Don Cangelosi - Italian Without Words

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cangelosi, Don. Italian Without Words / Don Cangelosi and Joseph Delli Carpini p. cm. In English and Italian. 1. I. I.

Delli Carpini, Joseph. II. Title.
P117.5.18C36 1989 001.56dc19 88-31820
ISBN: 978-0-88166-156-X (Meadowbrook Press)
ISBN: 978-0-671-67743-X (Simon & Schuster)
ISBN: 978-0-6716-7743-5 (print)
ISBN: 978-1-4516-5245-1 (eBook) Editor: Bruce Lansky Production Editor: Wendy Ann Williams Art Director: Kelly Nugent Assistant Art Director: Shelagh Geraghty Production Manager: Pam Scheunemann Photographers: Joseph Delli Carpini and Irving Schild Models: Don Cangelosi and Jean Cangelosi 1989 by Don Cangelosi and Joseph Delli Carpini All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publishers, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Published by
Meadowbrook Press
6110 Blue Circle Drive, Suite 237
Minnetonka MN 55344 Book Trade Distribution by
Simon & Schuster
a division of Simon and Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonansSchuster.com 16 15 14 13 12 11 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 Printed in the United States of America

Hand gestures and facial expressions have played a major role in Italian interpersonal communication. Through a variety of motions and body language Italians silently express their reactions to people and money, food and drink, pleasure and displeasure. By raising an eyebrow or opening a hand, anyone could convey threat, insult, or heartfelt love. But with each passing generation, these signs of yesterday slowly fade and are forgotten. We hope this book will express and record our memories of yesterday in a humorous way. We do not intend to ridicule, embarrass, or demean the Italian people but rather hold on to a part of our heritage and culture as a link to the past.

Don Cangelosi
Joseph Delli Carpini

Hi!

Ciao! (chow)

Howre you doing?

Come stai? (KOH-may sty)

Ive got to go now.

Me ne devo andare adesso. (may nay DAY-voh ahn-DAH-ray ah-DEH-soh)

Its been a pleasure.

E stato un piacere. (eh STAH-toh oon PEE-ah-chay-ray)

Goodbye!

Arrivederci! (ah-ree-vay-DAYR-chee)

Questions

What is it?

Che cosa e? (kay KOH-zah eh)

What are you saying?

Che dice? (kay DEE-chay)

What are you doing?

Che fai? (kay FY)

What do you want?

Che vuoi? (kay VWOY)

Are you kidding?

Stai scherzando? (sty skehr-ZAHN-doh)

What can I do?

Che posso fare? (kay PAH-soh FAH-ray)

Why me?

Perche me? (pehr-KEH may)

What do I care?

Che me ne fotto? (kay MAY nay FOH-toh)

What do you take me for a fool?

Che pensisono un buffone? (kay PEHN-seesoh-noh oon boof-OH-nay)

Common Expressions

Listen to me!

Sentimi! (SEHN-tee-mee)

I dont understand!

Non lo capisco! (nohn loh kah-PEE-skoh)

I forgot!

Ho dimenticato! (oh dee mehn-tee-KAH-toh)

Help me, please!

Aiutami, per favore! (ay-OO-tah-mee payr fah-VOH-ray)

Dont worry about it!

Non ti preoccupare! (nohn tee pray-oh-koo-PAH-ray)

So, so.

Cosi-cosi. (koh-ZEE koh-ZEE)

OK.

Va bene. (vah BAY-nay)

We won!

Abbiamo vinto! (ahb-YAH-moh VEEN-toh)

Insults

Youre nuts!

Sei pazzo! (SAY-ee PAHT-zoh)