Buon Giorno! Today, we are taking an exciting glance at multiple facets of the influence of Italy throughout the world. Our lives are impacted to this day by events and circumstances rooted centuries ago in Italy. Our culture has, in part, been shaped by this country since well before the birth of Christ. Latin, the classical language, originated in Latinum, Italy, about 2,700 years ago. Latin not only influenced the Spanish, French, Romanian, and Portuguese languages but forms the basis of legal terminology worldwide. The legal system used in the United States today has its roots in ancient Rome.
In music, Italian words still provide the fundamental standard for conveying the composer’s original intent regarding how his music should be performed. In cooking, many Italian culinary words have specific meanings, and how could we even begin to have a conversation about pasta without using Italian words?
The first Italian to set foot in the Americas was Christopher Columbus. And Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant who traveled to Asia in the 13th century, left an indelible mark on history a full two hundred years before.
Welcome to Little Italy Sign in New York City
It would be difficult to find any city today that does not have an enclave of Italian descendants, recipients of generations of relatives before them who passed down family traditions, recipes, music, and culture. Almost every city has a “Little Italy” section where some of the finest food is served. Check out San Francisco’s Little Italy.
A gathering in Tuscany, Italy
Italian Food
Margherita pizza, a typical Neapolitan pizza
The culinary world is enriched with Italian cooking terms and words. Here are a few, along with their meaning.
aromi: refers collectively to herbs and other flavoring ingredients like garlic or ginger. crudo or a crudo: raw. al dente: Literally, ‘to the tooth’, a term used to describe the point at which pasta is properly cooked: firm to the bite but not chalky. al forno: Literally, ‘in the oven’, this refers to a dish that is (obviously) cooked in the oven. antipasto: Literally ‘before the meal’, the Italian word for appetizer or hors d’oeuvre. crema: The term for soups made of puréed vegetables. un filo d’olio: literally, a ‘thread of oil’. A term usually used to describe a thin stream of oil drizzled on top of a dish to finish it. fritto: fried, as in pollo fritto, or fried chicken. gnocchi: pronounced ‘nyaw-kee’, this is the Italian word for dumpling. alla griglia: the most common way to say ‘grilled’ or ‘barbecued’. minestra: The closest thing in Italian for a generic word for ‘soup’. pasta fresca: Freshly made pasta. primo piatto or primo: Refers to the first course of an everyday Italian meal, usually a pasta, risotto or soup. ragù: A long-simmering tomato-based sauce, typically made with meat, either in a single piece or minced.
spaghetti, orecchiette, conchiglie, rigatoni, fusilli, bow tie pasta, penne and tagliatelle, among others
There are many types of pasta. Luckily, they can be grouped into a handful of categories—short pasta, long pasta, sheet pasta, stuffed pasta, and dumpling pasta. Long pasta can be hand-rolled or made with an extruder, but many types of short pasta (not all) have to be made with an extruder to create their unique shapes. The shapes, sizes, and textures of pasta are all about how it is being served. Ridges, grooves, twists, and turns lend themselves to helping the sauce cling to the surface and providing that full-flavored bite you crave.
Cavatappi is a good example of this. This hollow, spiral-shaped noodle is also referred to as double elbow pasta. The multiple twist and turns provide lots of surface area to get coated with sauce and trap it inside, plus the extra length gives more chew. Perfect for Mac & Cheese.
Bucatini is a kicked up long spaghetti, with a hole in the center to embrace extra sauce. When cooked in soups, pasta dishes, and casseroles, it hoards the sauce. That’s the superpower of bucatini.
Meats
italian parma ham prosciutto sopressata and genoa salami
The most famous of the Italian cured meats are Prosciutto di Parma, Prosciutto Toscano, Mortadella, Pancetta, and Soppressata to name a few. Depending on the region of Italy, there are different flavors and modes of curing that depend on the geography of the region. Parma, for example, is known for its air quality which enhances the flavor of Prosciutto. And by the way – the very name of Prosciutto comes from the Latin root “to suck out the moisture” or “to dry thoroughly”! See how Italian Parma ham is made.
Cheese
Parmesan Reggiano Cheese
What Makes a Cheese Parmigiano-Reggiano?
The words Parmigiano-Reggiano stenciled on the rind mean that the cheese was produced in Italy in one of the following areas: Bologna, Reggio Emilia, Mantua, Modena, or Parma (from which the name of this cheese originated).
Under Italian law, only cheese produced in these provinces may be labeled “Parmigiano-Reggiano,” and European law classifies the name, as well as the translation “Parmesan,” as a protected designation of origin. Make sure you are buying the genuine product.
