Italian Culture On Food
Italian Culture On Food
Italian Translation Into English Of The Seasons
I have a great love for all things Italian. I work in a translation agency dealing with Italian English language combination projects, I am getting fat on Italian food and I am even marrying a fantastic Italian girl, who is also a translator.
So I hope to bring to you in this article not only an Italian English translation of the text. But also, a feel of the Italian culture and way of life.
Italian Names for the Seasons – la primavera, l’estate, l’autunno, l’inverno
The English Translations are:
Seasons
la primavera—Spring
l’estate—Summer
l’autunno—Autumn
l’inverno—Winter
In Italian the names of seasons (i stagioni) are not capitalized.
Now lets add some culture and lifestyle to this translation;
la primavera—Spring
The scent of flowers arrives in your house. The days start to get longer. The fog in Bolgna will start to decrease and you will be less neccessary to have extra clothes when you walk (caminare) in the evening to get an icecream (gelato).
Already, the whole of Italy is getting ready for the summer. In the south they may already be getting on the beach some weekends.
Another funny side I have discovered is that some of the Italians I know (boys and girls) are already planning on getting rid of their girlfriends / boyfriends so that they won’t be restricted from the pleasures of summer.
When I think of an English Spring I remember a saying my mother as always said ‘March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion’ Meaning it will start nice, but end with the roar of storms.
l’estate—Summer
In the summer the Italians are all heading for the beach. Italy is long and narrow looking like a ladies boot. As such, you are genereally no more then 45 minutes from the beach.
Most Italian have a selection of beaches they use. The beach of the family, the beach where they meet their friends and the beach where they go to see and be seen!
l’autunno—Autumn
Autumn is generally a little depressing in most countries. The days are becoming shorter and the days on the beach are less and less inviting.
However, Italians love to party and the harvests create a cause for many regional celebrations. So I actually love this Italian season. Its cooler so you get to catch up on what you have put off through the heat of summer.
l’inverno—Winter
Well……again Italy is long and narrow and shaped like a boot as it has been formed by the merging of tetonic plates. This has resulted in a country that has mountains down its middle.
So the Italians, like many English, are generally off to the ski slopes. But unlike the English most Italians are only an hour from the slopes so they are able to go skiing most weekends.
I do hope you have enjoyed my article on the Italian seasons and the translation provided.
About the Author
Although born and remains an Englishman, the author has a great love of all things Italian. He works as an Italian English Translation Project Manager at the Translations company Axis Translations http://www.axistranslations.com.
Learn Italian and Italian Hand Signals: Travel Your Way in Italy!
You do not have to speak a word of Italian to explore Italy. Italian hand signals, an outgoing personality, and a genuine smile are all you require. You’ll be all set to explore Il Bel Paese before you know it.
If you learn Italian online, you will be better off enjoying Italian culture and relating to Italians. Nonetheless, here’s a short guide to Italian hand gestures that you can apply to supplement your Italian.
To explore Italy, you do not have to speak a word of Italian. Italian hand signals, an outgoing personality, and a genuine smile are everything you need. Before you know it, you’ll be able to conquer Il Bel Paese.
Still, you are better off studying Italian before you leave. To guide you, however, you can utilize these Italian hand signals.
Un momento!
In English, this means “one moment, please.” Just make a number one with your index finger, pointing upwards. You can also use this to mean “may I speak, please?”, though learning Italian will come handy then.
Ho fame
” I’m hungry”, is what this conveys. Hit your stomach with the side of your flat hand to send a clear message to your hosts to feed you. Learn Italian to know the difference between polipo and pollo if you’re sick of pasta and pizza. You will be able to prevent allergies and grasp Italian food better.
Ehi tu, vieni qui
“Come here”, this hand gesture conveys. It’s the same come hither gesture used in America. You must use this with care because this could seem sexually inviting or rude. It is still safer practice to learn to say “prego, potete aiutarli” to ask somebody to come over.
Silenzio
This is done by pressing your index finger to your lips, the universal gesture of “silence.” But successfully explaining why you want quiet is another story. You’ll need to learn Italian to achieve this!
Idea!
You can aptly translate this as “I have an idea!” Simply put your hand on your head and wear a happy face, and you have conveyed that you do have an idea. But putting your great idea across will require time and effort if you didn’t bother to study Italian.
Perfetto
To compliment somebody with a perfect score, use the thumbs and index fingers of both hands to create a circle. This is very useful in your Italian travels as this does not demand that you speak Italian.
Scusi, devo andare al bagno
Put on a pained expression while holding up your index and middle fingers if you want to go to the bathroom. This is handy if you need frequent bathroom trips.
This is a very useful signal that translates to “I have to go to the rest room.” Just hold up your index and middle fingers, put on a pained expression, and you’ll be directed to the closest bathroom. For the diarrhea-prone traveler, this is very important indeed.
Indeed, it’s sheer poetry, these Italian signals. To read Italian street signs and speak with the locals, though, learning Italian is still handy. You can choose to have the best of both worlds.
About the Author
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