Italian All-in-One For Dummies
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Copyright 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
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Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2013942766
ISBN 978-1-118-51060-5 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-51057-5 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-51062-9 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-51053-7 (ebk)
Manufactured in the United States of America
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I f youre reading this introduction, youre likely interested in learning a foreign language. Youre surely aware of the importance of knowing how to communicate in every circumstance and situation because world views, ideas, and people travel and meet in a borderless space. Why youre choosing Italian is a question with many possible answers. You may want to refresh your memory of the Italian you learned in school, or perhaps youre preparing for a full immersion into the arts, fashion, and design. Maybe youre studying Italian so you can surprise an Italian friend or to get ready for a business trip to Italy. Or you may simply want to know the language that sings. Whatever the reason, this book will help you do it.
Italian All-in-One For Dummies isnt a language course. This book deconstructs the Italian language and culture in chapters that complement each other but that you can read in the order you prefer and at your own pace. Rather than a vertical scaffolding of cultural topics, vocabulary, and grammar, Italian All-in-One For Dummies is a collection of what you need to successfully communicate in Italian. The accompanying audio tracks will help improve your pronunciation and intonation, and the online resources provide additional references.
Italian All-in-One For Dummies presents aspects of the Italian culture and daily life as well as the grammatical framework of the language as its spoken today. Each section in the book has a theme. You can choose where you want to begin and how you want to proceed. You can skip the sidebars (shaded text boxes) without remorse, or simply leave them for another time. Italian All-in-One For Dummies lets you read at the pace and in the order you prefer.
English translations are italicized when they accompany Italian words and sentences. The phrases and idiomatic expressions in Books I and II come with pronunciation guidelines. Within the Italian pronunciations, you see italic on the stressed syllables in words with two or more syllables. In addition, dialogues built around specific topics and real-life situations will enrich your vocabulary and your speech. Those who cant speak a language unless they comprehend its syntax and grammar will be satisfied by the thorough clarifications presented in Italian All-in-One For Dummies . The appendixes provide quick references to specific grammar points (such as verbs) and translations of important words that appear throughout the book. The audio tracks help you practice your spoken Italian whenever and wherever you like! And because Italian is the language that sings, all you have to do is repeat after the audio track and join the chorus!