After recently watching a movie in Italian, I reflected on the time in which I would have needed English subtitles and certainly needed to call a friend to translate a phrase for me because I could not understand what was being said. I did not grow up speaking Italian. Both of my grandparents did not speak enough for either of my parents to learn the language so my consequently, my siblings and I did not learn the language. It wasn’t until I went to college and learning a language was a requirement of my degree. While I took Spanish since elementary school, I took this opportunity to learn Italian. After four years of studying in academia, even after graduating my boss, co-worker, and I still take Italian lessons weekly. But why is it important to learn the language? Nobody speaks it as much anymore, and people really only pursue to learn it just in case they end up in Italy one day and need to know how to communicate with the locals. But there is a bigger, more urgent importance to learning Italian in the new age.
Italian Is The Fastest Dying Language In The US.
I recently discovered this study that was performed in 2018. The full article is here, but the article states that from 2001 to 2017 the number of Americans speaking Italian at home dropped from almost 900,000 to just over 550,000. A topping 38% reduction in just 16 years. However, other languages have upwards of 100,000 US speakers every year in 2001. There are numerous reasons for this disturbing statistic like assimilation. From 1930 to 1970 did you know that there were more foreign-born residents of the US from Italy than in ANY OTHER COUNTRY?
How To Learn The Language
Now, I know how disheartening and hard it is to learn a new language. I am by no means fluent in Italian, but I try. Being taught professionally by a professor is university was a privilege but the way I truly began to progress in my reading and comprehension started at home. Watching movies in Italian with English subtitles is a great way to start. Pick a movie that you love and see if it can be changed to Italian, that way you know what is happening and you can pick up phrases, and more.
Another way of learning if movies aren’t your thing, would be buying books to teach yourself. Here are some of the books I’ve personally purchased to learn for both university and personal use. There are even dialect books on Amazon if you’re interested in that!
Apps are also a great way to learn and they’re fun! Duolingo and other apps are great but what I’ve noticed is that Instagram accounts literally specialize in posting daily content of new Italian vocabulary! I follow one, check her out: @italianwithliz
The last way to try and learn is to play Italian games. This is a fun and easier way of getting used to vocabulary and phrases all while having a good time. I would recommend this game. A tutorial on how to play this game is coming soon, so stay tuned!
Whichever way you prefer to learn, LEARN! Get your friend, siblings, boyfriend, girlfriend, or whoever to learn with you and make it fun! You’re not going to learn it overnight, but if you’re dedicated to not letting our culture die out, I urge you personally. And if you have nobody, message me 🙂
Sad but does not surprise me. Most of us italian Americans are 2nd 3rd and 4th generation now. As the years go by the culture is lost little by little. Also we don’t live in enclaves anymore . Italian americans have assimilated seamlessly into the fabric of America. These plus other factors will lead to a drop of our beautiful language being spoken.
Ciao Roberto. Im first gen Italian. It’s so sad to see our families dwindling n moving in all directions across the country. Where we used to have 30-40 of our family now it’s five or six at celebrations. I am so passionate about my culture n language I graduated from Ohio state with a BA in Italian language. I then moved to Italy. I returned to the US but am considering moving back to Italy. The US has no Italian culture for me anymore and I’m quite sad about that. Viva italiano. Dona
I am third generation, but stay active with the culture and language. It’s part of me and don’t want to forget it. I do have some Italian speaking neighbors and it helps.