12/31/03 - Italian Animal Sounds
A barking dog is a barking dog, unless he happens to live in Italy. Then, instead of bowówow, he'll be yapping bauóbau. At least that's how an Italian would describe the sound. So do Italian animals speak a different language?

08/27/03 - Pronouncing Double Consonants in Italian
"Quanti anni hai?"—How old are you? sounds like an innocent question posed by someone just learning the Italian language. But it can be a real conversation stopper, leading to guffaws, laughter, and embarrassment, when mispronounced.

08/13/03 - Italian Word Trivia
If you're looking for a linguistic challenge, try an Italian word game such as Scarabeo (Scrabble), Paroliere (Boggle) or a cruciverba (crossword puzzle). It's a great divertimento and a terrific way to improve your vocabulary skills.

04/23/03 - Online Italian Language Help
Even though Dante isn't alive today to answer email about Italian grammar, usage, and style, there are practical alternatives that can be every bit as authoritative and offer realtime assistance to master the Italian language.

04/09/03 - Italian Coffee
Espresso, caffè normale, cappuccino; sometimes it seems that there are as many types of coffee in Italy as there are pastas. And just like pasta, Italian coffee is an art form with many customs and traditions.

03/26/03 - Museum of the Italian Language
A major exhibition entitled "Italian, the Italians—A Journey through the History of the Italian Language" is being held at the Uffizi. The first national exhibit on the Italian language, it will explore the roots of modern Italian as well as its connections with foreign languages.

03/12/03 - Italian Press Digest
The Italian Press Digest is an independent, non-partisan report on Italian politics and current affairs. The Digest keeps track of the political trends of the Italian government, the upper and lower houses of Parliament, and both majority and minority political parties.

02/12/03 - Italian Language Immersion Camp
Swimming, sole, and salame. Marshmallows, minestrone, and montagne. It may not evoke the traditional images of summer camp, but then, Lago del Bosco, the new Italian language and culture immersion camp at the Concordia Language Villages of Minnesota, isn't a conventional program.

01/29/03 - Sing For Your Supper
Dine on a veritable opera buffet featuring dinner plus music by professional opera singers. New York City restaurants with live opera provide two civilized pleasures in one evening.

01/15/03 - Devil's Italian Dictionary
Enigmi, fabuloserie, anagrammi, cruciverba, polisenso. For every word in the Italian dictionary there is the potential for wordplay, whether it be a palindrome, spoonerism, pangram, or some other verbal twist.

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