QUADERNO CULTURALE

Queens College Italian Program Newsletter| Numero 5 | Department of European Languages and Literatures | Fall 2014

Guida alla lettura: Forthcoming from Ashgate Publishing IN THIS ISSUE

An introduction to Writing 4 Fashion in Early Numero cinqueWriting Fashion in Modern Italy Early Modern Italy From Sprezzatura to Satire Il quinto numero di Quaderno Culturale,Eugenia This Paulicelli, fifth issueQueens of CollegeQuaderno and Culturale, bollettino del Programma di Italiano thedel Graduatethe newsletter Center, City of Universitythe Italian of Program New York of Dipartimento di lingue e letterature europee, the Department of European Languages Visual Culture in Early Modernity contiene informazioni sui corsi di italiano and Literatures, provides information 5 offerti dal Queens College, un’intervista a about Italian classes offered by Queens Career Quest un ex studente, due articoli sull’opportunitá“Eugenia PaulicelliCollege, presents atwo convincing articles argument forabout the crucial opportunities Contents signifi cance of clothing and fashion in the mentalities of early modern PART I: THE CULTURES OF FASHION: MODA AND MODERN; The Book of the Europe; her book is richly informed by the research of economic, dell’insegnamento dei dialetti nei curricoli to teach dialects in Italian programs,Courtier (1528): an sprezzatura, gender and national identity. PART II: social, and feminist historians, historians of dress, and by her own di Italianistica, la scheda dell’ultimo libro interview of a former Queens TCollegeHE FABRIC OF CITIES , NATIONS AND EMPIRES IN COSTUME BOOKS BY CESARE alertness to the links between past and present in the ways that dress VECELLIO AND GIACOMO FRANCO: Mapping the world: dress in Cesare is presented today. Her narrative incorporates close readings of a wide di Eugenia Paulicelli e, per la rubrica Invito student, an editorial note about Vecellio’sEugenia costume books (1590–1598); Power, history and dress and interesting array of early modern writings, and offers a wealth of alla lettura, un’introduzione al fenomeno Paulicelli’s last book, and, in the incolumn Giacomo Franco’s costume plates, (1610–1614). PART III: BEYOND intriguing examples—the fashionable rosary, the mustachioed gallant, SPREZZATURA: FASHION AS EXCESS: Sister Arcangela Tarabotti: hair, wigs Montalbano. Dell’offerta didatticathe revolver-toting Invito Frenchwoman—as alla lettura well as, possibilitiesan introduction for further to the and other vices; La moda and its technologies: Agostino Lampugnani’s work in the fi eld.” dell’autunno 2014 vengono evidenziati il publishing prodigy Andrea Camilleri.La carozza We da Nolo ovvero del vestire alla moda (The Rented carriage —Ann Rosalind Jones, Smith College corso di Karina F. Attar sulla prosa italiana highlight three Fall 2014 courses:or ofStudies clothing and fashionable habits, 1648–1650); Bibliography; Index. “In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries fashion came to Includes 8 color and 48 b&w illustrations7 del Rinascimento, quello a cura di Lucacharacterize ain ‘modern’ Renaissance new world, one inLiterature: which changes in shapes,Prose (Karina F. June 2014 300 pages materials, colors and manners had to be recognized and understood. Invito alla lettura Zamparini sull’adattamento cinematografico Attar), Adaptations of Italian MasterpiecesHardback 978-1-4724-1170-9 $109.95 $87.96 Eugenia Paulicelli’s book is a spectacular investigation of the discourse ebook PDF 978-1-4724-3603-0 di alcuni capolavori letterari, e il seminarioof fashion in (Lucaearly modern Zamparini), Italy, from Baldassarre and Castiglione Since to CesareLove Madeebook ePUB Me 978-1-4724-3604-7 di Luisanna Sardu sulla relazione tra uomoVecellio, to Arcangelaa Dweller Tarabotti. Inof this the book Woods:you will fi nd yourselfWhen Naturewww.ashgate.com/isbn/9781472411709 and immersed in an early modern society obsessed with civility, love, vice, e natura da Petrarca a Tasso. In Careerdissimulation Man and, of course,Began fashion.” Their Conversation (Luisanna Quest, il dottorando di ricerca Giuseppe Sardu Castangiu).—Giorgio Riello, InUniversity Career of Warwick Quest, PhD The fi rst comprehensive study on the role of Italian fashion and Italian Pre-order online at www.ashgate.com Bruno racconta a Quaderno Culturale la candidate Giuseppe Bruno tells Quadernoto claim your special discount: literature, this book emphasizes the centrality of Italian literature and sua passione per la lingua e la cultura italiane,culture for understandingCulturale modern how theories his of lovefashion andfor gauging Italian languagePlease quote discount code: AUTHOR20 to receive your 20% discount. To claim this discount online enter the code in the che lo ha portato a completare il M.A.its impactal in andthe shaping civilization of codes of civility andled taste inhim Europe to complete“Promotional Code” fi eld when prompted at the checkout stage. and the West. Using literature to uncover what has been called Teaching Italian Queens College per poi insegnare alla St. his MA at Queens College as well*offer is notas available on ebook editions the “animatedness of clothing,” the author explores the political 8 culture John’s. Hermann Haller e Tiberio Snaideromeanings thatto clothing become produces in publican space.instructor at St. John’s. spiegano perché sia opportuno promuovere Hermann Haller and Tiberio Snaidero l’insegnamento dei dialetti nei curricoliASHGATE di explain whyPO Box 2225it is • advisable Williston VT 05495-2225 for ItalianUSA • 1-800-535-9544 • [email protected] Italianistica, mentre Luisanna Sardu presenta programs to promote the teaching of ai lettori di Quaderno Culturale il personaggio dialects, while Luisanna Sardu introduces letterario e televisivo piú amato dagli italiani: il Inspector Montalbano, the most popular commissario Montalbano. Sempre a proposito character in contemporary Italian fiction. di libri, ci piace mettere in risalto l’ultima fatica You will also find a description of Eugenia della professoressa Paulicelli, ora disponibile Paulicelli’s last book, Writing Fashion in nelle librerie: Writing Fashion in Early Early Modern Italy. Buona lettura! Modern Italy. Buona lettura! The Queens College Italian Program

