October 7, 2009

We Speak Italian

I love the Italian language....I think it sounds beautiful. Both sets of my grandparents were from Italy...that was their first language. My grandpa....my father's father....was a disc jockey for an all Italian speaking radio station, something I took for granted as a child....something I find so fascinating as an adult. At one point in time, G and I purchased some tapes to help us learn to speak the language fluently....it didn't work. One day I hope to learn more.....our boys seem to have a good start....little did we know that they already speak a little Italian.....

Ross~ "Mom, which language is harder to understand....Japanese or Chinese?"

Me~ "Hmmm, I'm not sure....I don't understand either language."

Ross~ "Me either."

Sam~ "But Ross you understand Spanish"

Ross~ "Not very much....but hey, I do know some Italian.....I know Itsamee, letsaggo and Mamamia!"

Sam~ " Hey yeah, me too....I know Italian.....Itsamee!"

Maybe I should translate for the non-Italian speaking readers........

Itsamee ; pronounced Its-ahhh-me

Used in a sentence- "Hey Sam, itsamee Ross"


Letsahgo ; pronounced lets-ahhh-go
Used in a sentence- "Hey boys, we are late...letsahgo"
Mamamia ; pronounced Mama-me-ah
Used in a sentence- " Mamamia, that's a big pizza"
This all brings back a memory for me....When I was a little girl, my large family would sit around the table eating and chatting. My grandparents would often join us...adding to the conversation. The chatting would be a mix of Italian and English...sometimes English with a strong Italian accent. For years I would hear everyone talk about "medacon". I thought to myself ...."what's a medacon?" Finally, after a few years of wondering, but never questioning anyone about it.....I started repeating the word to myself....medacon....med-a-con....medddd-aaa-con......finally I figured it out. They were saying "American". American...... Medacon.....say it out loud....it's American with an Italian accent. It would be like saying ...."I am Medacon"....I am an American :)

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't feel bad about not being able to figure out how to speak Italian. I took Spanish for 6 years and I am lucky if I can remember 15 words!! LOL
I love the conversations that the boys have with each other with their Italiana :)

Tara said...

They are quick learners! I wish I had even a drop of Italian in my family. I took Spanish in high school and was in the advanced Spanish classes in college and couldn't speak much of it now. I can read it and when I hear it, I can pick up a word here and there.

I'm Medacon too!

Serendipity is Sweet said...

This cracked me up!

Sadly, my kids only know Spanish from Dora and Diego. But, hey, it's a start. They do all know some American Sign Language as well.

I took 4 years of French and hardly remember any. Unless you are immersed in a language it's so hard to keep it up. We Medicon's are at a real language disadvantage, geographically speaking!

Carla said...

I think I just peed my pants.

Pilar said...

hahaha, that is funy! We do (foreigners) change words because of our accent ;)

I have always had a desire for learning different languages. I have a couple, but have a few more to go ;)

Alicia said...

Ohhh...American!!!!!! LOL!!

Your boys are too cute, and the things they say are soooo funny!!

Darcie said...

Ok..I have always wanted to go to Italy(maybe I should put it on my bucket list, since my daughter doesn't want me to go to Scotland with her), but I am going to take you with me...after all you know a handful more Italian then me. Can we can tell everyon we are medddd-aaa-con.

Thanks for making me laugh.

Theta Mom said...

This cracked me up because I married into a Sicilian family. They have the dialect, so you can just imagine how they speak English! For the longest time, my father-in-law couldn't say Heather (he had trouble with the "H" sound, my name would always come out as "Etna," so he ended up calling me Francesca and until this day he sometimes does! LOL

Bunny, The Paris House said...

Hi Mimi, Italian is such a beautiful language, I wish My boys and I could speak it , especially since I'm Italian!! Thats great that your boys are so enthusiastic and adorable :)
3 of my grandparents were Italian and spoke the language, I wish I had learned.
I hope you have a wonderful Holiday Weekend. We are heading to Vermont and stopping in Albany to visit my brother. I can't wait I need a little break.
hugs
Bunny

Dani Joy said...

oh dose crazy Medacons!

jejeje

I need to write down our hilarious sayings more often. Our boys speak Spanglish often. LOL

Love the Letsago!

Kellie said...

Loved the story of the Medacons.

ITs funny because my Dad's first language was Spanish, so I was raised with a a lot of Spanglish. I don't use it when I am in normal conversation, but when i am tired, or when I am frustrated, It comes quickly from my mouth!

Amber said...

What a great heritage!!!

I understand some Italian...but mine is more of the "Spaghetti," "Fettucini," and "Lasagna" variety.

:)

Daphine said...

lol! I am a Medacon too! Hilarious!

Becca~CapturingSimpleJoys said...

love it! I wish I spoke another language but sadly there are days I feel barely able to speack proper English!

E @ Scottsville said...

Hey Mimi, I keep forgetting to come tell you this! On Wednesday when I had lunch at Riley's school with her, I sat across from the little boy that reminds me so much of your boys. I finally said "What's your name?" and guess what he said!?! "Sam".

WEIRD!!! {{insert eerie music here}}

Mamamia! Made me smile!

Pam said...

Love the way your boys speak Italian. My daughter actually speaks excellent Spanish. She could be saying anything about us and we would never know what it was. : )

carol said...

This was something dear to my heart. I also remember every Sunday night at my grandmother's house. Every one speaking Italian, I didn't quite know what they were saying. But when they all looked my way, I knew they were talking about me. My father still speaks with a broken english accent. His favorite saying is "you make a funny outa me." Whenever we would laugh at something he said. When I was a child, I had no interest in learning the language, I wish I had now. My sister and I are first generation in merdaca. Starting to get really Americanized. As my father would say. "Shut upa you face, or I knocka you forda loop."

Tiffani said...

hahahahahahah...I can just SEE those boys saying that!!!

How sweet and funny are they?!

My kids think they speak several languages!! (and they do not) ;)

Life with Kaishon said...

This was a delightful post. Absolutely delightful. I loved every word. OhahyesahIah did : )
Did that sound Italian? Man! It didn't. I am such a loser!

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