Itanglese Code and Valentine's Day: Italian, Someone Still Loves You!
According to a recent survey carried out by leading Italian translation agency Agostini Associati, between 2000 and 2008 there was a 773% increase in the use of English terms in Italian written texts. So what language will Italians be speaking this Valentine's Day? Agostini Associati relaunces Italian as the language of love by drafting the "Itanglese Code", a guide for reducing the growing influence of English in the Italian language.
Milan, Italy (PRWEB) February 10, 2010
This Valentine's Day marks the rebirth of Italian, traditionally regarded as the international language of love. No longer will we Italians borrow English phrases to whisper "I love you", there will be no more "kisses", or romantic "cheek to cheek" dinners in extremely "fashion(sic.) lounge food restaurants". This year let's fall back in love with Italian and limit the growing influence of 'Itanglese' with the 'Itanglese Code' - a series of rules for stemming the tidal wave of English terms and sayings that has entered our language.
The highly-respected Hoepli dictionary defines "Itanglese" as "the Italian language used in certain contexts and settings, characterised by the frequent and arbitrary use of English terms and expressions". The exponential rise in the use of English words in the Italian language (both oral and written) is undeniable: indeed, according to a recent Agostini Associati survey carried out on a sample of 58 million words produced by Italian companies, between 2000 and 2008 there was a 773% increase in the use of English terms in Italian written texts. Yet, until now, nobody has attempted to define a set of simple criteria to help us understand when the borrowing of such terms is appropriate and justified.
As such, Agostini Associati, a leading Italian translation services (http://www. agostiniassociati. it/?lng=2) agency that 'manages' over millions of words a year from Italian into various other languages, has decided to give back the Italian language some of its lustre with the 'Itanglese Code (http://www. agostiniassociati. it/itanglese-code. php)', a short guide with a specially produced logo, that aims to encourage Italian communicators (particularly those that speak to a large audience or work as educators) to be a little more sparing in their use of Anglicisms.
The Itanglese Code
The use of an English term or expression in an Italian context (written or spoken) is acceptable when:
1. The English term is found in highly-respected Italian dictionaries.
2. There is no viable translation and the concept cannot be rendered with one or more synonyms.
3. The term or expression is also a registered trademark or proper name in English.
4. The term or expression is the primary advertising slogan of an international product/service, and is maintained in English in all countries in which the product/service is present.
5. The term has an ambiguous meaning in Italian and is contained in a message in the Italian language that is aimed at non-Italians (e. g. a company letter in Italian for non-Italian colleagues in overseas offices).
In all other cases, the use of an English term or expression in an Italian context (written or spoken) is not acceptable, particularly when:
1. English terms are used in order to appear more modern and technologically advanced (e. g. in advertising campaigns on TV, radio and other communications media).
2. The communicator uses English terms to be/seem "more technically prepared" (e. g. lessons and print outs on economic/financial issues).
3. English terms or expressions are used out of laziness and a reluctance to translate them from the original.
4. The addition of English words has the ultimate aim of "confusing the interlocutor" (e. g. leaving English terms, which could be translated into Italian, in texts relating to a financial investment in order to confuse the client).
5. The use of the English term upsets the grammatical and syntactical balance of the rest of the Italian phrase.
6. The quantity of English terms or expressions used in an Italian language text or context is superior to 5% of the total.
7. The original meaning of the English term or expression is altered when used in Italian.
8. The origin of the English term or expression is Latin (N. B. many English have a Latin etymology).
For Valentine's Day 2010 let's fall back in love with Italian, the most romantic language in the world! Even mother tongue English speakers will admit that Italian is the romance language par excellence!
Agostini Associati
Founded in 1997, Agostini Associati is a leading Italian translation and interpreting services agency with offices in Milan, Rome, London, and Hong Kong. The company translates for 70% of firms registered with the FTSE MIB of the Italian Stock Exchange, and provides translations for many Italian companies that export overseas in over 60 languages. It was the first company in its sector to attain UNI EN ISO 9001:2008 quality certification.
Agostini Associati would like to thank Hon. Paola Frassinetti, Chair of the Education and Culture Commission of the Chamber of Deputies and proponent of a law to defend the Italian language, for lending her support to the "ITALIAN, SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU!" initiative.
Source:
1. Research into Use of Anglicisms and Itanglese (http://www. agostiniassociati. it/italenglish. php)
2. Itanglese Code (http://www. agostiniassociati. it/itanglese-code. php)
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