Italy is as rich in proverbs and idiomatic expressions as it is rich in excellent wine and fine art. Linguists agree that the true measure of language acquisition and fluency resides in the integration of proverbs and idioms in the use of a second language. So, for those of you interested in learning some interesting Italian proverbs, here are a few situations you might find yourself in at our next Ciancia meeting and the appropriate expressions to use.
Arriving at a Ciancia meeting can be sometimes an ordeal considering the long working hours, the maddening traffic, and the endless meetings we all have to face each day. However, it is, in my opinion, always worth it. Arriving at Ciancia around 8 or 9 in the evening might fit your schedule, but remember that “Cu’ vigghia, la pigghia.” (The early bird catches the worm, Sicilian Proverb). Reminding yourself of this basic truth will save you from frustration when you get hungry and the food is gone!
Now that you have arrived, you are ready to mingle. You walk to the wine bar and grab yourself a drink. After all, it was a long day and you deserve it. While you’re pouring your wine, an interesting Ciancia attendee sparks a conversation with you. You engage in animated banter (in Italian) only to realize minutes later that your recent acquaintance masters only basic language skills, so you stop talking and ask yourself if “Abbaiare alla luna” (speaking to someone that is not listening or paying attention) is in fact what you have just done! The gentleman you were speaking to smiles politely and proceeds to finding a better match to chat with. Shortly after, an old friend approaches you and you suddenly feel relieved that with this person at least you don’t have to explain yourself. In fact, he can really “Capire l’antifona” (understand the conclusion of something from what it said in the beginning) and that “A buon intenditor poche parole” (Few words to the good listener).
In the kitchen, one of the many excellent Italian Ciancia members who love to cook just finished preparing a delicious dish of pasta after shouting to another hopeful cook that “Troppi cuochi guastano la cucina (Too many cooks spoil the broth). It is now time to pronounce to your friends that “Belle parole non pascono i gatti (Fine words don’t feed cats) and start heading to the table. Ah, indeed good pasta! Maybe you will go for seconds, but your neighbor proclaims “Ne ammazza più la gola che la spada (Gluttony kills more than the sword). Darn! Another basic truth hammers the obvious and does not give you peace, so you decide to revisit the wine bar. For sure, you deserve a second glass. It was quite a day, you remind yourself, and you deserve it.
You cannot believe your luck when you find a half-full fine bottle of Barolo and start to pour. From the left corner of the room, you can’t help hearing someone say “Bacco, tabacco e Venere riducono l’uomo in cenere” (Wine, women, and tobacco can ruin a man). You think about its truth and drink anyway.
It is close to 2:00 in the morning and you can’t believe how much fun you actually had! “Ogni bel gioco dura poco” (All good things come to an end). You remind yourself that you have to attend Ciancia more often because life is too short and “Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro” (He who finds a friend, finds a treasure).
The moral of the narrative is that proverbs and idiomatic expressions are inseparable from learning a language as the proverb says: “proverbiando, s’impara.” Idioms are richer than a well cured Pecorino and more colorful than the Sistine Chapel ceiling because with a few words, they create a complete image in your head. Using proverbs will also give you the satisfaction that you are now closer to speaking Italian proficiently. So, I challenge you to try at least one of these great idioms at your next Ciancia meeting. And if you do, serve yourself another glass of wine; you deserve it!
– Alexandra Salivia, Ciancia Bulletin Editor