Italian language in Venezuela
Encyclopedia
The Italian language in Venezuela has been present since colonial times in the area around Caracas
and Maracaibo
. The language is found in many modisms and words of the Venezuelan Spanish
language.
, who called the area "Little Venice" in a typical Italian expression. Some Italians participated in the first European colonies in Venezuela, mainly in the island of Margarita
and in Cumaná
, the first European city in the Americas, but their influence in the local language was very limited.
During the Venezuelan Wars of Independence
some Italians helped Simón Bolivar
against the Spanish Empire
and they brought some Italian military words to the Venezuelan Spanish language. The military officer Agostino Codazzi
created the first "Atlante" of Venezuela and - as a consequence - many geographical words in Venezuela are loanworded from the Italian.
In the second half of the 20th century, more than 300,000 Italians moved to Venezuela and left - linguistically - many words in the local language: "Ciao" (English: Hi) is now a usual friendly salute in Caracas, for example. There are even expressions in the local young people that mix Italian and Spanish words: "Muérete que chao" is an example.
Today, some young Italo-Venezuelans
use a slang
with Italian dialect words and Spanish in Caracas to communicate between them.
The teaching of the Italian language is starting to be better implemented between the nearly one million Venezuelans who are Italian descendants, but there are only a few Italian language Institutions in Venezuela.
According to the Italian Embassy in Caracas the "...Italian language teaching is guaranteed by the presence of a consistent number of private Venezuelan schools and institutions, where Italian language courses and Italian literature are active. Other similar courses are organized and sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Associations.
The Didactic Office of the General Consulate of Caracas, together with this Embassy, is negotiating an Agreement with the Venezuelan Authorities for the recognition of the Study Diplomas emitted by the Italian School (in Venezuela there is a Civil Association called "Agostino Codazzi" which offers the complete didactic cycle from elementary to high school) so that there can be access to the University system in Venezuela with an Italian high school diploma.
Since 2002, the Italian Government has become the promoter for a provision which makes it mandatory to teach Italian as a second language in a consistent number of public and private schools within Venezuela..."
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
and Maracaibo
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
. The language is found in many modisms and words of the Venezuelan Spanish
Venezuelan Spanish
Venezuelan Spanish is a dialect of the Spanish language spoken in Venezuela.Spanish was introduced in Venezuela by the conquistadors. Most of them were from Andalusia, Galicia, Basque Country, and the Canary Islands...
language.
History
The same name of Venezuela comes from the Italian Amerigo VespucciAmerigo Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer, financier, navigator and cartographer. The Americas are generally believed to have derived their name from the feminized Latin version of his first name.-Expeditions:...
, who called the area "Little Venice" in a typical Italian expression. Some Italians participated in the first European colonies in Venezuela, mainly in the island of Margarita
Isla Margarita
Margarita Island is the largest island of the state of Nueva Esparta in Venezuela, situated in the Caribbean Sea, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción, located in a river...
and in Cumaná
Cumaná
Cumaná is the capital of Venezuela's Sucre State. It is located 402 km east of Caracas. It was the first settlement founded by Europeans in the mainland America, in 1501 by Franciscan friars, but due to successful attacks by the indigenous people, it had to be refounded several times...
, the first European city in the Americas, but their influence in the local language was very limited.
During the Venezuelan Wars of Independence
Venezuelan War of Independence
-The First Republic:Criollos resented the mercantilist policies of Spain. Trade was only allowed in Pacific ports which was a terrible burden for Argentina, Paraguay and the Caribbean colonies. This is significant as Cuba and Puerto Rico were forced to allow free trade in 1763 by Britain and...
some Italians helped Simón Bolivar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
against the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
and they brought some Italian military words to the Venezuelan Spanish language. The military officer Agostino Codazzi
Agostino Codazzi
Giovanni Battista Agostino Codazzi was an Italian soldier, scientist, geographer and cartographer...
created the first "Atlante" of Venezuela and - as a consequence - many geographical words in Venezuela are loanworded from the Italian.
In the second half of the 20th century, more than 300,000 Italians moved to Venezuela and left - linguistically - many words in the local language: "Ciao" (English: Hi) is now a usual friendly salute in Caracas, for example. There are even expressions in the local young people that mix Italian and Spanish words: "Muérete que chao" is an example.
Italo-Venezuelans
Italian-Venezuelans are the Venezuelan citizens of Italian descent. The word may refer to someone born in Venezuela of Italian descent or to someone who has emigrated to Venezuela from Italy...
use a slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
with Italian dialect words and Spanish in Caracas to communicate between them.
Italian language teaching in Venezuela
In the 2000s there are nearly 50,000 Italians residents in Venezuela, who speak the Italian language and/or the Italian dialects with their sons and daughters (the second generation Italo Venezuelans).The teaching of the Italian language is starting to be better implemented between the nearly one million Venezuelans who are Italian descendants, but there are only a few Italian language Institutions in Venezuela.
According to the Italian Embassy in Caracas the "...Italian language teaching is guaranteed by the presence of a consistent number of private Venezuelan schools and institutions, where Italian language courses and Italian literature are active. Other similar courses are organized and sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Associations.
The Didactic Office of the General Consulate of Caracas, together with this Embassy, is negotiating an Agreement with the Venezuelan Authorities for the recognition of the Study Diplomas emitted by the Italian School (in Venezuela there is a Civil Association called "Agostino Codazzi" which offers the complete didactic cycle from elementary to high school) so that there can be access to the University system in Venezuela with an Italian high school diploma.
Since 2002, the Italian Government has become the promoter for a provision which makes it mandatory to teach Italian as a second language in a consistent number of public and private schools within Venezuela..."
List of some Italian words in Venezuelan Spanish
- Balurdo. Strange kind of stupid. From "Balordo".
- Barco. From the "Barca" (boat).
- Calarse. To digest (or sustain) something bad. From "Calarsi" with the same meaning.
- Chao. Friendly salute. From "Ciao" (English: Hi).
- Comadre. Stepmother. From "Comare".
- Compadre. Stepfather (and even: "special friend"). From "Compare"
- Contorno. Side dish. From "Contorno".
- Cretino. Stupid. From "Cretino".
- Espagueti. Food. From "Spaghetti".
- Facista. Fascist. From "Fascista".
- Gafo. Stupid. From "Cafone" (low class peasant).
- Lasaña. Food. From "Lasagna" (a food made with pasta and meat).
- Mafioso. Criminal. From "Mafioso".
- Milanesa. Food. From "Milanese" (a food made with meat and bread).
- Mortadela. Food. From "Mortadella" (a food made from pork and chicken)
- Paisano. From "paesano", meaning an Italian (or southern European) immigrant
- Pasticho. From "pasticcio" (a lasagna).
- Pico. Geographical term meaning the top of a mountain. From "Picco".
- Terraza. Balcony. From "Terrazza"
See also
- Italo-VenezuelansItalo-VenezuelansItalian-Venezuelans are the Venezuelan citizens of Italian descent. The word may refer to someone born in Venezuela of Italian descent or to someone who has emigrated to Venezuela from Italy...
- Italianism
- List of Spanish words of Italic origin
- Venezuelan SpanishVenezuelan SpanishVenezuelan Spanish is a dialect of the Spanish language spoken in Venezuela.Spanish was introduced in Venezuela by the conquistadors. Most of them were from Andalusia, Galicia, Basque Country, and the Canary Islands...