Column: why is Italian such a beautiful language?

Italian is a language studied by countless people from all over the world. Besides the fact that the culture is interesting, the ice cream is delicious and it is a beautiful holiday destination, many people think that Italian sounds so beautiful. Why is it that we all find Italian a beautiful language?

I think an important reason is the streamlining in vowels between article, noun and adjective. If a noun is feminine, then the words around it also become feminine and then it often starts to rhyme. LA donna bellA, for example.

In addition, many Italian words end in a vowel, so that a word is not broken, but rather hangs in the air. Those vowels also appear in words with gaps. In Dutch these are words that you used to see in Dutch Great Dictation of the Dutch Language. Two vowels in succession that are pronounced differently. 

In Dutch you get a diaeresis or a hyphen. So you have annoyed (with diaeresis on the second e) or cooperative with a diaeresis on the second o, or co-operation. An o and an e together become a new sound, the oe. A and you become au.

🇮🇹 Did you know…? 21 interesting facts about the Italian language.

Soft vowels and whispers

In Italian it is often the case that you hear two different vowel sounds in succession. As in the words journey, his, blessed, cohesion policy or the word paese. Vowels sound softer than consonants. Therefore, Slavic languages, known for their many consonants, are often perceived by foreigners very differently from Italian. But also think of Dutch words such as 'autumn' or 'scream of terror'. A nightmare for an Italian who wants to learn Dutch.

Many Italian vowels are pronounced longer than Dutch vowels. In Dutch, vowels are shorter and more 'staccato'. In order not to sound like a cheese head who has put on his Italian suit, you have to exaggerate a bit with the pronunciation. Then an Italian will experience your pronunciation as more correct.

You also have many whispers in Italian. Our 'sch' in 'Scheveningen', for example, is a harsh guttural sound that many Italians find terrible. However, in Italian you have several softer s sounds in, for example, the word association, which you make by sending air through your mouth and between your teeth, not squeezing the throat. So it can happen that associazione fiscal comes across as very romantic when it is actually about a tax association.

Words that do not exist in Dutch

Everyone knows the story of the Eskimo with 50 words for snow or for white. For example, Russians have many words for the color blue and Italians have many words for pasta. Riccioli, rotelle, gemelli, garganelli.

Words that do not exist in Dutch, there are also many in Italian. As loaf, a rising ball of dough that you use to make a pizza base. As a translator you can choose to use the word loaf to take over or say 'rising dough ball' every time, which doesn't sound so nice. This is how loan words are created.

Personally, I also like words that cannot be translated singularly. An tree is a tree, there is not much exciting about it, but you also have Italian words that are not so easy to pin down in Dutch.

Like the verbs proceed, costumer, Mark of slide. That very much depends on the context in which the word is used how you should translate it into Dutch. This makes another language exciting for a non-native speaker. And so interesting.

flatterers

Yes, Italian is a beautiful language. Italians are poets, flatterers in the eyes of the Dutch and Belgians. I don't know if they resort to metaphors more often, but I think they have woolly language at least when it comes to aesthetics.

Users of Dutch speak more directly. For example, I heard from an acquaintance that she used to have an Italian holiday boyfriend who decorated her with 'I tuoi occhi sono come il mare'. Your eyes are like the sea. Of course that is said while watching a beautiful sunset on the beach.

Dutch girls fall for it and that is why many Italians think that Dutch girls can quickly get into bed. With Italian ladies you just have to set the table and drive the car in front mom.

Aesthetics… or sweet talk?

Italian art historians have jargon entirely on the aesthetic level. All Italians are amateur art historians. Alberto Angela is one such type. The host of an art historical Italian television program. Even many Italian women swoon at his sweet stories.

They are the kind we see in the Netherlands in marketing or sales: fast guys who persuade you to want something you don't need. I think the Dutch equivalent has worn out the plan to sell the area to be built near the Veerpoort in the municipality of Krimpenerwaard as 'Boulevard', while it is an ordinary stone sidewalk with benches where you can look at parked cars. Nice story, deal closed, but you're left with the mess.