Morena Corradi [email protected]

This semester, the Italian Program or embassy. There is a different theme or high school teaching career and/or at Queens College offers 17 every year, such as Il cibo e le feste nella an academic career as PhD students. undergraduate courses at all levels, from lingua e nella cultura italiana (2006); The MA Program in Italian also offers elementary to advanced, in different L’italiano in piazza (2008); L’italiano tra an MA-level track in Italian American subjects (literature, civilization, cinema) arte, scienza e tecnologia (2009); and Studies as part of the MALS (Master and taught both in Italian and in English. Buon Compleanno Italia (2011). The of Arts in Liberal Studies). There are 313 students enrolled in the “Settimana della lingua” includes the See http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/calandra/ undergraduate courses. “Giornata del Lettore,” when he/she education/courses/italian-american- presents an original contribution on studies-courses. To maximize their language experience, the chosen topic. Queens College students can major or This semester, the program offers minor in Italian. Required and elective The MA Program in Italian presents two graduate courses: Italian 722, 200- and 300-level courses give graduate-level courses for students Machiavelli and Guicciardini: Historians, students the opportunity to expand who want to specialize in Italian. Every Men of Letters, and Political Thinkers, their knowledge. Advanced grammar, semester, students can register for taught by Prof. Attar; and Italian 762, translation, business, literature, and two master’s courses (700-level). After Literature of the Resistance (Calvino, culture across periods and gender are earning an MA in Italian, many graduates Fenoglio, Meneghello), taught by just a few of the topics covered in have been able to pursue an elementary Prof. Corradi. our courses.

Among the 200-level courses offered this semester is Italian Conversation (Italian 223), taught by Prof. Snaidero. This course is aimed at students who want to improve or perfect their fluency in Italian. Students engage in prepared as well as impromptu group discussions on general topics and everyday situations, and give frequent short talks on topical interests.

Prof. Snaidero is a “Lettore” sent by the Italian Government. Since 2009, the Italian program at Queens College has benefited from the teaching and collaboration of an Italian “Lettore governativo.” In the tri-state area there are two Lettori: one at Queens College and another at Rutgers University.

The Lettore plays a crucial role in spreading Italian language and culture in the world, particularly by teaching Italian at the university level. The Lettore is also involved in the “Settimana della lingua italiana nel mondo,” in place since 2001 in every city that is home to an Italian consulate

