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Italian
#1667302
08/09/2023 15:56
08/09/2023 15:56
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671 Auld Reekie
Edinburgh
OP
Club President, member225
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OP
Club President, member225
Forum veteran
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671
Auld Reekie
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I've been promising myself I'd learn some for at least 10 years, from time-to-time approaching this Italian teacher or that with a view to one-to-one lessons - I'm not very good at 'class' stuff, I told myself. I have even made the acquaintance of a pleasant Italian gent who lives down the street who often stops to chat while I'm cleaning the coop and recently I tried to twist his arm into drumming some conversational Italian in my direction - nothing has yet transpired. But Mrs Edinburgh has just decided to start Spanish classes (our daughter-in-law is from there - Catalunya actually) so that a) she can converse a bit with our grand-daughter who is learning it at school in Dubai and b) use it if we go to Spain on holiday, as in this year, where my smattering (picked up in the gutters of Nicaragua decades ago) is usually enough to get by. Bull, rag, red etc...so that was enough, I've enrolled for Beginners' Italian in a local Adult Education Course starting end of the month, a couple of hours a week  It'a such a great-sounding language and no surprise it's so strongly connected with (classical) music. One instance really brought it home when arriving in Rome Ciampino, eventually catching the crowded metro into the city centre. In the crush with my head bent sideways I read what looked like an Italian warning above the door's window: non appoggiarsi alle porte Okay, 'non' I can guess, 'porte' is probably 'doors', it must mean Don't Lean on the Doors (I'm quick) then ah.... appoggiare....of course, in music an appoggiatura is a note to be 'leant' on; and so my education continued Then, comparing our own parsimonious word 'lean' with the far more interesting 'A-pogg-i-ar-e' with its multiplicity of sounds, is when it dawned on me how much value it contained. I know we host some Italian speakers, hands up anyone?
BumbleBee carer
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Re: Italian
[Re: Edinburgh]
#1667311
09/09/2023 07:57
09/09/2023 07:57
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,757 Berlin
barnacle
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
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Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,757
Berlin
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Anita speaks some Italian... I can do the bit with the fingers held just so: "Sono Montalbano!" Curiously, I was recently fed an odd comparison of Germanic root languages (which Italian obviously isn't) given by a gentleman from (I believe) the far east somewhere... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryVG5LHRMJ4Neil p.s. A wand'ring minstrel I, a thing of shreds and patches...
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Re: Italian
[Re: Edinburgh]
#1667324
09/09/2023 13:09
09/09/2023 13:09
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 590 Guildford
wink
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 590
Guildford
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Lo parlo io. Like you, I found an adult education class, about 20 years ago! For the last 10 years or so I've been in a weekly conversation group, with a native italian teacher. I really enjoy it, and it's always appreciated when you're on holiday in Italy. Useful apps: Google Translate, which is good for whole phrases. And Word Reference, which is really useful for conjugating verbs. Good luck!
Last edited by wink; 09/09/2023 16:06.
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Re: Italian
[Re: Edinburgh]
#1667345
09/09/2023 18:30
09/09/2023 18:30
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671 Auld Reekie
Edinburgh
OP
Club President, member225
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OP
Club President, member225
Forum veteran
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671
Auld Reekie
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Another reason for learning would be the opportunity to try it out (and get thoroughly corrected) at Turin next year for the 30th anniversary trip  When one considers the excellent grasp of our language by so many foreign nationals I always feel it's like a respect to attempt to say at least something in the lingo of a country other than ours. Mostly (often French  ) they cotton on right away and immediately answer you back in your own language far more fluently! But at least one tries.
BumbleBee carer
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Re: Italian
[Re: Edinburgh]
#1667353
10/09/2023 07:29
10/09/2023 07:29
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 904 Cleveland
PaulL
Club Member 1872, Regional Rep N.E.
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Club Member 1872, Regional Rep N.E.
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 904
Cleveland
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I find it great fun.
I speak bad French very well. It seems to work and breaks down barriers.
If you go out of the city, people are less experienced at speaking English, and like us, are reluctant to speak English, and show themselves up.
If you try, then everyone joins in and you usually muddle through.
When learning, get good at some basics first, then build on it. Politeness goes a long way, so don't forget to smile, say hello, please and thank you.
You might also buy a magazine in the language of your main interest. I buy the AutoExpress equivalent, you know the topic and can guess the bits that are new to you.
One of my relatives has an English dad and Lebanese mum. She speaks English, Arabic, Spanish, French and is thinking of starting Italian. The main surprise to me was that she also speaks Mandarin ! I can't even peel one.
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Re: Italian
[Re: PaulL]
#1667850
02/10/2023 10:43
02/10/2023 10:43
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,566 Scottish Borders
G_Man
Club member 1656
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Club member 1656
My life on the forum
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,566
Scottish Borders
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I know some Latin.
Picked it up from some soldiers when I was a lad.
Try translating this
DUIT ON MON DEI Paul - was that when they were building Hadrians Wall 
77 77
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Re: Italian
[Re: PaulL]
#1667876
02/10/2023 17:21
02/10/2023 17:21
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671 Auld Reekie
Edinburgh
OP
Club President, member225
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OP
Club President, member225
Forum veteran
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671
Auld Reekie
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Yes it was.
Managed this weekend to get an old tree chopped down to make way for an outside toilet. Did you have a particular axe to grind?
BumbleBee carer
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Re: Italian
[Re: Edinburgh]
#1667891
03/10/2023 08:53
03/10/2023 08:53
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 904 Cleveland
PaulL
Club Member 1872, Regional Rep N.E.
