Comments on: Newbie Lesson #12 - John, is this t-shirt new? http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/ Learn Italian with Free Podcasts! Whether you are student or a seasoned speaker, our lessons offer something for everyone. We incorporate culture and current issues into each episode to give the most informative, both linguistically and culturally, podcasts possible. For those of you with just the plane ride to prepare, check our survival phrase series at ItalianPod101.com. One of these phrases just might turn your trip into the best one ever! Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:46:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: Gianluca http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-1368 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:51:20 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-1368 Hi Deb, Since you are a singer, you might want to go to Verona to see an opera in the awesome Roman amphitheatre. It's a three hours trip by train from Florence and you can book tickets and reserve a room on line at the following link: http://www.verona.com/index.cfm?page=arena Please, contact me if you need some help with the tickets. I wish you great time in Italy! Johnny Hi Deb,

Since you are a singer, you might want to go to Verona to see an opera in the awesome Roman amphitheatre. It’s a three hours trip by train from Florence and you can book tickets and reserve a room on line at the following link:

http://www.verona.com/index.cfm?page=arena

Please, contact me if you need some help with the tickets.
I wish you great time in Italy!

Johnny

]]> by: Deb http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-1355 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:22:52 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-1355 James, How nice to hear someone else is using this to study Italian for singing. I too am a singer, in fact, I'm going to Florence soon to study Italian and Italian diction for singing for two weeks. I'm so looking forward to it. I do art songs and opera but not professionally. I would love to join an SCA group but I haven't any evenings free so I haven't as yet. Perhaps in the future I can go back in time :-) Where do you find your music? I also play harp and your Renaissance songs sound like they'd go well on the harp. Deb James,

How nice to hear someone else is using this to study Italian for singing. I too am a singer, in fact, I’m going to Florence soon to study Italian and Italian diction for singing for two weeks. I’m so looking forward to it. I do art songs and opera but not professionally. I would love to join an SCA group but I haven’t any evenings free so I haven’t as yet. Perhaps in the future I can go back in time :-)

Where do you find your music? I also play harp and your Renaissance songs sound like they’d go well on the harp.

Deb

]]> by: James http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-646 Mon, 05 May 2008 17:46:08 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-646 Cinzia-- I mostly sing at SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) events. Marco and Roma55 -- thank you very much for the explanation. No links yet, alas... Cinzia– I mostly sing at SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) events.
Marco and Roma55 — thank you very much for the explanation. No links yet, alas…

]]> by: Peter http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-642 Sun, 04 May 2008 19:41:21 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-642 What more can you want? Only lesson 12 and already the subtleties of regional variations of "this" are covered by our highly appreciated informal tutor, Roma55. To clarify: Is it the case that both CAN be abbreviated ? Or is it only questo which can be both questo and quest' before a vowel whereas questa MUST be quest'? Lo prendo if my memory serves me correctly - which in its current confused state I would not depend upon- is invariable BUT presumably it can be : Lo prendo/prendo quello if masculine Lo prendo/prendo quella if feminine Buono studio... but buon giorno. Oh no!! What more can you want? Only lesson 12 and already the subtleties of regional variations of “this” are covered by our highly appreciated informal tutor, Roma55.

To clarify:

Is it the case that both CAN be abbreviated ? Or is it only questo which can be both questo and quest’ before a vowel whereas questa MUST be quest’?

Lo prendo if my memory serves me correctly - which in its current confused state I would not depend upon- is invariable BUT presumably it can be :

Lo prendo/prendo quello if masculine
Lo prendo/prendo quella if feminine

Buono studio… but buon giorno. Oh no!!

]]> by: roma55 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-640 Sun, 04 May 2008 10:35:34 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-640 Cari Peter and James, James, you are very lucky to sing renaissance songs. Do you ever sing Palestrina? Peter, well spotted !:cool: The 'sta' in stasera' does indeed come from the same 'sta' abbreviation but it is now considered integral part of the word, as shown by the fact itis written as a single term. As a spoken abbreviation of questa/o, 'sta/o' is used mainly in central and southern Italy, and is probably a form reflecting the transition between the Latin 'esto' an the current form 'questo'. So a slang word 'with pedigree!'. Often found in songs. As for elisions , both feminine and masculine of questo/a can be abbreviated, per esempio: quest' anno (this year), quest' uomo (this man) [maschile] quest' aria (this air/this song) , quest' anima(this soul) [femminile] Watch out that for the other (or, rather, the most common, as 'codesto' is rarely used outside Tuscany these days) demonstrative adjective 'quello', there are three forms, like for articles: quella, quello and quel. Again, when used as a pronoun, the masculine form is always 'quello'. Esempi: Signore 1: Quel posto e' libero? [Is that seat free?] Signore 2: Quello? [That one?] Inserviente: Quel vaso costa 10 euro [That vase costs 10 euros] Signora: Bene, lo prendo[Good, i'll take it] /Bene, prendo quello[Good, I'll take that one] Buono studio! roma55 Cari Peter and James,

