Having spent a few weeks now in Italy I'm having a bit of a re-think regarding this communication business. With regards to our ability to speak Italian - I can only imagine how dreadful we must sound...The Italian version of the English program 'allo, allo' no doubt. Although the locals mostly appreciate our efforts and from time to time we'll even get some praise such as a hand shake, a thumbs up or a "excellente''.
As much as I/we had dreams (rather unrealistic) of learning and speaking some Italian each and every day, so that by the time we left Italy we'd at least be fluent in a few phrases. Alas this is not meant to be or least not for me/us anyway. Glenn on the other hand has been diligently practising what he must say in each given situation...such as (just had to ask Glenn what he said in restaurant and he's now referring to his Italian phrase book to reply to my question) he states "un alto un birra rossa e prosecco that is "same again a beer and a prosecco... hmmm, I've now decided there are only two ways to communicate.
Glenn and the art of communicating
Glenn looks for Italian translations or tries to repeat what he reads in Italian...sometimes he's very successful and sometimes he creates confusion.
...most evenings while staying in Lecco we would wander down to our favourite gelato shop to purchase a delicious icecream... the sign reads 'cone e copetto'. So Glenn would ask for "due cioccolato cone e copetto, grazie"- he thought he was asking for 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream in a cone thank you". Unfortunately this seemed to create great confusion as the person first reached for a cone, then a cup. Glenn would then repeat his request, "due cioccolato cone e copetto, grazie". Once again the shop person reached for a cone, then cup, then a cone, then a cup. This went on night after night (5nights) until the person behind the counter exclaimed "DO YOU WANT A CONE OR A CUP??". He was actually asking for 2 scoops of chocolate icecream in a cone or a cup!
I would have included a photo of us eating the infamous icecreams, but unfortunately it was always too damn hot and they melted before said photo could be taken. However I can assure you they were delicious and highly addictive.
Having said this Glenn is very good at asking for train and bus tickets and figuring out their bus timetables. Although figuring out where to go for the correct bus stop can be a nightmare. We've been sent on many a wild goose chase, backwards and forwards, around and around the stazione or piazza by seemingly miserable and unsympathetic bus drivers sending us to the wrong stop...not Glenn's fault.
GLENN'S TIP - purchase tickets from a nearby Tabacchi or newpaper stand and ask them for directions...they are accurate and very good with their detail. This may not sound like much of a problem but believe me when its hot and your lugging around all your luggage...it ain't much fun!
Lesley and the art of communicating
I swear the first week in Italy I really did make an effort to learn a few words and phrases and as previously stated the locals were mostly appreciative (The Bergamo people especially).
...while in Bergamo we came across a little farmers market and I wanted to purchase half a kilo of cherries and 300 grams of salami but couldn't figure out how to ask for it. This was my first real experience of not being understood since arriving in Italy. Glenn got out his translation book, by the time he'd figured out there was no such translation I had used pointing, hand gestures and said "more, more" pointing upward or "STOP" when enough had been measured. It doesn't sound very funny now but it was at the time with laughter all round.
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| Actions and gestures speak louder than words - mission accomplished |
However this became tiresome as I struggled to remember even the basics and I felt a little stupid requesting food items from a menu in Italian, only for the waiters to reply in english. However, all credit to Glenn, while he persisted with his Italian phrases I did not. I'd worked out that many words sounded as though they ended in a vowel...a,e,i,o,or u, but wasn't sure about the masculine or feminine usage e.g. I fell in love with the sound of the word tutti and tutto (both = all) but couldn't figure out when to use which, even after an Italian explained it to me. So I decided from then on my technique for communicating would be to use the odd italian word or two, coupled with some english along with what I considered to be an Italian accent. Add to this a little sign language, some gesturing and pointing with the hands and an occasional little minute mime could generally get me what I wanted... although I did draw the line at gesturing for toilet paper from B&B staff and simply said "we needa toileta paper grazier mele ".
Some weeks later while engrossed in a discussion regarding languages, I put my ideas about communicating to our lovely venetian host, Francesca. I suggested to her that if I had been staying with her for a few months that I could probably imitate an Italian person speaking english with an accent. "Yes" she said and agreed with me. Apparently much to Glenn's annoyance Francesca said she understood me very well, better than Glenn and indeed she understood me better than any other visitors she'd had say with her - something about my english she said was very clear! See you can't go past a vowel...when in doubt stick one on the end of a word or sentence and you'll get by. Although Glenn still uses a little Italian sometimes I've noticed he speaks more english now and at times I can hear an "a, e, i, o or u" creeping onto the end of a word or two. So I conclude...my technique mostly works.
LESLEY'S TIP - if you're visiting a small Italian town, less Italians speak English, so they do appreciate your efforts and seem more friendly. However in the cities most Italians speak some English and can't be bothered with your effort (roll of the eyes) and will often reply in English anyway...so just speak English.
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