2 ADVANCED of our environmental surroundings, UNDERGRADUATE COURSES this course aims to analyze the TAUGHT IN ENGLISH relationship between man and nature in literature. The course will start by Masterpieces of Italian Literature seeking answers to questions such as: in Translation What place does nature occupy in Italian 41W, Adaptations of Italian our culture? Can we trace Western Masterpieces cultural concepts of nature back to the Renaissance? How does early modern T, TH 6:30-7:45 PM literature represent and describe the Prof. Zamparini interaction between man and nature? In this course we will analyze what Beginning with selections from Virgil’s happens to a literary text once Georgics and Theocritus’s Idylls, students translated into a filmic one, as well will be invited to focus on a close as the roles of different mediums in reading of texts from antiquity and the representation of 20th-century then discuss possible comparisons and Italian history and culture. Using as contrasts with early modern texts, such as Petrarch’s Canzoniere, Ariosto’s HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR FALL case studies some Italian masterpieces Orlando Furioso, Tasso’s Aminta, and 2014 COURSE OFFERINGS and their filmic equivalents, we will try to define some guidelines in the Giulia Bigolina’s Urania. The artistic Italian 357, Studies in Renaissance analysis of the process of “adaptation.” representation of nature in painting Literature: Prose The exploration of the transposition and sculpture will also be a source from one medium to the other will of discussions and writing activities T 5:00-6:50; TH 3:40-4:30 allow us to trace the specificity of in class. In addition, this course will Prof. Attar each language and all the formal and address the opposition of man/animal, This course is open to both narrative elements that constitute it. God/man, and woman/nature. undergraduate students (as Italian 357) Works we will analyze in class include and graduate students (as Italian 722); literary sources by Giovanni Boccaccio, see description below. Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, Alberto Moravia, Leonardo Sciascia, and QUADERNO Prereq.: At least one course Roberto Saviano, and their adaptations from Italian 223 through 235 or by Pier Paolo Pasolini, Luchino Visconti, CULTURALE permission of department. In this Bernardo Bertolucci, Elio Petri, and course, we will read, discuss, and write Matteo Garrone. Some theoretical about a selection of influential prose texts that will help us to contextualize Numero 5 Fall 2014 works by authors who contributed to the critical debate on “adaptation” shaping the political, cultural, and social will also be available on Blackboard. A project of landscape of Renaissance Italy. Texts This writing-intensive course satisfies the Queens College will include Leon Battista Alberti’s I libri the PLAS Reading Literature (RL) and Italian Program della famiglia, Pietro Bembo’s Prose della European Traditions (ET) requirements, (Department of volgar lingua, Baldassare Castiglione’s as well as the Queens College W European Languages Il cortegiano, Francesco Guicciardini’s I requirement. and Literatures) ricordi, Niccolò Machiavelli’s Il principe, Italian 41W, Since Love Made Me Pico della Mirandola’s Discorso sulla Project coordinator: dignità dell’uomo, and Lorenzo Valla’s a Dweller of the Woods: When Tiberio Snaidero Discorso sulla donazione di Costantino. We Nature and Man Began Their will analyze selections from these works Conversation Editors: within their historical contexts, paying T, TH 9:15-10:30 Karina F. Attar Luisanna Sardu close attention to narrative techniques Prof. Sardu and generic conventions. Italian Morena Corradi Tiberio Snaidero majors are required to take two In light of new literary theories on 300-level courses. Ecocriticism and a stronger awareness

3 Forthcoming from Ashgate Publishing

Writing Fashion in Early Modern Italy From Sprezzatura to Satire Eugenia Paulicelli, Queens College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York

Visual Culture in Early Modernity

“Eugenia Paulicelli presents a convincing argument for the crucial Contents

signifi cance of clothing and fashion in the mentalities of early modern PART I: THE CULTURES OF FASHION: MODA AND MODERN; The Book of the Europe; her book is richly informed by the research of economic, Courtier (1528): sprezzatura, gender and national identity. PART II: social, and feminist historians, historians of dress, and by her own THE FABRIC OF CITIES, NATIONS AND EMPIRES IN COSTUME BOOKS BY CESARE alertness to the links between past and present in the ways that dress VECELLIO AND GIACOMO FRANCO: Mapping the world: dress in Cesare is presented today. Her narrative incorporates close readings of a wide Vecellio’s costume books (1590–1598); Power, history and dress and interesting array of early modern writings, and offers a wealth of in Giacomo Franco’s costume plates, (1610–1614). PART III: BEYOND intriguing examples—the fashionable rosary, the mustachioed gallant, SPREZZATURA: FASHION AS EXCESS: Sister Arcangela Tarabotti: hair, wigs the revolver-toting Frenchwoman—as well as possibilities for further and other vices; La moda and its technologies: Agostino Lampugnani’s work in the fi eld.” La carozza da Nolo ovvero del vestire alla moda (The Rented carriage —Ann Rosalind Jones, Smith College or of clothing and fashionable habits, 1648–1650); Bibliography; Index. “In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries fashion came to characterize a ‘modern’ new world, one in which changes in shapes, Includes 8 color and 48 b&w illustrations June 2014 300 pages materials, colors and manners had to be recognized and understood. Hardback 978-1-4724-1170-9 $109.95 $87.96 Eugenia Paulicelli’s book is a spectacular investigation of the discourse ebook PDF 978-1-4724-3603-0 of fashion in early modern Italy, from Baldassarre Castiglione to Cesare ebook ePUB 978-1-4724-3604-7 Vecellio, to Arcangela Tarabotti. In this book you will fi nd yourself www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781472411709 immersed in an early modern society obsessed with civility, love, vice, dissimulation and, of course, fashion.” —Giorgio Riello, University of Warwick

The fi rst comprehensive study on the role of Italian fashion and Italian Pre-order online at www.ashgate.com to claim your special discount: literature, this book emphasizes the centrality of Italian literature and culture for understanding modern theories of fashion and gauging Please quote discount code: AUTHOR20 to receive your 20% discount. To claim this discount online enter the code in the its impact in the shaping of codes of civility and taste in Europe “Promotional Code” fi eld when prompted at the checkout stage.

and the West. Using literature to uncover what has been called *offer is not available on ebook editions the “animatedness of clothing,” the author explores the political meanings that clothing produces in public space.

ASHGATE PO Box 2225 • Williston VT 05495-2225 USA • 1-800-535-9544 • [email protected]

Una recensione del libro e un’intervista in video alla Prof. Paulicelli si trova sul giornale online La Voce di New York: “Eugenia Paulicelli, oltre alla moda c’è di più”, di Ilaria Liberatore, scaricabile da http://www.lavocedinewyork.com/Eugenia-Paulicelli-oltre-alla-moda-c-e-di-piu/d/7183/.