James, you are very lucky to sing renaissance songs. Do you ever sing Palestrina?

Peter, well spotted ! :cool: The ’sta’ in stasera’ does indeed come from the same ’sta’ abbreviation but it is now considered integral part of the word, as shown by the fact itis written as a single term.

As a spoken abbreviation of questa/o, ’sta/o’ is used mainly in central and southern Italy, and is probably a form reflecting the transition between the Latin ‘esto’ an the current form ‘questo’. So a slang word ‘with pedigree!’. Often found in songs.

As for elisions , both feminine and masculine of questo/a can be abbreviated, per esempio:

quest’ anno (this year), quest’ uomo (this man) [maschile]
quest’ aria (this air/this song) , quest’ anima(this soul) [femminile]

Watch out that for the other (or, rather, the most common, as ‘codesto’ is rarely used outside Tuscany these days) demonstrative adjective ‘quello’, there are three forms, like for articles: quella, quello and quel. Again, when used as a pronoun, the masculine form is always ‘quello’. Esempi:

Signore 1: Quel posto e’ libero? [Is that seat free?]
Signore 2: Quello? [That one?]

Inserviente: Quel vaso costa 10 euro [That vase costs 10 euros]
Signora: Bene, lo prendo[Good, i’ll take it] /Bene, prendo quello[Good, I’ll take that one]

Buono studio!

roma55

]]> by: Peter http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-635 Sat, 03 May 2008 23:09:32 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-635 Marco, Useful lesson. Thank you. Thinking about sta, is sta sera more common than questa sera? Is there any reason why masculine questo is permissible before a vowel but feminine questa changes to quest' ? You might think that if the sound of one offends it would apply to the other. Marco,

Useful lesson. Thank you.

Thinking about sta, is sta sera more common than questa sera?

Is there any reason why masculine questo is permissible before a vowel but
feminine questa changes to quest’ ? You might think that if the sound of one offends it would apply to the other.

]]> by: Marco http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-627 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:35:40 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-627 Dear James, you can hear in spoken Italian "sta" in place of "questa", but it is not very correct - close to slang. You can use it with young people though. It is perfectly acceptable in poetry or song lyrics as a way to shorten the verse. Please let us have any links to your singing in Italian! Ciao Dear James,
you can hear in spoken Italian “sta” in place of “questa”, but it is not very correct - close to slang.
You can use it with young people though.
It is perfectly acceptable in poetry or song lyrics as a way to shorten the verse.

Please let us have any links to your singing in Italian!

Ciao

]]> by: Cinzia http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-625 Fri, 02 May 2008 02:34:57 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-625 Oh James! What a beautiful thing you sing the Renaissance songs! They actually ARE poetry ! BRAVO!!!:grin: Do you make concerts as well? In theater? Do you play any particular instrument? Ciao!! Cinzia:wink: Oh James!
What a beautiful thing you sing the Renaissance songs!
They actually ARE poetry !

BRAVO!!! :grin:

Do you make concerts as well? In theater?
Do you play any particular instrument?

Ciao!!
Cinzia :wink:

]]> by: James http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-619 Thu, 01 May 2008 14:31:53 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-619 Singing Renaissance songs is what has brought me to learn Italian, and the discussion of "questa" becoming "quest'" before nouns starting with a vowel reminded me of a truncation at the other end that appears in a song, "Qui passa per 'sta strada". Is that kind of shortening common in casual speech, or just used in poetry to make the scansion work? Singing Renaissance songs is what has brought me to learn Italian, and the discussion of “questa” becoming “quest’” before nouns starting with a vowel reminded me of a truncation at the other end that appears in a song, “Qui passa per ’sta strada”. Is that kind of shortening common in casual speech, or just used in poetry to make the scansion work?