Other famous cheeses include Gorgonzola, Pecorino, Fontina, Provolone, and Asiago.
Sheet music: The Four Season by composer Antonio Vivaldi.
Amadeus Mozart – one of the greatest composers of all time – was born in Salzburg, Austria, but his early training was in Italy. It was here that he learned the specific words to describe how his compositions should be performed. Listen here to a stunning short piece that fully captures the essence of Mozart’s phrasing. Many musical terms are in Italian because, in Europe, the vast majority of the most important early composers from the Renaissance to the Baroque period were Italian. Here are a few terms you should become familiar with:
piano
The word piano in Italian literally means “soft.” When a little p, indicating piano appears on sheet music, that is an instruction to play softly.
allegro
In music, allegro [ uh–ley-groh ] means “brisk or rapid in tempo.” It can also refer to a movement, or “a principal division or section of a sonata, symphony, or the like,” that uses allegro tempo.
adagio
The notation adagio [ uh–dah-zhee-oh ] is another tempo notation, meaning “in a leisurely manner; slowly.” It comes from the Italian expression ad agio, which means “at ease.”
crescendo
Crescendo [ kri-shen-doh ] is one of the musical terms that has come to be used outside of notation. It means “a gradual, steady increase in loudness or force.” Crescendo comes from Italian meaning “growing.”
vibrato
One Italian music term whose meaning is relatively clear to English speakers is vibrato, “a pulsating effect.” Vibrato comes from the Italian for “vibrate,” which is precisely the desired effect.
alto
The different divisions in range are typically named in Italian. One of those is alto, a term for “the second highest instrument in a family of musical instruments, as the viola in the violin family.” The term is also used to describe voices in music, either the lowest female voice or the highest male voice. The word alto in Italian means “high,” a reference to it being higher than a tenor.
soprano
Another range name that comes from Italian is soprano, “the uppermost part or voice.” The word soprano is Italian for “above” or “high.”
pizzicato
One musical term that may make you think of a favorite Italian dish is pizzicato [ pit-si-kah-toh ], which means “played by plucking the strings with the finger instead of using the bow, as on a violin.” Pizzicato comes from the Italian verb pizzicare, “to pluck, pick, twang (a stringed instrument).”
staccato
You may have encountered the term staccato—much like crescendo—outside of the world of music, most often to describe someone’s pattern of speech. In music, staccato [ stuh–kah-toh ] indicates notes that are “shortened and detached when played or sung” or “characterized by performance in which the notes are abruptly disconnected.” Staccato in Italian means “disconnected,” from the Italian verb staccare.
Latin Terms in Law
Ex Parte: On Behalf Of
In general, ex parte refers to something that is one in the benefit of one party in a legal case. This is usually a decision that is made in favor of one party without waiting for an opinion from the other side.
Habeas Corpus: That You Have the Body
Habeas corpus usually refers to a ‘Writ of Habeas Corpus,’ which is used by courts to determine whether or not the detention of a prisoner is valid. When a court issues a writ of habeas corpus, the prisoner or detainee (in the case of a person admitted to a mental health facility) will be brought before the court and their case reviewed. Typically, writs of habeas corpus precede civil action against the entity holding the detained person, such as a state warden or attorney general.
Quasi: As If
The term is usually used as a prefix before any word to indicate that something resembles but is not actually like a certain thing. For example, an attorney may state that something is a quasi-contract, meaning that the item looks like a contract but is not an actual contract.
Pro Bono Publico: For the Public Good
Usually shortened to just ‘pro bono,’ this term refers to the work that legal professionals undertake as they provide their services for free to individuals who may be in need.
Mandamus: We Command
Mandamus, also known as a ‘Writ of Mandamus” is an order from a higher court to any public official, government agency, or lower court to complete a specific action.
Amicus Curiae: Friend of the Court
An amicus curiae refers to someone who is not a party in a particular legal case but who assists the court by offering their information, expertise, or other important insight that has relevancy for the case’s issues.
In Camera: In Private
The term ‘in camera’ literally means ‘in chambers,’ but it is commonly used to refer to something being reviewed entirely in private.
Per Curiam: By the Court
Decisions made per curiam are rulings made unanimously, with the written decision collectively authored by the court instead of by one or two individual judges.
In Re: In the Matter Of
A commonly used term in case names, this phrase generally refers to cases without two parties. It may refer to an estate or a legal case that only has one person concerned, such as an estate case.
The examples of Italian influence provided above barely scratch the surface. It is suggested that you click on the links provided to enhance your experience. Arrivederci.
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