4 Career Quest

On Italian Language and Heritage: An Interview with Giuseppe Bruno-Chomin

I immediately realized that I had Without delving too deep into my own discovered my true passion. I was personal life, I must admit that I was inexplicably fascinated by the field of very fortunate to have grown up in a italianistica. The decision to become bilingual/bicultural household where an Italian major was, in actuality, a my family, particularly my mother and whim. To this day I am still unable to grandmother, facilitated my speaking provide a concrete explanation as to of Italian. Since cilentano dialect was what prompted me to choose this spoken in our home, they enrolled path. Whenever asked my response me in Standard Italian classes at a has always been, “It was meant to very young age, and I will be forever be.” During my time at St. John’s, I grateful to them for this decision. As a became active in the Italian community dual citizen, my connection to Italy has on campus. I attended lectures and always been constant; the majority of cultural events and along the way, our relatives are there, and my social made a lot of friends, many of whom and cultural relationship with our are now my colleagues. This ultimately country of origin remains quite strong. led to my election as president of the St. John’s Gamma Kappa Alpha QC: After completing your BA, Giuseppe Bruno-Chomin received his chapter, a title that I held for three you finally shifted to the other BA in Italian Studies from St. John’s consecutive years. The Italian program, side of the desk as a mentor of University in New York, and his MA directed by Dr. Fiorentina Russo, was young minds. Could you please in Italian Literature from Queens for me an ideal environment as a tell us about your first experience College, CUNY. He worked at St. John’s budding italianista. Upon graduation, as an instructor of Italian language University in the Global Language I enrolled in the Italian MA program and literature? What can you and Culture Center and as an adjunct at Queens College where, under the suggest to the future generation faculty member in the Department of tutelage of distinguished professors, of Italian adjuncts and professors? Languages and Literature. Giuseppe I had the opportunity to further primarily studies Italian Renaissance discover and advance my interests GB: While at St. John’s, I worked as a literature, with an emphasis on and knowledge with regard to the tutor and receptionist in the Global women and gender studies. His field. I can say, without a shadow of a Language and Culture Center. In research interests also include Italian doubt, that the culmination of both my the evenings, I would take classes at dialectology and dialect literature. He is undergraduate and graduate educations Queens College. Upon obtaining my currently pursuing his doctoral studies has fully prepared me for a future in MA, I was offered a teaching position as at the University of Pennsylvania. academia. My many thanks go to all an adjunct professor in the Languages and Literature department. I must QC: Hi Giuseppe! Could you the professors who have been so very admit that the prospect was daunting, please tell us about your first influential and supportive in this regard. but it resulted in being one of my approach to Italian language and QC: To what extent did your most satisfying life experiences. I often culture during your years as a Italian background influence your wonder if instructors truly realize college student? academic career? the impact that they have upon their GB: Certainly. I began my academic students. It is an honor and privilege GB: Suffice it to say, that if it had career as a business major, following to be deemed worthy to impart one’s not been for my Italian background, my father’s example, as I had no knowledge to others. I feel that the the inexplicable whim that lured me particular career goal in mind. Upon most important thing an educator into becoming an Italian major would arriving at St. John’s University, and must do, aside from the expected and have probably been nonexistent. enrolling as an Italian Studies major, habitual relaying of information, is to

5 assist students in understanding their to italophones, and what a pity that As italianisti it is our duty not only own abilities and allow them to form would be. Translation is an imperfect to preserve this beauty but also to and articulate their own opinions. art that must, nevertheless, be foster it and when necessary defend With respect to language acquisition, promoted and protected. it. Many times, Italian culture has it is important to be patient and been, and continues to be, incorrectly understand that not everyone learns in QC: Do you get in touch with your and unjustly portrayed. As a result, exactly the same way. I would suggest Italian side outside of your job stereotypes have been formed that simultaneously employing different and academic context—perhaps taint the image of what it means to teaching techniques. Oftentimes through Italian cinema, fashion, or be Italian. I believe that this can be students are too embarrassed to admit exhibits in museums here in New reversed only through education, as that they do not understand, but the York City or Pennsylvania? can other issues. Many students shy use of multiple methods usually enables away from studying Italian as they them to grasp a particular concept on GB: I would have to say that my Italian feel it will lead to a dead end. This their own. side is ever constant. Even if I tried to is not necessarily the case. Thanks avoid Italy, it would inevitably work its to cultural globalization, many more QC: Our society promulgates way back into my life. On a daily basis, possibilities are available to Italian the importance of globalism and I receive phone calls or emails from speakers. Pursuing an education in communication on every level. Italy or text messages from friends. Italian does not obligate you to enter Based on your experience, what is I try to be as involved as possible the world of academia. There is a need the role of a translator? with the Italian community as I feel it for Italian speakers and translators is important to demonstrate cultural in a variety of fields: fashion, wine, GB: The term “globalization” has been solidarity. I have become a big fan of automobiles, politics, etc., and more tossed around continually as of late. Italian cinema of the 1940s, ’50s and recently, technology. I would tell them I think it is safe to say that the ’60s, and I suppose I have to thank not to be discouraged and to consider proverbial worlds truly have collided Prof. Paulicelli for that. The mark of the benefit of speaking, teaching, and in the sense that cultural, social and Italian culture and ingenuity is present promoting the language of a country linguistic boundaries are rapidly in many places, and New York City that has given so very much to slipping away. Consequently, the role is a prime example. Many people are the world. of a translator is becoming ever more unaware that the true inventor of the important. I have been asked countless telephone, Antonio Meucci, lived with QC: Giuseppe, thank you so times, “Why not use an electronic Giuseppe Garibaldi in Staten Island’s much for this interview! I am translator?” The answer is simple. Rosebank neighborhood. His home sure that our students in Queens An electronic translator cannot is now a museum and offers Italian College can only learn from your translate emotion or culture, and it language courses. experience and will benefit from almost always translates incorrectly. all your insightful suggestions. Translators are the linguistic liaisons QC: What would you suggest Good luck with your studies! between societies and history. to students who pursued or are Not only does a translator require thinking about studying Italian as a special linguistic aptitude, but he or a major and/or minor? she must also be culturally sensitive. I believe that the true translator lives GB: My advice to all future Italian in multiple cultures concurrently. majors and minors would be the Without translators, literary following. The Italian language is masterpieces such as Dante’s undeniably beautiful and Italian culture Commedia would be accessible only is without a doubt singularly special.

