I’m trying to do one for German as well, but it’s a lot lmao

[lifeofaself-taughtlinguist]

"BOO!" in different languages.

Thanks Duolingo 🦉

[er-cryptid]

Hundreds (Italian)

-- one hundred = cento

-- two hundred = duecento

-- three hundred = trecento

-- four hundred = quattrocento

-- five hundred = cinquecento

-- six hundred = seicento

-- seven hundred = settecento

-- eight hundred = ottocento

-- nine hundred = novecento

.

Patreon

[22-22lottie22-22]

[the-0ther-mother]

24/100 days of productivity

Thursday, 10 October, 2024

Wow, hello there, it's been a fucking while. I feel really bad about the fact that i haven't been productive for over a week now and I'm kinda terrified it's gonna throw me off for a while but that's okay, I'll be okay, i Know this happens to me a lot and i know i can get back into it. That's the main thing, going back to work, picking the ball up after you've dropped it. Also i was sick for a whole week so what else did i expect.

🪐 went to my calculus seminar

🪐 went to the library

🪐 finished the exercises for chapter 1.1 of calculus

🪐 started writing the notes for microeconomics chapter 2 (couldn't finish it cuz i was really tired and hungry)

I was hoping i could get those notes done after i got home but i should've known better. It's impossible for me to work at home, my family members are a lot to handle.

🪐 did my Italian lesson on Duolingo

I've been genuinely enjoying doing these little lessons cuz I've remembered quite a few words now and it's fun to say them and build sentences. I really want to get serious with it though.

Today is so foggy in my mind now that i sit here and try to recall it. I'm going to sleep. I need much more sleep than I currently get.

I love you. If you need help, I'll be there.

Arrivederci <3

[virromanus]

How the Renaissance Shaped the Italian Language

The Renaissance, a period of immense cultural, artistic, and intellectual growth in Europe, played a crucial role in the development of the modern Italian language. This era, spanning the 14th to the 17th century, witnessed a revival of interest in the classical art, literature, and learning of ancient Greece and Rome, significantly influencing the evolution of the Italian language.

Dante Alighieri's Contribution:

Dante Alighieri, often referred to as the "Father of the Italian language," was instrumental in establishing the Tuscan dialect as the standard for the Italian language. His most famous work, "The Divine Comedy" ("Divina Commedia"), written in the early 14th century, was one of the first major works of literature written in the vernacular, i.e., the local Tuscan dialect, instead of Latin. Dante's choice of the vernacular over Latin marked a pivotal moment in the development of Italian as a literary language.

Dante's works demonstrated the expressive and aesthetic possibilities of the Italian language, elevating its status and proving it could be used for serious, high literary pursuits, a domain previously reserved for Latin.

Petrarch's Influence:

Francesco Petrarca, known as Petrarch, further solidified the use of the vernacular in literature. He is best known for his Italian sonnet sequences, which focused on themes of love, personal reflection, and the human experience. Petrarch's poetry, particularly his "Canzoniere" (Songbook), greatly influenced Italian literature and language. His refined use of the vernacular and his development of the Italian sonnet format set a standard for lyrical poetry in Italian.

Boccaccio's Contributions:

Giovanni Boccaccio, another key figure of the Italian Renaissance, also contributed significantly to the development of the Italian language. His most famous work, "The Decameron," is a collection of novellas written in the vernacular. It not only had a profound impact on Italian literature but also helped to shape the Italian language by demonstrating its suitability for both serious and more lighthearted, secular topics.

Impact on Standardizing Italian:

The works of these authors were essential in the standardization of the Italian language. Their choice of the Tuscan dialect, particularly that of the Florentine region, as their literary medium contributed to its status as the basis of standard modern Italian.

Legacy and Continued Influence:

The Renaissance's focus on humanism and the return to classical sources also played a role in shaping the Italian language. This period encouraged a deeper exploration of the human condition, emotion, and intellect, aspects that were deeply integrated into the Italian language through literature and art.

In sum, the Renaissance was a period of reawakening that not only rediscovered the riches of classical antiquity but also set the foundation for the development of the modern Italian language. The works of Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio were not just literary masterpieces but also linguistic milestones that established the prestige and potential of the Italian vernacular, leading to its evolution into the modern Italian language we know today.

[sayitaliano]

i need help to learn italian in 2 years do you have suggestions

i have italian friends im bothering but yk

sono è un idiota :/

Ciao! Okay first of all I cannot guarantee you can make it in two years: it depends on the level you want to reach, and how much you'll be able to study&practice/find time to schedule some Italian in your daily (or at least weekly) time. This said, for sure you can become a beginner if not even an intermediate... it depends on what level you are now as well. It also depends on what you need to do in two years: I mean, if you for example want to come here on vacation, it's perfectly fine to be a beginner and talk English as well when necessary.

Now, you can find all the resources I have in the various masterposts on @sayitalianohome: there's grammar, vocabularies, audio/reading/apps resources and especially suggestions on how you may want to try to study on the daily.

I can already suggest you to go slow and don't rush things: I understand you "only have two years" and you already want to speak Italian fluently but rushing won't take you there, ever. It will just make you more confused. Learn easy vocabularies (animals, colors, forniture, food... things you see on the daily + how they change in gender/number) and verbs conjugation first, starting with the auxiliary ones: eg. from your last line, "sono" or "è" un idiota? Who is an idiot? You (io sono) or one of your friends (lui/lei è)? Try to start translating easy sentences (as this one) word by word: subject, verb, and eventually direct complement. Longer more complex ones can wait for when you'll know more vocabs and own the basic grammar of this pretty complicated language.

Best of lucks, here I am if you need further help/infos!

[ixchelalondra]

Yes Daddy, I'm a good girl, I did my Duolingo lesson today 😊

[reflectionsofthesea]

How do we call bumblebees in italian? Bombi!

Bombus Latreille is the scientific name for this wonderful little guy. They are commonly known as "Bombi" in italian! (Bombo in singular)

It's one of my favourite italian words. It sounds so cute and funny and it's perfect for how cute and goofy these little guys are!