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The Italian Language TodayBUY FROM AMAZON.COM
Price: $49.95
Usually ships in 24 hours Buy New: $49.95 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours EDITORIAL REVIEWItalian as a national spoken language is a new experience for Italians; until very recently it was normal for a majority of people to speak in a dialect and Italian was a literary language used only by a minority. The Italian Language Today concentrates on contemporary usage of the language and will enable the reader to understand and use appropriately a wide range of expressions, characterized where necessary according to their level of formality or their regional nature. This work not only describes contemporary Italian, but examines some aspects of its history which have often led people to wonder whether an "Italian" language really exists. The first section of the book provides an outline history of the language and a sketch of its dialects. The authors also describe the formation of the modern standard in its varieties--regional, social and occupational. Part Two is a reference grammar of contemporary educated Italian, presented according to the way it is actually used, rather than to traditional prescription. The illuminating combination of historical perspective and contemporary grammar makes this a unique contribution to Italian linguistics and an invaluable reference book for all students and scholars in the field of Italian. The second edition has been revised throughout to bring it completely up to date. PRODUCT DETAILSPublisher: RoutledgePub. Date: 1st April 1989 Catalog: Book Media: Paperback Number Of Pages: 264 Ean: 9780415078627 Isbn: 0415078628 ABOUT THIS BOOKUSER REVIEWS
This is indeed a comprehensive and authoritative work on Italian grammar; however, it is not for the casual learner. There are a lot of highly technical minutiae geared toward a reader with advanced education in language or linguistics. Be prepared to put in some serious concentration time to fully appreciate what is in here, otherwise, you may have to select and concentrate on only the parts you can handle. I do not think that this one is for beginners but it is well done.
I have lived in Italy for many years and consider myself to be fluent in Italian. I teach Italian and am familiar with most of the textbooks available on the subject. I also have a good knowledge of French and Spanish. I know of only two grammar books of these Romance languages which I would classify as actual works of art. M. M. Ramsey's "A Textbook of Modern Spanish" (copyright 1894) and the Lepschys' "The Italian Language Today." This compact reference grammar of 250-odd pages contains a wonderfully concise and thorough explanation of the Italian language. With this book and a good dictionary, an intelligent and dedicated English-speaking adult can acquire not only confident fluency in Italian, but also eloquence. It is the only Italian grammar you will ever need, whether you are an utter beginner or a professional linguist.
All advanced students of Italian who wish to know more about Italian as it is truly used by Italians today must read the Lepschy's outstanding work. I find it particularly refreshing that they do not prescribe the way Italian "should" be spoken- rather they present the language as it is used by the educated, colloquial speaker today. E.g. grammar books for English speakers still for the most part prescribe the cumbersome (and noisome) use of "Loro" for the polite second person form- something which is hopelessly outdated unless one wants to come across as a stuffed shirt. For the scholar and lay person alike it is a must for the personal library. SIMILAR ITEMS: |

The best Italian grammar for English speakers ever written.