You’re visiting Italy, or perhaps watching Italian TV or reading a news website.
There’s a picture of a masked demonstrator waving a “No TAV!” placard.
Know what it’s all about?
If not, it’s not your knowledge of Italian that’s at fault….
Is your “cultural knowledge” letting you down?
It’s quite likely.
Unless you live in a country, you’re probably not up on the big issues of the day.
T.A.V. refers to “Treno Alta Velocità” (high speed train).
The demonstrators are protesting about the construction of the railyway line and tunnels through their peaceful valleys. You could find out more here.
Grammar and vocabulary are not enough
Don’t know who Letta, Renzi and Alfano are?
Then even with a complete knowledge of Italian grammar and vocabulary, and perfect listening and speaking skills, you’d be at a loss in any Italian bar or dinner party conversation.
I’d argue that knowledge of what’s actually going on in the culture whose language you’re learning is MORE important than knowledge of the language itself.
I got by for years in Italy without the conjuntivo, for example. But wouldn’t have lasted ten minutes without knowing what CF, IRPEF, IVA, and GdF were.
Where can I get some “cultural knowledge” then?
Reading a lot helps. Watch TV. Visit Italian Internet sites.
All the obvious things.
Here’s an exercise on Italian abbreviations (one of the very few on this site I wrote myself, hope you like it!)
If you like reading about politics, you’ll need to know these Italian building names used to talk about institutions or people.
And of course, keep reading these articles!
P.S. Next week there’ll be a special offer on e-books in our shop, so start thinking about what you’d like from Babbo Natale…
Now let’s here what YOU think!
Is “cultural knowledge” more important than grammar? Click here to visit the site and add your views.
Andy Miller says
Hi Daniel
I hope you’re well. Just a little comment on the TAV. The Val di Susa is lovely but not very peaceful. There’s a motorway running on massive viaducts plus two strade statali and a railway line. There are sections where the motorway disappears into tunnels, but the landscape has been well and truly disfigured.
Most of the new train line between the border and Torino will run through tunnels, with less than 4kms in the open. Perhaps you could argue that it should all run in tunnels, I don’t know. Personally I find it a little mystifying that this project has attracted so much opposition while there doesn’t seem to be the slightest murmur about the building of new superstrade.
Daniel says
Ciao Andy, welcome back!
Yes, we’re all well, thank you.
So, about the TAV, strangely it’s one of the very few things I have absolutely no opinion on!
However, I think with your contribution you have demonstrated that YOU at least do not lack “cultural knowledge”. The opposite in fact!
A presto,
Daniel
Sieglind D'Arcy says
I agree Daniel, cultural knowledge is more important than grammar. When I listen to Italian radio here in Australia I understand a lot when they are talking about politics here, but when it’s Italian political news not much past the name Berlusconi gets through to me.
A question on the abbreviation exercise: Can you please tell me what DOC, G.d.F, CONI and TG stand for? Or are they bogus examples?
Thank you so much, and thank you for the effort you put into keeping us interested in Italy and practising our Italian.
Daniel says
Hi Sieglind,
Thanks for taking the time to join the conversation!
Follow these links for answers to your questions (and for reading practice, and more cultural knowledge):
DOC
G.d.F.
CONI
TG
The last one is the hardest to guess. Anyone else know what TG is? It’s used frequently in speech (“tee-gee”)…
Monica Gehrig says
I love listening to italian radio news. I hear them talking about “PD” often and maybe even “PDL” do you know what either of these may be referring to? Thanks for the post!
PS: hope you had a wonderful dinner party with a surprise guest!
Daniel says
Hi Monica!
Great habit to listen to the radio. In a few months you can pick up more than in years of courses. Plus loads of cultural knowledge.
Your abbreviations are the names of the two largest parties in Italian politics
PD – the main left party. Currently the primary player in the coalition government.
PDL – the main right party, just changed its name to “Forza Italia”
The prime minister, Letta, is PD. Berlusconi is PDL.
The reason that both are constantly in the news is because of the struggles within each party for control. The PDL has just split. The PD might still do so.
If you’re interested in Italian politics, what do you think of my new site italiaexplained.com?
It’s just an idea at the moment, with virtually no content, but it’s aimed at people like you, Monica, so I’d welcome your ideas…
Sieglind D'Arcy says
I just checked out the site italiaexplained.com Daniel and I think it’s a fabulous idea and format. I’m not sure where you get the time and energy, but thank you for doing this stuff.
John Thomson says
Sono d’accordo con Sieglind
Your cultural site is excellent
In the UK we have all but lost the concept of La Famiglia, it is still hanging on in Italy, this is one of the many reasons that I find Italy so fascinating.
I love your comment “who to sue”. In the latter stages of my clinical career I used to tell patients that the only reason I wore a name badge was that if they sued me they would spell my name right (in Scotland there is no ‘p’ in my name)
Following on with the concept of la famiglia “the Online Italian club” is still my numero uno, I wonder if we could access your new site from the club e.g. a top line menu option, or at least a link
Anyway I have put my name down to receive e-mails from your new site
Grazie John Thomson
Daniel says
Cool! I think you’re the first, John…
Daniel says
I don’t do any “real” work, Sieglind…
Monica Gehrig says
Grazie Daniel! Your article was so timely in my life because I have been wondering for the past couple of days what these abbreviations could mean. I checked out the website and I think it is perfect for someone like me. I live in Canada but am learning italian in hopes to one day travel to the country and stay for a while. Keeping up with what is happening culturally and in politics today, I think, will enable me to connect with people on a deeper level. Thank you for the website and all of the free, relevant information!
Daniel says
It’s a pleasure, Monica. Thank you for taking the time to comment!