5 minute read
Art, Culture & Lifestyle - Dante Alighieri Society Hong Kong
Dante’s Word of Mouth
On the occasion of the 700th Anniversary of the father of the Italian language, Dante Alighieri, we want to continue honouring him by presenting the famous Italian expressions that came straight from “Dante’s mouth”. This year, we are indeed commemorating his death, but it is important to note his ongoing influence on the way we talk. Keep on discovering with us the intriguing origins of Dante Alighieri’s immortalised expressions that we have inherited and are still present in our everyday conversations.
In the previous editions, we have mentioned the pivotal role that Dante Alighieri had, and still has nowadays, in gifting and enriching the beautiful Italian language with words and expressions that we all, often “unconsciously”, still use. We have seen and analysed expressions such as: “Stai Fresco” - you can go whistle for it/Stay cool, “Il Bel Paese”- The beautiful country/Italy, “Cosa fatta capo ha”- What is done is done, “Non mi tange” – I don’t care, “Galeotto fu” – It was Galehaut… and many others.
So now, to prove how immense his legacy is, let us continue with our third series of Dante Alighieri’s word of mouth!
Let us begin with one of the most popular expressions that we, Italians, use every day. It is also one of the first phrases our students learn:
“Passeggiare”: “Si` passeggiando l’alta selva vota, colpa di quella ch’al serpente crese, temprava i passi un’angelica nota,” translated as “So passing through the vacant lofty forest / By fault of her who in the serpent trusted / Angelic music made our steps keep time” from Canto XXXII of Purgatorio.
This chapter takes place at the top of the Purgatory Mountain, where the souls of those in the Purgatory are ready for purification before entering Paradise. The verb “passeggiare” used by Dante describes the procession of the soul walking around the terrestrial Paradise, empty due to the Original Sin. Today, we use the verb “passeggiare” or “fare una passeggiata” with the meaning of having a “relaxing walk”.
“Intoppare”, with the literal translation as “to cause a violent impact”. It is an expression from Canto VII of Inferno, “Come fa l’onda là sovra Cariddi, che si frange con quella in cui s’intoppa, così convien che qui la gente riddi,” translated as “as the wave does upon Charybdis / That breaks itself on that which it encounters / So here the folk must dance their roundelay.” Dante is comparing the coexistence of the greedy and lavish souls in the Inferno (opposite sins), like the violent impact of the waves caused by Scilla and Cariddi (Scylla and Charybdis, two sea monsters in Greek mythology). Today, the expression is used as the noun “intoppo” to describe an unexpected event or obstacle.
Let’s continue with a very notable expression: “Degno di nota” translated as “noteworthy”. “Ma dimmi, de la gente che procede, se tu ne vedi alcun degno di nota; che solo a ciò la mia mente rifiede.” - “But tell me of the people who are passing / If any one note-worthy thou beholdest / For only unto that my mind reverts.” We are in Canto XX of Inferno, Dante asks Virgilio if there is someone among the fortunetellers who is “degno di nota”, that deserves his consideration. “Degno di nota” has the figurative meaning of something you consider very interesting that will stick in your mind. Today, we use the expression with the same meaning as Dante used.
“Inoltrarsi”, literally “going beyond” from Canto XXI of Paradise: “[…] però che s’innoltra ne lo abisso/ de l’etterno statuto quel che chiedi, che da ogne creata vista è scisso,” translated as “what you ask goes beyond God’s divine plan to be impossible for you to understand.” This expression is the origin of how the verb “inoltrare” was invented, meaning “to forward” as in forwarding an email.
“Rogna” literally translates to “scabies”, a contagious skin disease caused by parasitic mites. From Canto XVII of Paradise, “e lascia pur grattar dov’è la rogna” is interpreted as “let other people mind their own problems and issues.” Today, the expression “rogna” is used to describe a big problem or bad thing.
“Quatto quatto”: “E ‘l duca mio a me: O tu che siedi tra li scheggion del ponte quatto quatto, sicuramente ormai a me ti riedi.” “And unto me my Guide: “O thou, who sittest Among the splinters of the bridge crouched down, Securely now return to me again.” From Canto XXI of Inferno, Dante is among those who exploited their prestigious role and jobs to illegally make more money and while they were being tortured, Virgilio suggests Dante hide himself to observe the scene without being noticed. Nowadays, this expression is used with the same meaning.
…You are now ready to go for a “passeggiata” and speak like Dante Alighieri! Don’t forget to practice these fascinating words and expressions with your Italian friends!
For information on how to improve your Italian or learn it from scratch, you may contact:
DANTE ALIGHIERI SOCIETY HONG KONG Room 702, 7/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong ladante.cc | dantealighieri@ladante.cc
