Culture-language,+traditions+and+customs_krista

__Language__

The offical language of Italy is Standard Italian, a descendent of Tusdcan of Dialect, and a direct descendant of Latin.75% of italian words are Latin. However, when italy was unified in 1861 italy exsisted mainly as a literaly language.Different languages were spoken throughout the italian penisula, many of witch were romance languages witch had developed in every region, due to the political fragmentation of italy. Still other languages spoken in italy are not closley related to standared italian at all. More over since the second world war the italian language, once spoken by a minority has undergone a process of homogenisation. Education and mass media, espically television, have rendered the italian language accessibleto the most italians, on the other hand the same phenomenon has brought about a simplification and banalistaion of the language. Italian is widely taught in many schools around the world, but rarely as the first non-native language of pupils. In anglophone parts of Canada, Italian is, after French, the third most taught language. In the United States and the United Kingdom, Italian ranks fourth (after Spanish-French-German and French-German-Spanish respectively). Throughout the world, Italian is the fifth most taught non-native language, after English, French, Spanish and German. In the European Union, Italian is spoken as a mother tongue by 13% of the population (mainly in Italy itself) and as a second language by 3%; among EU member states, it is most likely to be desired (and therefore learned) as a second language in Malta (61%), Croatia (14%), Slovenia (12%), Austria (11%), Romania (8%), France (6%), and Greece (6%). It is also an important second language in Albania and Switzerland, which are not EU members or candidates.

Some of the ways that Italians speak compared to Australians: Counting to twenty:
 * Cheers (generic toast): //cin cin// /tʃin tʃin/
 * English: //inglese// /iŋˈglese/
 * Good-bye: //arrivederci// /arriveˈdertʃi/
 * Hello: //ciao// /ˈtʃao/
 * Good morning/good day: //buon giorno// /bwonˈdʒorno/
 * Good evening: //buona sera// /bwonaˈsera/
 * Yes: //sì// /si/
 * No: //no// /nɔ/
 * How are you? : Come stai /ˈkome ˈstai/ (informal); Come sta /ˈkome 'sta/ (formal)
 * Sorry: //mi dispiace// /mi disˈpjatʃe/
 * Excuse me: scusa /ˈskuza/ (informal); scusi /ˈskuzi/ (formal)
 * Again: //di nuovo//, /di ˈnwɔvo/; //ancora// /aŋˈkora/
 * Always: //sempre// /ˈsɛmpre/
 * When: //quando// /ˈkwando/
 * Why/Because: //perché// /perˈke/
 * How much: //quanto// /ˈkwanto/
 * Thank you!: //grazie!// /ˈgrattsie/
 * Bon appetit: //buon appetito// /ˌbwɔn appeˈtito/
 * You're welcome!: //prego!// /ˈprɛgo/
 * I love you: //Ti amo// /ti ˈamo/, //Ti voglio bene// /ti ˈvɔʎʎo ˈbɛne/. The difference is that you use "Ti amo" when you are in a romantic relationship, "Ti voglio bene" in any other occasion (to parents, to relatives, to friends...)
 * One: //uno// /ˈuno/
 * Two: //due// /ˈdue/
 * Three: //tre// /tre/
 * Four: //quattro// /ˈkwattro/
 * Five: //cinque// /ˈʧiŋkwe/
 * Six: //sei// /ˈsɛi/
 * Seven: //sette// /ˈsɛtte/
 * Eight: //otto// /ˈɔtto/
 * Nine: //nove// /ˈnɔve/
 * Ten: //dieci// /ˈdjɛʧi/
 * Eleven: //undici// /ˈundiʧi/
 * Twelve: //dodici// /ˈdodiʧi/
 * Thirteen: //tredici// /ˈtrediʧi/
 * Fourteen: //quattordici// /kwat'tɔrdiʧi/
 * Fifteen: //quindici// /ˈkwindiʧi/
 * Sixteen: //sedici// /ˈsediʧi/
 * Seventeen: //diciassette// /diʧas'sɛtte/
 * Eighteen: //diciotto// /di'ʧɔtto/
 * Nineteen: //diciannove// /diʧan'nɔve/
 * Twenty: //venti// /'venti/

__Traditions & Customs__ Italian Traditions

The Italians who came to Canada brought with them the language, customs, the music, and religious traditions.

FAMILY: Family is very important for Italians. The adjustments that the first generation of immigrants made sometimes had devastating results. They became neither Italian nor Canadian. The second generation combined the aspects of both cultures and lifestyles. The third and the fourth generations became more Canadian than Italian.

VISITING: Visiting friends and relatives is very popular among the Italians. Intricate networks of friendship and fellowship are developed as they share their joys and their sorrows.

LANGUAGE: The first difficulty that the Italian immigrants faced in Canada was the inability to understand or speak the English language. Of course, they did not feel the need of English when they lived inside Little Italies. Those who went outside the community needed knowledge of the English language. In order to bridge the gap between Italian and English, the new immigrants developed a language called //Italiese,// which gave Italian structure to the English language.

FOOD & WINE: Italy has 20 regions, and each region has its own traditional food and wine. Italian food does not consist of only pizza and spaghetti, and the menu is as varied as the Italian regions. Italians use a variety of vegetables, such as tomatoes, eggplants, onions, garlic, peas, pepper in their cuisine. Italian food and wine are well known in Canada and North America.

MUSIC: Italians love music. Music is part of their lives. They enjoy it at holidays, family celebrations, and special occasions. Opera, an Italian tradition, is popular among Italians and they continued this musical tradition when they immigrated to Canada.

RELIGION: The majority of Italians are Roman Catholics. When they immigrated, they brought their religious traditions to Canada with them. They began to build churches, where they would pray to God, but the churches also served as a place where they could meet, help each other and share their traditions. They held Italian classes inside the churches' halls, where their children could learn and preserve the language. Italians set up the Catholic schools too, where the Italian children would learn their religion and their culture.

WEDDING AND BAPTISM CEREMONIES: The Italians make a wonderful celebration of their weddings and baptism ceremonies. They usually rent a hall, have music, dancing, special pastries, cordials, and wines. A church ceremony is usually followed by a reception. Christening ceremonies are very special, as well, usually followed by receptions held in halls or at home.

FUNERALS: The Italian funerals, as the final act of love provided for those that pass away, are particularly moving. Candles remain lit throughout the wake. Relatives and friends participate in the wake, say prayers in front of the casket and offer condolences to the family. Preparation for the burial usually includes a church Mass attended by family and friends who afterwards accompany the deceased to his final resting place.