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Club Member 1872, Regional Rep N.E.
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 904
Cleveland
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Re: Italian
[Re: Edinburgh]
#1667905
03/10/2023 16:55
03/10/2023 16:55
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 590 Guildford
wink
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 590
Guildford
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'Grazie'. Prego 
Last edited by wink; 03/10/2023 16:56.
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Re: Italian
[Re: wink]
#1667909
03/10/2023 18:40
03/10/2023 18:40
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671 Auld Reekie
Edinburgh
OP
Club President, member225
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OP
Club President, member225
Forum veteran
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671
Auld Reekie
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'Grazie'. Prego  Thanks wink, I didn't feel qualified to do owt but button my lip over that one  Tutto a posto 
BumbleBee carer
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Re: Italian
[Re: Edinburgh]
#1670928
25/03/2024 11:32
25/03/2024 11:32
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671 Auld Reekie
Edinburgh
OP
Club President, member225
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OP
Club President, member225
Forum veteran
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671
Auld Reekie
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Latest favourite word. MOZZAFIATO, meaning "Breathtaking" Couldn't describe it any better 
BumbleBee carer
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Re: Italian
[Re: Edinburgh]
#1670980
27/03/2024 16:04
27/03/2024 16:04
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,584 Glasgow,Near Florence..If only...
paul
My life on the forum
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My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,584
Glasgow,Near Florence..If only...
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I think you know both my parents, and my wifes parents are from Italy, mines are from near Lucca , Delia's are from near Naples ,you could say we are 100% Italian parts ,but assembled in the UK  - Delia speaks fluent Italian ,and did Italian translation at uni , sadly I can just get by ....but seemingly, far better when I've had a glass of vino or 2 or 3 or 4 
was Paul S,now just paul...Member since Oct 2000,Coupe may be FATALLY injured - :(oh no it's not
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Re: Italian
[Re: paul]
#1670982
27/03/2024 18:25
27/03/2024 18:25
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671 Auld Reekie
Edinburgh
OP
Club President, member225
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OP
Club President, member225
Forum veteran
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17,671
Auld Reekie
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best Italian word ??.... Ooofa ....basically means wtf about everything  Funny, we were just given a load of Italian (Rome-based) slang in our class last night  Do I know your folks Paul? Lucca  Barga perhaps?
Last edited by Edinburgh; 27/03/2024 18:26.
BumbleBee carer
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Re: Italian
[Re: Edinburgh]
#1670987
28/03/2024 10:16
28/03/2024 10:16
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,584 Glasgow,Near Florence..If only...
paul
My life on the forum
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My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,584
Glasgow,Near Florence..If only...
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Yes  well on my dads side, my Nonna is from Bagni di Lucca ...common quick translation  ( baths of Lucca ) , but my Nonno , is from a tiny village ( 2 yes, 2 houses, called Abettiao -- I think thats the correct spelling , one house was owned my us, Santi and the other was owned by Pieri ) , which I literally just outside Barga, my brother (Ericand his wife Laura who is/ was a Conneta ) goes every year, and I am going to a wedding there in July this year, where my friends daughter is getting married ( and err yes she is is a ...Pieri !!! .  . her fathers name is Johhny , he's very well known in Barga , his mum and sister still live there ). I also have a cousin Brian who has a house just outside of Barga , he is a Corrigan , my dads sister married a Corrigan over 70 years ago ,a big 'thing' in those days . small world !!
was Paul S,now just paul...Member since Oct 2000,Coupe may be FATALLY injured - :(oh no it's not
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Re: Italian
[Re: Edinburgh]
#1671010
29/03/2024 09:45
29/03/2024 09:45
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,584 Glasgow,Near Florence..If only...
paul
My life on the forum
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My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,584
Glasgow,Near Florence..If only...
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ha ha where to start  Pauls & Paul on here are the same person ....Me  ( changed from Pauls to Paul ,when the site was re booted many years ago ( I am 66 OMG that old !! how did that happen  ) , Tan front seats ,yup also me, from my coupe, when I replaced the fronts with Tan covered Recaros to match the tan interior of my coupe , my son ( Sandro he is 34 ) now had the original Tan seats for sale . and err, I think it was also me who told you about Alfonso's in Edinburgh  .. He had my Alfa 147 GTA as well (Pearlescent White one ) and lastly , Yes that was my Cinquecento he had last year ( well actually my wife's anniversary present  A blue one with tan interior ?) My dad was never that much into car shows etc , so never went to Hopetoun House , and I don't think I've ever been to Italian Car day at Hopetoun House yet either , only because I used to work on a Sunday , but sold our business so hoping to go this year 
Last edited by paul; 29/03/2024 09:47.
was Paul S,now just paul...Member since Oct 2000,Coupe may be FATALLY injured - :(oh no it's not
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Re: Italian
[Re: paul]
#1671026
01/04/2024 06:42
01/04/2024 06:42
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,757 Berlin
barnacle
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
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Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,757
Berlin
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( I am 66 OMG that old !! how did that happen  ) One day at a time... just... one damn day at a time  Neil
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Re: Italian
[Re: barnacle]
#1671045
01/04/2024 14:53
01/04/2024 14:53
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,584 Glasgow,Near Florence..If only...
paul
My life on the forum
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My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,584
Glasgow,Near Florence..If only...
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( I am 66 OMG that old !! how did that happen  ) One day at a time... just... one damn day at a time  Neil yup ohhh soo true 
was Paul S,now just paul...Member since Oct 2000,Coupe may be FATALLY injured - :(oh no it's not
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