6 Invito Alla Lettura

Il fenomeno Montalbano

Luisanna Sardu [email protected]

elementi contribuiscono a rendere il commissario e le sue battute si ancora più intrigrante le inchieste trasformano in un palcoscenico della del commissario Montalbano. Al fine commedia dove le scene drammatiche di conoscere meglio la creazione del si alternano all’inetta comicità del personaggio di Salvo Montalbano è collega Catarella, i passi dell’indagine necessario fare una distinzione. Come sono accompagnati dalla quotidianità molti devoti di Andrea Camilleri hanno di una Sicilia antica e ricca di tradizioni più volte sottolineato, il personaggio e superstizioni, l’esuberante bellezza letterario è molto diverso dal mediterranea dei personaggi femminili protagonista della serie televisiva, si fonde con la paesaggistica del piccolo interpretata brillantemente dall’attore paese di Vigata e dintorni. Luca Zingaretti. Andrea Camilleri descrive un eroe dalle doti riflessive Anche lo sfondo paesaggistico è infatti spiccate, un uomo d’azione che agisce entrato a far parte dell’immaginario quasi sempre da solo, e soprattutto collettivo italiano e straniero. I nomi un grande lettore. Lo scrittore, difatti, dei luoghi sono inventati, ma esistono invita durante la sua narrazione e si possono visitare. Sampedusa è altri indimenticabili scrittori, spesso ad esempio Lampedusa, mentre Il oggetto di riflessione nella mente del piccolo paese di Vigata non è altro Lo squillo insisteva. Sollevò il commissario. La presenza di Faulkner, che il paese dello scrittore, Porto ricevitore e disse, “ Montalbano sono. Kafka, Pirandello, Sciascia, Borges, Empedocle. Montelusa, dove il Dovrei dire pronto, ma non lo dico. Montalbán e tanti altri proiettano il commissario viene spesso convocato Sinceramente non mi sento pronto.” lettore dentro l’azione stessa della dall’ostile questore Bonetti-Alderighi, Con questa battuta Salvo Montalbano lettura. Leggiamo le avventure del rappresenta Agrigento, mentre esordisce come protagonista in una commissario, il quale per passatempo Marinella, dove il protagonista abita serie televisiva poliziesca ispirata legge altri libri e durante la lettura in una piccola casa vicino al mare, è alle avventure del commissario mescola riflessioni sulle sue indagini. Puntasecca. Posti talvolta nascosti e Montalbano, creazione dello scrittore Un autentico ritratto del pensiero sconosciuti all’occhio del turista e non Andrea Camilleri. Un successo in azione. Non a caso Camilleri esattamente famosi per chi visita la televisivo e letterario che continua a battezza il suo eroe letterario Sicilia per la prima volta, ma essenziali raccogliere consensi anche all’estero. Montalbano in omaggio a Manuel per decorare la cornice narrativa dei Difatti i romanzi sono stati tradotti Vásquez Montálban (1939–2003) delitti. Monteserrato, Scala dei Turchi, in spagnolo, inglese, tedesco e molte celebrato scrittore spagnolo. Rabato, Gelso, e Ragona sono i luoghi altre lingue, mentre i diritti televisi dove i crimini vengono commessi e sono stati venduti anche in Francia, L’eroe televisivo si discosta dal investigati. Vigata è il piccolo paese Svezia, America Latina e recentemente protagonista letterario per età, è infatti dove tutti si conoscono, tutti sanno, e acquistati dalla BBC. un po’ più giovane, e per interessi tutti accusano. La familiarità tra i luoghi culturali: il Montalbano televisivo e persone si intreccia su se stessa al Ma quali sono le ragioni di tale legge poco, e le sue riflessioni sono punto che il delitto diventa faccenda popolarità in Italia e all’estero? spesso accompagnate da pasti della comunità, dove il mondo e la luculliani al ristorante: “Da Calogero”, lingua esterna non esistono e non Senza dubbio il mistero che avvolge il “Da Filippo che si mancia bene” o, interrompono le conversazioni in delitto, l’indagine, e la soluzione che quasi quotidianamente, “Da Enzo.” La dialetto siciliano. porta alla punizione del crimine sono formula è la stessa. Crimine, indagine, gli ingredienti principali che affascinano e scoperta della verità si succedono La nota narrativa che aggiunge colore il lettore del genere poliziesco, ma l’uno dietro l’altro come da copione. ai luoghi e soprattutto ai personaggi nel caso dell’eroe camilleriano altri Per i fan della serie televisiva però, è infatti l’uso del dialetto siciliano.

