WHY TO LEARN ITALIAN?
Diffusion of the Italian language:
Italian is spoken by 70 millions people, mainly in [1]: • Italy • USA • Canada • Switzerland • Brazil • Argentina
Besides the 56.995.744 Italians living in Italy [2], in 1995 the estimated number of people of Italian origin living abroad was 58.5 millions [3]: • 38.8 millions in Latin America • 16.1 millions in Northern America • 2 millions in Europe • 0.5 millions in Oceania
People:
Italy is homogeneous linguistically and religiously (Roman Catholicism is the majority religion – 85% of the population –, even though all religions are provided equal freedom in front of the law due to the constitution), but is diverse culturally, economically and politically. Immigration has increased a lot in recent years.
Economy:
The Italian economy has changed since the end of the World War II, leading the Country from an agriculturally based economy to the 5th world’s largest industrial economy. Italy belongs to the Group of Eight (G-8) industrialized nations.
Italy has natural resources, mainly gas reserves located in the Po Valley and offshore Adriatic. Most raw materials needed for manufacturing and more than 80% of the country’s energy sources are imported. Italian economic strength is in the processing and the manufacturing of goods. Its major industries are: precision machinery, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electric goods, fashion and clothing.
Economic relations between Denmark and Italy:
The amount of commercial exchange between Denmark and Italy has increased constantly in the last three years. In the first three months of 2004 the export from Denmark to Italy raised of 6%, while the import from Italy raised of 11% [4].
From Italy, Denmark imports mainly: clothes, machines for energy production, cars, furniture, shoes. In 2002, the import amount from Italy was 1.94 billions euro (16.3 billions DKK). Italy is the 7th biggest exporting country to Denmark, representing the 4.2% of the Danish total imports [5].
Towards Italy, Denmark exports mainly: foodstuffs (meat, fish), pharmaceutical products, basic chemical products. In 2002, Italy was the 8th biggest importing country from Denmark, representing the 3.2% of the Danish total exports [5].
Italian investments in Denmark [6]:
Among the main Italian operators in Denmark, there are: • Ansaldo Breda e Trasporti (transportation). • FIAT (vehicles). • SNAMPROGETTI: it holds the 50% of the Harold Tøpsoe, specialized in catalyzers.
Other important Italian investors are: • Gruppo Natuzzi (furnishing): with a showroom in Copenhagen, opened on November 2002, it is considered crucial for the expansion in the Nordic Area. • Max Mara (fashion and design): it has a headquarter in Copenhagen for Danish, Scandinavian and Baltic markets. • Guzzini (lighting sets).
In the last years important orders have been assigned to Italian companies: • Consorzio Coinfra: building of the bridge between Sjælland Island and Funen Island. • Ansaldo Trasporti and Astaldi: realization of the Copenhagen subway. • Ansaldo Breda: provision of 83 diesel trains to DSB for a total amount of 500 millions euro (3700 millions DKK) with an option for other 500 millions euro. • Ansaldo Breda: provision of 23 trains “Intercity 2” to DSB for a total amount of 90 millions euro (670 millions DKK) with an option for other 97 trains, that would lead the amount to more than 460 millions euro (3400 millions DKK). • Agusta-Westland: provision of 14 helicopters “EH-101” to Danish Defense. For the Finmeccanica Group companies, the Scandinavian market, especially the Danish one, represents the first area of interest considering the amount of foreign orders, which reaches a total of 2 billions euro (14.9 billions DKK).
Danish investments in Italy [6]:
In 2002 there were Danish investments in Italy for an amount of 37.05 millions euro (275 millions DKK) [7].
Copenhagen Airports is treating for the purchase of the Florence Airport.
The Italian harbor of Gioia Tauro is the main operative basis for Mærsk commercial boats in the Mediterranean Sea.
Foreign relations of Italy:
Italy is a founding member of the European Community – now the European Union. It was admitted to the United Nations in 1955 and is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization (GATT/WTO), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Council of Europe.
