Parler L'Italiano (Speak Italian)
He begins by explaining how he uses an Italian word or two randomly throughout the day. After gathering words or phrases from the morning paper, he surprises the locals by uttering words that he has never looked up in a dictionary.One day he uses “avanti” (meaning “ahead” or “come in”), which he thinks sounds Shakespearean and probably means “Avaunt.” Another day he utilizes “sono dispiacentissimo” (meaning “I am very sorry”), though he has no idea what it means. Twain usually forgets about these words and phrases quickly.
However, there are some words and phrases that he always remembers. His favorite phrase, saved for special occasions, is “dovè il gatto” (meaning “where is the cat”). He thinks the phrase means “that takes the cake” and is often pleased by the locals’ responses to it.
Legge L'Italiano (He reads Italian)
Despite this fun exercise, he decides to take his adventures with the Italian language beyond just speaking one or two words a day. Twain decides to subscribe to an Italian paper and read only that. Though he knows he will not be able to read an entire article, he can rely on the headlines. He still refuses to use a dictionary.He begins with a few simple headlines. The first headline, “Il ritorno dei Beati d‘Italia,” means “The return of the Blesseds of Italy,” but Twain explains that it details the Italian sovereigns’ return from their trip to England. He then humorously asserts that the second title, “Elargizione del Re all’Ospedale italiano,” means that “they enlarged the King at the Italian hospital.” But he misinterprets “elargizione” as “englarges,” when it really means “donation.” So the headline reads: “Donation of the King to the Italian Hospital.”
Twain’s humor carries throughout the entire story as he misinterprets many more news excerpts. Yet this humor is a catalyst to show us the importance of properly understanding the languages we speak. When a language is spoken well, it breeds adventure, light, beauty, and even humor.
As St. John of the Cross says, in “The Poems of St. John of the Cross”: “They can be like the sun, words. / They can do for the heart what light can for a field.” The sun brings light, clarity, beauty, and joy. Language, used properly, does the same.
When we speak without actually pondering what we say or how we say it, we miss many opportunities, for language allows us to construct thoughts and emotions in such diverse ways that give rise to adventure.
But when we master this funny thing called language, we can spin tales as light-hearted and humorous as Mark Twain’s. Like this 19th-century master wordsmith, we can bring clarity, adventure, joy, and meaning back into the world.