7 “Accominzamo, con nova promissa, collante tra l’elemento drammatico e sta gran sulenni pigliata pi fissa!” quello comico, ma anche il ponte di [Incominciamo con una promessa comunicazione tra l’autore e il mondo che sarà una grande presa in giro] da lui creato, quello del commissario è la battuta che Montalbano ripete Montalbano. a se stesso prima di iniziare un’altra giornata. L’utilizzo del dialetto rende Per chi volesse cominciare a leggere gli abitanti di Vigata e i loro dialoghi le avventure del commissario ancora più pittoreschi inspessendo Salvo Montalbano in italiano posso la teatralità di tutti i personaggi di suggerire l’acquisto su www.amazon. Camilleri. Purtroppo le traduzioni it or sul sito http://sellerio.it/it/home/. in altre lingue delle vicende del L’edizione in inglese è disponibile, tra commissario Montalbano fanno perdere altri, al seguente sito: http://www. non poco tale teatralità e banalizzano penguin.com/author/andrea- o violentano l’originalitá linguistica camilleri/1000057229. dell’opera di Andrea Camilleri. Gli episodi della serie televisiva sono stati pubblicati su DVD e sono inoltre I dialoghi occupano uno grande spazio disponibili - con e senza sottotitoli - su sia nella versione letteraria che in youtube.com. quella televisiva. Modi di dire, parole dialettali, insulti, e altre espressioni Buona lettura e buona visione! colorate diventano non solo il Andrea Camilleri.

Excuse Me, What Language Do They Speak in Italy?

Classes in Italian Dialects Let Students Plunge into Bel Paese’s Linguistic Diversity

Hermann W. Haller* [email protected]

Students pursuing the study of Italian language and culture in a global environment where English is increasingly the dominant lingua franca at home and abroad may be curious to know how they will benefit from courses on Italian dialects, or courses dealing with Italian linguistics. After all, learning Standard Italian—the language spoken throughout Italy’s population—as well as numerous aspects of Italian culture, already presents a significant challenge. So what are the rewards of diving into the world of Italy’s languages?

First of all, a look at Italy’s map of students will grow aware of one of dialect words for Ital. ragazzo/-a, from regional dialects (such as Neapolitan, Western Europe’s most fascinating Venetian toso/-a and Piedmontese Sicilian, Calabrese, Piedmontese, Friulan) linguistic landscapes. They will come masna to Calabrese quatraru, Sicilian and historical minority languages (e.g., to understand how Italy’s dialects picciriddu, Neapolitan guaglione, to name Grico, Arberesh, Catalan, German, are not some sort of deformation or but a few. As to the use of dialects Provençal) will highlight the country’s corruption of the standard language— over time, it becomes clear that they extraordinary cultural and linguistic which is itself based on the Tuscan were the prevailing spoken languages diversity, extending from Sicily and dialect—but that they originate from until after World War II, and that Sardinia to Lombardy and Veneto. By regional spoken Latin, with individual Standard Italian spread only gradually observing and describing Italian dialects linguistic structures and vocabularies. throughout all social strata thanks to rather than learning to speak them, Consider, for example, the variety of schools and the advent of mass media.

8 Today, Standard Italian is of course used language and the dialects spans Italy’s Italica, every Italian American ought to throughout society. But many Italians civilization throughout its literature, have a trilingual proficiency (English, also speak dialect bilingually at home film, and music. May it suffice to Italian, and the family’s dialect/s), and and among friends, more so in regions mention here Italian gastronomic terms prospective teachers of Italian similarly such as Veneto and Campania, and less derived from dialect, such as pesto ought to receive some training in Italian so among the young (although some (Ligurian), mozzarella (Neapolitan), linguistics, as they will invariably teach of them use dialect playfully in social cassata (Sicilian), tortellini (Bolognese), students of Italian heritage. While this media, or in rap music). and agnolotti (Piedmontese), all now may be an ideal wish list, understanding commonly used also in English and the difference between Standard Italian Alongside the classical Tuscan other languages. Naturally, many Italian and dialects, and understanding how tradition, students will discover a American students are familiar with language contact leads to new languages splendid cultivated written tradition Italian dialects, as they grew up with and how language attrition and in dialect from the 16th century to dialect-speaking grandparents and change are common to all immigrant our days, with great poets such as the family members, and as they still use languages—including those now present Roman Giuseppe Gioachino Belli, the or hear dialect words, idioms, proverbs in Italy and the United States—will Neapolitan Salvatore Di Giacomo and and phrases that mirror Italian heritage ultimately reduce purist prejudice, and Eduardo De Filippo, the Romagnol culture. Some of these words and allow for a better sense of identity and Tonino Guerra, and the Milanese Carlo phrases have new specifically American appreciation of Italian heritage. Studying Porta, Delio Tessa, Franco Loi. What Italian forms, due to their contact with Italy’s and America’s linguistic landscapes joy being able to read and translate English. For Italian American students, will result in greater language awareness. one or several different dialects, to having a closer understanding of It will also rekindle curiosity in other understand similarities and differences Italy’s linguistic landscape and of the LOTEs and help to shape the between the Northern Gallo-Italic story of a dialect such as Sicilian or global citizen. and the Southern more Latinate Neapolitan within and outside Italy dialects, to discover contacts with leads to a renewed appreciation of their *Hermann Haller frequently teaches other Romance languages—and to families’ languages and communicative courses on language and society in Italy realize how the mutual relationship strategies, past and present. As I once and abroad; Italy’s dialects today; and Italy’s and contact between the Standard proposed in an article for the journal dialect poetry.