It chaired the CSCE (the forerunner of the OSCE) in 1994, the EU in 1996, the G-8 in 2001 and served as EU president from July to December 2003.
History:
Greeks settled in Southern Italy in 8th and 7th centuries B.C. while Etruscans, Romans and others inhabited the Central and Northern parts. The peninsula and the neighboring islands were afterwards unified under the Roman Republic. By the first century A.D. the Roman Empire dominated the Mediterranean world.
After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century A.D., Italy was subjected to many invasions, loosing the political unity. Popes of Rome ruled Central Italy, having as opponents the Holy Roman Emperors who claimed Italy as their domain.
The effects of the medieval political rivalries were mitigated by the commercial prosperity of northern and central cities and by the influence of Renaissance. Italy declined after the 16th century, but the Renaissance had strengthened the idea of a single Italian nationality.
By early 19th century, a nationalist movement developed and led to the reunification of Italy – except for Rome – in the 1860s. In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II of the House of Savoy was proclaimed King of Italy. Rome was incorporated in 1870. From 1870 until 1922, Italy was a constitutional monarchy.
During the World War I, Italy renounced its standing alliance with Germany and Austria- Hungary and, in 1915, entered the war on the side of the Allies. Under the post-war settlement, Italy received some former Austrian territory along the northeast frontier.
In 1922, Benito Mussolini came to power and, over the next few years, eliminated political parties, curtailed personal liberties, and installed a fascist dictatorship termed the Corporate State. The King, with no effective power, remained titular head of state.
Italy allied with Germany and declared war to the United Kingdom and France in 1940. In 1941, Italy – with the other Axis powers, Germany and Japan – declared war to the United States and the Soviet Union. Followed the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943, the King dismissed Mussolini and appointed Marshal Pietro Badoglio as Premier. The Badoglio government declared war to Germany. An anti-fascist popular resistance movement grew during the last two years of the war. German forces were driven out in April 1945. In 1946 a plebiscite ended the monarchy, and a constituent assembly was elected to draw up plans for the republic.
The Roman Catholic Church’s status in Italy has been determined, since its temporal powers ended in 1870, by a series of accords with the Italian Government. Under the Lateran Pacts of 1929, which were confirmed by the present constitution, the state of Vatican City is recognized by Italy as independent and sovereign entity. In 1984, Italy and the Vatican updated several provisions of the 1929 accords and it was stated the end of Roman Catholicism as Italy’s formal state religion.
Culture:
Italian literature, art and music exerted a large and lasting influence in the development of Western civilization. Even contemporary Italian artists, writers, film makers, architects, composers, and designers contribute significantly to Western culture.
Some names regarding poetry and prose: Dante, Petrarca, Tasso, Ariosto, Leopardi, Boccaccio, Machiavelli.
Some names regarding painting, sculpture and architecture: Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Giotto.
Some names regarding classic music: Vivaldi, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini.
Tourism:
The 60% of the world's most important works of art are located in Italy (approximately half of these are in Florence) [8].
The variety, quality and quantity of sites to be visited in Italy is impressive. Among the 788 UNESCO protected sites, 39 are located in Italy [9], such that Italy occupies the 1st position in the world by number of these sites.
References:
[1] Linguasphere Observatory, Linguasphere Table of the World's Major Spoken Languages, 1999-2000.
[2] Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), 2001 Census.
[3] Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry, 1995.
[4] Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), June 2004.
[5] Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE), Copenhagen Office, 2003.
[6] Italian Embassy of Denmark, URL: http://www.italien-online.dk/Italiano/commerciale/relazioni_economiche.htm
[8] The Art and Architecture of Florence - Italy for Visitors Archives, URL: http://goitaly.about.com/b/a/2003_06_30.htm
[9] UNESCO, URL: htttp://www.worldheritagesite.org, October 2004.