Gli Italiani

Back in about 1995 I read the 1964 classic work by Luigi Barzini called 'The Italians'. Luigi Barzini jnr. was a journalist, writer and politician. In this work Barzini  'delves deeply into the Italian national character' and produces a most fascinating book for any-one with a passion for all things Italian. Religion, family, history, honour, art and life are covered. Virtues and vices are given equal credence. He isn't afraid to say it as it is!

Since then I have read almost anything I can get my hands on regarding Italy. My book shelves are full, the public library has been a good source, and now the Kindle has a collection. Any book with any degree of sociological research always defers to Barzini. I am pleased that his was one of the first books I read on the deeper issues of Italian life and the Italian people.

Last year at CIS I saw Dianne Hales 2009 release entitled 'La Bella Lingua - My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language'.  To make the point stated earlier, in praise of La Bella Lingua in the frontispiece, one writer says: 'The best book on Italy since Barzini's classic The Italians'.

Hales concentrates on the language, the source of words and the changes over the ages, but to do this she has studied the Italian culture through its history.
She gives detailed accounts of politics, art, writing, music, film, food, family and the Italian persona ... all divulging the development of the Italian language.

In this excellent book we see how her own language skills have developed and the years she has put into trying to master this fascinating and tantalizing language.

To finish: SMS or text messaging is a new form of communication and therefore requires a word which cannot be found in ancient Italian languages. 
Messaggiata is the word for the sending of a text message, but can you read this message?

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