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TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Old Jan 14th 2016, 7:43 am
  #1411  
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

A useful word?
Just a bit if curiosity really. (helping grandson with homework).
In English we have the very useful words 'got' and 'get' used in a myriad of circumstances. Spanish has 'hay' which more or less fills the same role. Have any of you English teachers come across an equally useful Italian word??
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Old Jan 14th 2016, 7:52 am
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Originally Posted by ononno
A useful word?
Just a bit if curiosity really. (helping grandson with homework).
In English we have the very useful words 'got' and 'get' used in a myriad of circumstances. Spanish has 'hay' which more or less fills the same role. Have any of you English teachers come across an equally useful Italian word??
Ciao ononno - it depends a lot on context and really there isn't just one word in Italian which is why Its struggle with it!

Compare
I've got a new bike
I got a bike for Christmas
I got drunk at Christmas
I get the idea...
I got lost...

...all completely different meanings!
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Old Jan 14th 2016, 8:02 am
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

"fare" in Italian in used for so many things

"fare una doccia"
"fare i compiti"
"fare il bravo"
"fare la spesa"

etc etc etc
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Old Jan 14th 2016, 2:27 pm
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

And fare la pipi of course, which always sounds so damn infantile to me that i worry about any adults using it. I could imagine the madonna using it before a quick break. In english, amongst friends etc, i think "i just need piss" or variants is fine. Is there anything better in italian which doesn't go to the opposite end of prudishness by borrowing phrases from a school biology/medical book?
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Old Jan 16th 2016, 11:18 am
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Originally Posted by sunnysider
And fare la pipi of course, which always sounds so damn infantile to me that i worry about any adults using it. I could imagine the madonna using it before a quick break. In english, amongst friends etc, i think "i just need piss" or variants is fine. Is there anything better in italian which doesn't go to the opposite end of prudishness by borrowing phrases from a school biology/medical book?
    Devo pisciare ..... not considered very ladylike, at least when I've said it.    
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Old Jan 19th 2016, 11:39 am
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Can anyone suggest an italian learning programme or software?
Pimsleur has been suggested so far, buti have no idea.
Im better with interactive than reading.
Many thanks
Steve
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Old Jan 19th 2016, 2:13 pm
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Have you tried Duolingo?
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Old Jan 19th 2016, 3:31 pm
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Doulingo? i must admit i havent heard of that, ill google it.
I tend to pick languages up quite well with a hear and repeat system.
Audio rather than reading
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Old Jan 19th 2016, 9:55 pm
  #1419  
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Another good programme is Rosetta Stone.
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Old Jan 21st 2016, 7:58 am
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Thank you
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Old Feb 9th 2016, 1:47 pm
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Originally Posted by sunnysider
And fare la pipi of course, which always sounds so damn infantile to me that i worry about any adults using it. I could imagine the madonna using it before a quick break. In english, amongst friends etc, i think "i just need piss" or variants is fine. Is there anything better in italian which doesn't go to the opposite end of prudishness by borrowing phrases from a school biology/medical book?
Sorry I'm late!
I don't see why "fare la pipì" is more infantile than "go for a pee"!
Still, I'm thinking of all those pseudo-polite expressions we have in English:
- I'm going to see the vicar
- I'm going to inspect the plumbing
- I'm going to water the horse
- I'm going ashore for two brown loaves
My father invented one (he worked for a chemical company):
- I'm going to visit the moisture control unit.

I've heard one Italian equivalent:
- Vado a cambiare l'acqua al canarino
but there are probably more!
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Old Feb 9th 2016, 1:53 pm
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Originally Posted by jonwel
Sorry I'm late!
I don't see why "fare la pipì" is more infantile than "go for a pee"!
Still, I'm thinking of all those pseudo-polite expressions we have in English:
- I'm going to see the vicar
- I'm going to inspect the plumbing
- I'm going to water the horse
- I'm going ashore for two brown loaves
My father invented one (he worked for a chemical company):
- I'm going to visit the moisture control unit.

I've heard one Italian equivalent:
- Vado a cambiare l'acqua al canarino
but there are probably more!
personally I always "go and see a man about a dog"
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Old Feb 9th 2016, 3:53 pm
  #1423  
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Originally Posted by Garbatellamike
personally I always "go and see a man about a dog"
Of course! I don't know how I forgot about that one, it's the oldest and best established!
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Old Feb 10th 2016, 9:28 am
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Pony and trap.  
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Old Feb 12th 2016, 8:12 am
  #1425  
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Default Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Originally Posted by Garbatellamike
personally I always "go and see a man about a dog"
For us that was always just a way of saying "Mind your own business!"


For going to the loo my Nan used to say "I'm going to spend a penny"
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