]]> by: Marco http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-617 Thu, 01 May 2008 08:18:40 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-617 Dear Judith, you are right "sciopero" is a very common word in Italy, compared to other developed countries. But we have used another very common word that pops up in newspaper quite often and that is "scandalo" - scandal. Continua a seguirci! Keep following us! Marco Dear Judith,
you are right “sciopero” is a very common word in Italy, compared to other developed countries.
But we have used another very common word that pops up in newspaper quite often and that is “scandalo” - scandal.

Continua a seguirci!
Keep following us!

Marco

]]> by: Judith http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-616 Thu, 01 May 2008 07:54:11 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-616 Nice lesson! One note: my Italian teacher always used "sciopero" (strike) as an example of a masculine noun with s-sound. I always thought it was similarly unnecessary to learn as "safiro", but I quickly discovered differently when I visited Italy. :wink: Nice lesson! One note: my Italian teacher always used “sciopero” (strike) as an example of a masculine noun with s-sound. I always thought it was similarly unnecessary to learn as “safiro”, but I quickly discovered differently when I visited Italy. :wink:

]]> by: Marco http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-612 Thu, 01 May 2008 02:59:30 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-612 I usually start packing my suitcase a week in advance, at least mentally. When I was a kid (living in Kenya) my parents used to make fun of me as I was always carrying a huge packpack on my back. They said I was like a "tartaruga", a turtle! I just didn't want to leave anything behind! Ciao Marco I usually start packing my suitcase a week in advance, at least mentally.
When I was a kid (living in Kenya) my parents used to make fun of me as I was always carrying a huge packpack on my back.
They said I was like a “tartaruga”, a turtle!
I just didn’t want to leave anything behind!

Ciao
Marco

]]> by: roma55 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-605 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:10:50 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-605 Fare le valigie per partire e' una noia! Packing before leaving for a trip is a bore! Anch'io ho sempre paura di dimenticare qualcosa di importante! Itoo am always afraid of forgetting something important! Pero' fare le valigie per ritornare e' molto piu' facile! However, packing when coming back is much easier! A proposito.. (BTW) the plural of 'valigia' is 'valigie' not 'valige'- lots of natives confuse the two. Infact I had to go and check before posting this.. Ciao! roma55 Fare le valigie per partire e’ una noia!
Packing before leaving for a trip is a bore!

Anch’io ho sempre paura di dimenticare qualcosa di importante!
Itoo am always afraid of forgetting something important!

Pero’ fare le valigie per ritornare e’ molto piu’ facile!
However, packing when coming back is much easier!

A proposito.. (BTW) the plural of ‘valigia’ is ‘valigie’ not ‘valige’- lots of natives confuse the two. Infact I had to go and check before posting this..

Ciao!

roma55

]]> by: Cinzia http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-603 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:56:02 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-603 Every time I pack I feel like I am forgetting something. I would like to bring everything, if I could I would take my entire wardrobe! :oops: Cinzia Every time I pack I feel like I am forgetting something.
I would like to bring everything, if I could I would take my entire wardrobe!

:oops:

Cinzia

]]> by: Jacqueline http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-598 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:14:01 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-598 I enjoy fare la valigia!:mrgreen: I usually pack in the night before traveling. It's fun when you know you're doing that because you're going on a trip and you're going to have a great time. And you start picking the clothes you're going to wear there... :mrgreen: I enjoy fare la valigia! :mrgreen: I usually pack in the night before traveling. It’s fun when you know you’re doing that because you’re going on a trip and you’re going to have a great time. And you start picking the clothes you’re going to wear there… :mrgreen:

]]> by: petiteclaire http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-597 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:57:28 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-597 I hate packing !!!! The older I get, the more I tend to pack at the very last minute... I hate packing !!!! The older I get, the more I tend to pack at the very last minute…

]]> by: ItalianPod101.com http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-447 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:30:36 +0000 http://www.italianpod101.com/2008/04/29/newbie-lesson-12-john-is-this-t-shirt-new/#comment-447 Packing your suitcase, do you enjoy it? Fare la valigia means "packing your suitcase". Packing your suitcase, do you enjoy it?
Fare la valigia means “packing your suitcase”.

]]>