Communication in Italy

Written By: Kate Pawlowski

Major: Art History

Location: Florence, Italy

Not speaking the native language of the country you are studying in can be very difficult. Although many shopkeepers and workers here speak English, often it is only a few phrases, just as I only know a few phrases in Italian. More often than not, those who speak English more fluently are in more touristy spots that are typically overpriced and relatively tacky. This aspect has made it harder to integrate into the culture here and while I know over time, I will learn more from the failures I have to communicate, it is relatively down putting when you aren’t sure of how to order food or ask where the toilet is.

Another hurdle is the difficulty of not only remembering what something is in Italian but remembering the correct pronunciation. Going from a Germanic language to a Romance language, there are a lot of differences in the pronunciation of specific letters and remembering the correct emphasizes in words. It makes me understand how people feel coming to the U.S. when English isn’t their first language and gives me a lot of respect and awe in their ability to learn all of the exceptions in the English language.

Despite the struggles with being somewhere where you know almost nothing of the language, I found there are many ways to get out of my comfort zone without being completely lost. SACI offers many community engagement opportunities and weekend fieldtrips. Having gone to both big attractions like Pisa and Vinci, and smaller areas like Lucca and Fiesole, I have been able to see more of the local culture in Tuscany. While there are many tourists in Pisa and areas alike, these smaller towns show more of what locals are like and how even if they may not be fond of tourists, they are still very kind when you have lost your way.

Categories: Italy, Art, Communication