Teresa De Luca would much rather be roaming the grounds of her dream Tuscan villa than living in Toronto. But for the time being, she is content teaching high school students in Toronto, and promoting her first book.
Published this past July, Living The Lingo of Linguine offers insight into some of Italy’s most common words, expressions and proverbs with an in-depth look at their origins, their meaning and how they can aspire the reader to live an more Italian lifestyle.
“Living The Lingo of Linguine is a vocabulary lifestyle guide. My intention was for it to be a plane read. You pick it up and read it on your way to Italy,” De Luca muses.
In 2019, while living in Siena for three months – and teaching English to Italians – De Luca started contemplating the challenges of teaching certain Italian words to English-speakers. And, more importantly, how she could translate the culture of italianità into English.
“There are Italian words and expressions that don’t translate into English directly. But these expressions are a reflection of their culture. ‘Dolce far niente,’ the sweetness of doing nothing, for example. It’s so much more than that one line! If you’re not filling the time, enjoy! No one gets it.”
De Luca began to compile a list of words and phrases that could best express Italian culture to a non-Italian reader, which for her included Canadians of Italian origin.
“As Italian-Canadians, we hold on to that 1950s immigrant mentality, to our dialect. But Italy today is not the same. Even though we think we’re Italian, when we compare traditions and culture, it’s so different now. The traditions themselves hold true, but the lifestyle around them have changed,” she explains.
The first chapter, an in-depth look at the phase “da morire” that is, “to death,” sets the tone on the book.
“Don’t panic,” De Luca writes. “This is the lighthearted book you were promised. You have my word. Why then are we immediately discussing the topic of death, you ask? Because I have good news to share with you. And in my experience, starting on a positive note is generally preferable. Remember, you heard it here first. Death is not always scary, uncomfortable, or morose.”
“Da morire is just the opposite of the assumed connotation. In fact, it adds great dimension to one’s diction and is particularly enthusiastic,” the chapter continues.
De Luca then spends the next dozen pages artfully explaining the phase’s meaning, usage and cultural significance, and how one can learn from this Italian expression.
Each of the thirteen chapters in the book follows the same delightful analysis. Other phases that De Luca tackles include “la bella figura,” “meglio poco che niente,” and finally “a tavola non si invecchia.”
“Every time I return from Italy I get that feeling of chaos, the rush rush rush of North America. I hope readers not only learn the lifestyle of Italy, but also how to translate them into their life. The values, not just the vocabulary,” De Luca comments.
“I hope readers have an appreciation for the Italian culture and lifestyle. I hope they open their eyes to how stressed our culture in North America is. I hope that when they see the comparison they learn to slow down.”
On Tuesday, October 12, at 7:00PM, Teresa De Luca will be featured in a live virtual book presentation organized by Villa Charities in Toronto. The event is part of the centre’s Cultural Tuesdays series. Registration is required at eventbrite.ca/e/cultural-tuesdays-living-the-lingo-of-linguine-tickets.
Living The Lingo of Linguine is available at your favorite in-person or online bookstore.
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