12.07.07
Speaking English in Italy
I have been puzzled by something lately. I went to the doctor the other day, and he prescribed an inhaler for me. The directions for taking the medicine are as follows:
Pr. VENTOYLN spray
S. Un puff al bisogno (massimo quattro volte al giorno)
Obviously there are two English words in those two short phrases: spray and puff. In Italian, the word for spray is spruzzo. The Italian word for puff is sbuffo or soffio.
So why is the English word used? I can understand using an English word for something that originated in English, or for which there isn’t a word in Italian. But I see more and more frequently English creeping into the conversation. Italians have a beautiful language that I hope to someday master, but it seems like if I just wait around long enough the job will get easier and easier.