9 Sull’opportunitá di insegnare i dialetti italiani: l’esempio del friulano

Tiberio Snaidero [email protected]

Il friulano costituisce un ottimo esempio di quanto i dialetti italiani continuino a rappresentare anche nell’Italia del ventunesimo secolo un fenomeno sociolinguistico vivo ed interessantissimo.

Quella che dai suoi parlanti viene considerata una vera e propria lingua fa parte, con i dialetti ladini delle Dolomiti ed il romancio dei Grigioni, del gruppo retoromanzo. Si tratta dunque dell’insieme di lingue e dialetti neolatini stabiliti nell’area occupata a partire dal VI secolo a.C. da quelle popolazioni cui viene tradizionalmente attribuito il nome di Reti.

Il friulano continua il cosiddetto “latino aquileiese”, ovvero di Aquileia, cittá fondata come municipium romano nel 181 a.C. Gli elementi di sostrato prelatino dipendono probabilmente dalla presenza di alcune popolazione celtiche o celtizzate, come i Galli carni, stabilitisi soprattutto sulla parte montana della regione friulana, la Carnia (Cjargne).

Si ritiene che la fisionomia linguistica del friulano acquisti caratteri definiti La lingua friulana, che come l’istituzione di corsi in diverse scuole, nel periodo che va dal VI al X secolo, illustreremo possiede una sua soprattutto elementari. Quindici anni mentre le prime testimonianze scritte tradizione letteraria, viene oggi parlata fa il friulano é stato inoltre incluso disponibili sono del 1290. da quasi un milione di persone, di insieme ad albanese, catalano, croato, cui circa trecentomila fuori d’Italia. francese, francoprovenzale, lingue Del friulano ci sono attualmente tre Il Friuli Venezia Giulia la tutela con germaniche, greco, ladino, occitano, varietá principali: il carnico dell’alto delle specifiche leggi regionali, che si sardo e sloveno tra le dodici minoranze Friuli e della zona di Tolmezzo, il pongono l’obiettivo di valorizzarla e linguistiche definite “storiche” dalla friulano occidentale della provincia promuoverla, per esempio finanziando legge nazionale 482/1999. di Pordenone e quello cosiddetto “di pianura” delle province di Fin dal 1919 esiste inoltre, ed é Udine e Gorizia, tra loro comunque molto attiva, la Societá Filologica reciprocamente intelleggibili. Friulana, intitolata al grande glottologo goriziano Graziadio Tra le caratteristiche linguistiche Isaia Ascoli, fondatore degli studi di principali, la caduta delle vocali finali dialettologia in Italia, che per primo (a parte la “-a”>”-e”), una forte forní una descrizione scientifica del dittongazione, la palatizzazione della friulano nei suoi Saggi ladini del 1873. “c” latina prima della “a” e la prevalenza di plurali con la “-s” finale.

