Those of you who have been a forum member for some time will know that I served in war-time Italy for quite a few years. During that period I used whatever linguistic abilities I had, to understand and speak the Italian language but never, at any time, did I attend a single lesson to learn the correct grammar of the language. Now, some 70 odd years later I am making up for my shortcomings by attending a weekly Italian Conversation Group, devised and run by the U3A (University of the Third Age). I am having a whale of a time whilst at the same having to accept the shagrin of knowing that my "fluent" Italian would always have been ungrammatical but, on the credit side, everyone, including the teacher, just loves my accent ! Ciao ! Ron
It's a win-win, Ron: you're not only enjoying yourself, but playing with linguistic and grammatical puzzles is one of the best things anybody beyond the first flush of youth can be doing to stay mentally sharp. Top stuff.
I'm pleased to read that you obviously think it's a good thing to do and as Charley says "It's a win-win situation" I'm reminded that it was first in Algeria that I used my school-boy smattering of French to chat with the locals and the bits of Yiddish I'd heard as a child made it easier to understand the German language which came in very useful during our spell in Austria & Germany. Of necessity, my vocabulary in wartime was very much of the military kind, as the following article that I previously posted explains: Many years ago, I was Production Controller for an offshoot of a large public company and was based on the 3rd floor of a large building in the City Rd area. The MD, who was on the top floor, knew that I spoke a few languages and one day asked me up to his office to do some German translation for him. Our conversation went something like this. 'Ron, do me a favour, I've got this chap on the phone calling from Zurich. He's placed a large order for some girls tunics and he now wants to modify it. Instead of a tunic-top he wants crossover straps. I want you to tell him its not possible to alter the order at this late stage' My reply went: 'Sorry Harold, my German is strictly of the Military kind. If you want me to ask him to come out with his hands up or he'll get a burst up his backside, then I'm your man, but if its to do with girls tunics then I'm sorry but I'll have to pass! Ron
I would love to do that Ron, I think Italian is a lovely language. Very musical. Wishing you success - and much admiration for taking on the challenge!
You'll be posting in Italian to Vitellino next - keep going - you also need to listen to the language TD
Ron, You are amazing. You have so much zest for life. So many people give up learning new things as they age, but you get out there and really grab it with both hands.An example to us all!