Communicating in Italian?
 

I'm going alone to Italy for the first time this summer. I speak French and English but don't speak any Italian. Though I intend to carry around a small &quot;Italian Phrase&quot; book, and having had to learn English as a 12 year old going to Jr High School,(moving from French Canada) I think I can easily make others understand what I want. However, I was wondering how easy it will be to order in restaurants, speak with shop keepers since I don't speak Italian. I don't want to make the &quot;ugly American&quot; and assume that everyone should simply speak English to me. I strongly believe that &quot;when in Rome,do as the Romans do&quot; (no pun intended) and I intend to try my best with my handy dandy phrase book, but I am curious how difficult it might be to communicate. <BR><BR>Waiting to hear back from everyone.<BR><BR>Lynn

Lyb, It shouldn't be that difficult to find an inexpensive language tape, either at your local library or amazon, or someplace like that. Get the tape and do your best to learn at least a few basic phrases.<BR><BR>I feel just like you do, in not wanting to expect the world to speak English for me. While in Italy I started almost every conversation with &quot;Mia speeachay. Non parlo Italiano molto benne&quot; (Forgive the semi phonetic spelling please.) Basically saying, and meaning &quot;I'm sorry I don't speak Italian very well.&quot; People could tell I meant it. Nine times out of ten it worked great and people were willing to help me out in whatever language they could. I threw in please, excuse me and lots of thank you's, all in Italian, wherever and whenever possible. We got along fine.<BR><BR>Have a great time in Italy, we loved it so much we're going back this June.<BR><BR>the turnip

Mi dispiace (mee dys-pee-AHH-che) =)<BR><BR>At the worst, you can simply say &quot;vorrei questo piatto&quot; and point at whatever dish on the menu you fancy.

Turnip has given some good advice about phrases to use. We've been to Italy three times in recent years. My Italian is still not that good. However, by learning some common phrases and carrying around a phrase book and dictionary, we managed we well! Italians are wonderful...With your attitude you should have no problems.

Just point, smile , use some french or spanish or english phrases, and bring the dictionary.. By the way the spelling is :&quot; MI DISPIACE MA NON PARLO ITALIANO MOLTO BENE&quot;. Years ago I was in vacation in Germany and used a mixed esperanto language there, but the trick is to have a big smile when you are talking, and everyone will be happy to help you...Have a great time..

You don't mention where you currently live, but most major city/county library systems have access to various audio language tapes. If you are not going until summer, you have plenty of time to learn enough basic Italian words and phrases to be comfortable.<BR><BR>Also check with your school system, or community colleges to see if they offer a class for beginning Italian, or even better, Italian for Travelers. I took such a class last year before my Italian trip, and I found I could purchase train tickets, order in restaurants, and ask for directions. <BR><BR>The best of the tapes is by Pimsleur, and is very effective. I'm listening to the French version, in anticipation of my May trip to Paris. Good luck/Buona fortuna/bon chance!

Most people, also, can speak at least some rudimentary English or French. a foreign language is mandatory for at least 3 years (junior high), but usually 5 or 8 years, in every Italian school, and 98% of children learn either English or French (the other 2% learn German, Spanish or Russian). Do not expect too much, but most people can, therefore, at least understand a few basics in either English or French.

If my Italian half of the family is any indication, when you speak the language, make sure you speak with frequent hand gestures, speak rapidly and loudly (almost at a shout), and at the same time as everyone else at the table. <BR><BR>

Hi Lynn. We were in Italy for three weeks a year ago, neither of us spoke any Italian except for basic and polite phrases (good things to learn in any language), and we had no major problems whatsoever. Occasionally, there would be some difficultly in communicating but it was never anything that couldn't be worked out. I've always read that Italians love to communicate, and we certainly found that to be true. Never once did we sense disdain or contempt because we could not speak Italian. <BR><BR>We didn't *assume* that all, or even most, Italians would speak some English...but, as it turned out, they did (at least in the places we visited, like Venice, Rome, Siena, and Cinque Terre.) <BR><BR>Good luck!

Irecomend this little book: Italian At A Glance by Barrons. It's small but has phrases and a basic dictionary that covers just about everything. You can't beat the price:$6.95. You'll love it!