10 Tra gli scopi della Società, enunciati É infine una lingua che ha prodotto nell’articolo 1 dello Statuto, fin dal XVI secolo opere letterarie “promuovere e diffondere l’utilizzo in poesia e in prosa, e che annovera della lingua friulana, la salvaguardia nel suo canone scrittori del calibro e la valorizzazione della minoranza di Ermes di Colloredo (XVII secolo), linguistica friulana, lo studio, Caterina Percoto e Pietro Zorutti (XIX la conoscenza e la coscienza dei sec.), Pier Paolo Pasolini (XX sec.). problemi culturali del Friuli nel campo della lingua, della filologia, della Pasolini, uno dei massimi intellettuali letteratura, dell’insegnamento, della italiani del Novecento, restó fedele formazione culturale e professionale, alla produzione “in dialetto” lungo della storia, dell’arte, della musica tutto l’arco della sua carriera poetica, e dello spettacolo, delle arti e delle É inoltre una lingua viva anche in dalle primissime Poesie a Casarsa tradizioni popolari”. ambito musicale: pensiamo alle “villotte” (1941–1953) fino alla profeticaSaluto (vilotis) tramandate oralmente, ad e augurio, scritta a pochi mesi dalla In realtá la parlata non abbisognerebbe esempio la notissima Oh ce biel cjiscjel morte. L’insieme delle raccolte é stato di tali sostegni normativi e istituzionali, a Udin, (vedi e ascolta su https://www. pubblicato da Einaudi nel 1975 col visto che viene comunemente usata od youtube.com/watch?v=bXJXUjNZ4g4 titolo La nuova gioventú. é comunque compresa dalla maggior l’interpretazione del Coro Alpini di parte degli abitanti le province di Passons), o al filone colto della musica Non credo ci sia modo migliore di Udine, Gorizia e Pordenone. popolare sviluppatosi dall’Ottocento concludere questi sintetici contributi I segnali stradali riportano sotto il che ha prodotto perle come la a sostegno di una sempre maggiore toponimo italiano la sua traduzione in celeberrima Stelutis alpinis, scritta presenza nei programmi di Italianistica friulano, ci sono stazioni radiofoniche nel 1917 da Arturo Zardini (vedi e dei dialetti, o lingue regionali, italiani e pubblicazioni in “marilenghe” ascolta su https://www.youtube.com/ che trascrivere una bellissima poesia (madre lingua), e sui blog dei tifosi di watch?v=cNjAdjdkU3A la versione intitolata Ciant da li ciampanis, corredata calcio dell’amatissima Udinese non é del coro alpino della Brigata Julia, con dalla traduzione in italiano di Pasolini inconsueto leggere commenti scritti sottotitoli in inglese); ma anche ai stesso e da quella in inglese di Hermann in friulano. numerosi artisti contemporanei – tra W. Haller (apparsa per la prima volta cui La Sedon Salvadie e Arbe Garbe nel 1999 nel volume The Other Italy: Il friulano é dunque una lingua viva e - che dagli anni Novanta ne hanno The Literary Canon in Dialect). diffusa nel Friuli Venezia Giulia, e viene rilanciato l’uso ad accompagnamento appresa come prima lingua nell’area di generi di tradizione non autoctona, friulanofona – non dimentichiamo e che continuano a trovare spazio in infatti che in regione esistono anche festival quali La gnove musiche furlane aree slavofonone e germanofone – dal (ascolta su http://www.ondefurlane.eu/ 51% della popolazione. premifriul/).

Ciant da li ciampanis Canto delle campane English translation by Hermann W. Haller Co la sera a si pièrt ta li fontanis Quando la sera si perde nelle fontane, When the evening fades in the fountains, il me país al è colòur smarít. il mio paese è di colore smarrito. my town has a bewildered colour. Jo i soi lontàn, recuardi li so ranis, Io sono lontano, ricordo le sue rane, I am far away, I recall its frogs, la luna, il trist tintinulà dai gris. la luna, il triste tremolare dei grilli. the moon, the sad chirping of the crickets. A bat Rosari, pai pras al si scunís: Suona Rosario, e si sfiata per i prati: Rosario is playing, getting hoarse at the meadows: jo i soj muàrt al ciant da li ciampanis. io sono morto al canto delle campane. I am dead at the song of the bells. Forèst, al me dols svualà par il plan, Straniero, al mio dolce volo per il piano, Stranger, when you see me slowly fly through no ciapà pòura: jo i soj un spirt di amòur non avere paura: io sono uno spirito the plain, don’t be afraid: I am a spirit of love che al so país al torna di lontàn. d’amore,che al suo paese torna di lontano. returning from far away to his town.

11 Earn a Graduate Degree in Italian Studies

Queens College’s Department of European consultation with graduate advisors, students Need more information? Languages & Literatures offers three different may also enroll in graduate-level courses • For Italian Studies, please contact Professor programs of study in Italian and Italian- offered by other departments, such as Art Hermann Haller ([email protected]) American Studies. Students may enroll for a History, History, and Philosophy. or Professor Eugenia Paulicelli (eugenia. Master of Arts in Italian (MA), or they may [email protected]) choose the Master of Science in Education Few colleges and universities in North with a specialization in Italian (MSEd). Queens America offer such intellectual diversity in • For Italian-American Studies, please contact College also offers a four-course sequence academic programming for Italian Studies. Professor Anthony Julian Tamburri (anthony. in Italian-American Studies as part of Faculty in Italian include Karina Attar, Morena [email protected]) or Professor Fred Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS). Corradi, Hermann Haller, Eugenia Paulicelli, Gardaphé ([email protected]) Students enrolled in the MA program in Italian and Anthony Julian Tamburri. Faculty teaching • For the MALS program, please contact can also include Italian-American Studies courses in other departments related to Professor James Jordan (james.jordan@ as part of their program, and Italian and/or Italian Studies include Francesca Bregoli, qc.cuny.edu). Italian-American Studies courses can also be Antonio Donato, Fred Gardaphé, James Jordan, part of the student’s MALS program. After James Saslow, and Peter Vellon.

To apply to the Italian Graduate Programs, contact Mr. Mario Caruso, Director of Graduate Admissions ([email protected]).

European Languages & Literatures