Sylvia Lymbery - Colloquial Italian 2: The Next Step in Language Learning

Colloquial Italian 2

The Colloquial 2 Series
Series Adviser: Gary King

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The next step in language learning

Sylvia Lymbery and Sandra Silipo

LONDON AND NEW YORK

First published 2003
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005.

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2003 Sylvia Lymbery and Sandra Silipo

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted
or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Lymbery, Sylvia.
Colloquial Italian 2: the next step in language learning/Sylvia Lymbery
and Sandra Silipo.
p. cm.(The colloquial 2 series)
Includes index.
1. Italian languageConversation and phrase booksEnglish.
2. Italian languageTextbooks for foreign speakersEnglish. 3. Italian
languageSpoken Italian. I. Title: Colloquial Italian two. II. Silipo,
Sandra, 1967. III. Title. IV. Series.
PC1121 .L96 2003
458.3421-dc21 2002154532

ISBN 0-203-38065-7 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN 0-203-38683-3 (Adobe eReader Format)
ISBN 0-415-28154-7 (Print Edition) (book)
ISBN 0-415-28155-5 (Print Edition) (audio cassette)
ISBN 0-415-28157-1 (Print Edition) (audio CD)
ISBN13: 978-1-315-74132-1 (eBook Pack)

Please email with proof of purchase to obtain access to the supplementary content for this eBook. An access code and instructions will be provided.

We should like to express our thanks to those who have helped us, notably: the people who kindly gave their time to be interviewed; Raffaella Silipo and Angioletta Viviani who wrote pieces for the book at our request; Sandra's students in Norwich who tried out much of the material and in particular Gill Hood, who kindly read everything for usall made useful suggestions; the Editor of La Stampa for permission to use a number of articles and photos; the Editor of Il Corriere della Sera, for permission to use an article, photo and table; to the publishers of Lo Zingarelli for permission to quote a number of definitions from the dictionary. We have tried to trace the publishers of the Sicilian poet Ignazio Butitta (18991997) for permission to reproduce part of his dialect poem but at the time of writing have not managed to do so.

In addition, we both owe much to family and friends. Sandra would like to thank Richard, her parents and her sister for all their support and practical help and Sylvia is similarly grateful to Charlotte and to friends.

Italy, showing the regions and the regional capitals

Colloquial Italian 2 seeks to follow the spirit of Colloquial Italian: to guide the independent learner to a surer grasp of Italian. You need some knowledge of Italian to use this book but not necessarily gained from using Colloquial Italian. You may have used another book for beginners, attended an evening class, or perhaps visited Italy often, lived there maybe. Whatever your experience, you have some knowledge and want to build on it. This book helps you to do that. The book may well be of interest to more advanced learners: it is often helpful to meet points presented in a different way or simply to read new material.

Colloquial Italian 2 contains materials on a variety of topics; all the materials are authentic, either captured in conversations with Italian speakers or taken from articles from Italian newspapers. In two cases Italians have written material for the book on specific subjects at our request. We have edited where we thought necessary, but you will find the material ranges from the straightforward to the challenging. Each unit focuses on a particular topic and several give you glimpses of life in Italy at the start of the twenty-first century. Much of the material is also recorded, so that you can work on spoken Italian too. In addition to that, there is a web site to support the Colloquial courses. At http://www.routledge.com/colloquials/italian you will find extra exercises as well as links to sites that build on the material in the units.

The dialogues and texts are followed by notes to help you with potentially difficult points. Each unit explains a number of Language points, often going over points you may have met, always a valuable activity, since each time you find you understand and remember better. Some Language points will be new to you. The Language points are usually backed up by exercises to help you learn the new material. And we also make Language learning suggestions based on our experience as language learners ourselves, as well as language teachers. Not all will suit youlanguage learners differ just as people generally do. We hope you will find some which are helpful to you.

The units probably contain too much material to be covered in one session, so don't be afraid to break them upperhaps the text one day, a Language point and an exercise the next. Much depends on the time you have availableand on you, what sort of learner you are. Just do it your way!

Language learning is challenging and at times we all feel we are not making progress. Try not to get downhearted. Try to keep finding the time, moving forward a little. You will get better. And that will open windows for you on to new experiences. We hope you will be able to enjoy at first hand the fruits of your efforts by a visit to Italy. Travelling to a country whose language you know, however imperfectly, is a pleasure that is not to be missed. Italy is a country that has been a magnet for travellers since the days of the Grand Tour and has much to offer. Beyond the obvious, such as the beautiful and varied scenery, the art treasures, the food and wine, and the cordiality and generosity which you will find when you make Italian friends, there is a complex and fascinating nation. And even if you can't visit Italy yet, it is something to look forward to and you have unlocked the door to a new and rich culture, to new and interesting people to meet. Enjoy your studies!

In this unit you will