L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 T he Italian language evolved through a l o n g a n d g r a d u a l p r o c e s s , w h i c h b e g a n w i t h t h e decline of the Roman Empire in the fifth century. It wasn't until the year 1000 that the first texts began to appear in the vernacular—no longer in Latin, the language of scholars and the Church. A l t h o u g h t h e T u s c a n dialect, used by three of the most important poets of the 13th century (Alighieri, Boccac- cio, and Petrarch), formed the foundation of modern Italian, the language as we know it today is the result of a long process of evolution that only became solidified in the late 19th century. As Italy itself came into existence—the nation only unified in 1861, overcoming the divisions between its many small states often governed by foreign powers—writers and intellectuals began contemplating the need to standard- ize the Italian dialects, which had been spoken for centuries in different areas, each representing distinct cultural reali- ties. The spread of standard Italian only began in earnest in the 1950s, when the country underwent a period of complete You can study Italian with a subscription to L'Italo-Americano From the Editor political, social, and economic reconstruction following World War II, aided by mass schooling (the Italian Constitu- tion, which came into effect in January 1948, guaranteed everyone the right to basic education). A significant contri- bution to the spread of standard Italian also came from tele- vision, which played a crucial role in homogenizing speech (as well as customs), helping to bridge regional differences. During the economic boom from 1958 to 1962, television became a tool for transmitting cultural programs and lan- guage models. The famous show Non è Mai Troppo Tardi (It's Never Too Late), hosted by teacher Alberto Manzi, became iconic. Between 1960 and 1968, thanks to his lessons, many illiterate Italians learned to read and write. It is estimated that, during this period, around one and a half million Italians obtained their elementary school diploma. Italian is a language characterized by a rich vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and semantic nuances. A complete dictionary may contain anywhere from 80,000 to 250,000 words, though not all of them are in common use. Research conducted a few years ago revealed that in daily conversa- tions, about half of the population uses only 3,000 words. On one hand, this highlights the importance of reading as a means of enriching vocabulary and enhancing conceptual understanding. On the other hand, it demonstrates how the natural tendency toward simplification can strip the Italian language of its rich nuances. These variations are a result of Italy's long history and the cultural legacies left by the many dominations that have crossed its path. They also reveal a living language that con- tinues to evolve, change, forget certain words, and introduce others. Every year, dictionaries are updated with neologisms, youth slang, and colloquial expressions, keeping pace with both the spoken language and Italians' tendency toward for- eign words (with English words often being overused, even when Italian equivalents exist). In this context, the work of the Accademia della Crusca is particularly noteworthy. The world's oldest linguistic acade- my, it was founded with the goal of studying the national Italian language. Established in Florence in 1582, it aimed to separate the "wheat" (the good language, identified with 14th-century Florentine) from the "chaff." Today, the Acade- my publishes an online list of new words, prefaced by a "note to readers" that explains: "If the editorial team dedicates a detailed entry to a word, this does not mean that it is pro- moting its use. The entries are meant to serve as tools for understanding and deepening knowledge of a language—our language—which is constantly evolving. The words that become part of Italian, like those of any natural language, cannot be decided or chosen from above, but are those that spontaneously take root in the speakers' usage, based on the normal dynamics of how languages function." Language is the primary means by which a culture expresses itself, and speaking it is a way to understand that culture. It is no coincidence that L'Italo-Americano is pub- lished in two languages—the one spoken daily (English) and the one studied, loved, or remembered (Italian). It is also no coincidence that those who enroll in an Italian course at the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles receive a free digital subscription to our newspaper. Language must be practiced, and this is an invitation to read our pages to discover, through the myriad nuances of Italian, the ever-changing colors of Italy's stories and places. Choosing to receive L'Ita- lo-Americano at home is an excellent way to stay connected with, or become familiar with, Italy's culture and beauty. After all, it only costs 24 euros to receive a copy for an entire year! Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italianaall'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano Please send correspondence to P.O. BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano Newspaper (a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization), www.italoamericano.org, is the largest and longest-running Italian news- paper in America, not to mention the cultural and news resource for all things Italian in the US. A bilingual newspaper which represents an historical landmark for the Italian American Communities in the West Coast and throughout the US. L'Italo-Americano benefits from subsidies by the Italian Government, Memberships and Donations intended to support and not interrupt a mission that began in 1908 to preserve and promote the Italian language and culture in the USA Periodicals postage paid at Monrovia, California 91016, and additional mailing offices. PUBLISHER Robert Barbera Grande Ufficiale EDITOR IN CHIEF Simone Schiavinato ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Patrick Abbate EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Barbara Minafra COPY EDITOR Francesca Bezzone LOS ANGELES CONTRIBUTOR Silvia Nittoli SAN FRANCISCO CONTRIBUTOR Serena Perfetto SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR Rita Cipalla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariella Radaelli, Matt Walker, Francesca Bezzone, Luca Ferrari, Stefano Carnevali, Paula Reynolds, Teresa Di Fresco Nicoletta Curradi, Generoso D'Agnese, Jessica S. Levy, Fabrizio Del Bimbo, Maria Gloria, Chuck Pecoraro, Anthony Di Renzo Serena Perfetto, Kenneth Scambray, Chiara D'Alessio, Luca Signorini, Giulia Franceschini © 2024 L'Italo-Americano Membership: One year $59 - Single copy $2.25 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to L'Italo Americano PO Box 6528 Altadena, CA 91003

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