Living in Italy: Itanglish
My usual disclaimer: I love Italy. I love living here. I love the country, its people, its food, its culture… But it is a country with quirks, which make you smile.
Many people here don’t speak a second language, not even younger people. They are not short of trying, though, as I described in my eBook chapter Itanglish – Italian food in English.
Last weekend, I saw this sign along the beach:
It seems they did not do too well in French neither.
More posts on The Road about Living in Italy
Peter Casier.
Might be a Flemish guy the creative mind that has got completely wrong also the Italian version? In fact is not “servizio di salvamento” but “servizio di salvataggio”. That signal is a complete disaster in any language… but that happens wherever in the entire world. Bytheway not very popular English/French or Spanish in many areas of Northern Belgium.Funny..
Anonymous
20 Nov 08 at 12:30
@Anonymous.
Indeed. now you mention it “salvataggio” would be correct…
It is true, funny signs can be found anywhere…
However, you must admit a 2nd language is not very common in Italy (exceptions apart)..
In North Belgium? Nooo. At least some English and French is spoken by anyone of 50 years and younger.. Four languages were compulsory when I went to school (at least in Flanders).. Whether they *want* to speak it, is something else
P.
Peter
20 Nov 08 at 13:04
Infact, the fact that the majority of the Flemish I have to deal with “prefers” to stick with the “flemish language” doesn’ t make things easy to anyone (ie tourists). That way to “protect” their territory they live in, don’t think will bring anything good in the society. Again, that’s my point of view. Probably I am too open mind. Cheers
Anonymous
20 Nov 08 at 13:28
@Anonymous
No, I think you are totally right. How can we be open to others if we are not open to other cultures, other languages… Be it for trade, tourism, or just “understanding” one another…
p.
Peter
20 Nov 08 at 14:04
actually they did pretty well in german. not a 100%, but not too big mistakes either
pumuckl
21 Nov 08 at 10:18