 |
Dec.26/04 - Jan.2, 2005 |
8 - Making sure the language survives
New generations express interest in the Italian culture snubbed by parents
By Antonio Maglio
Originally Published: 2003-03-09
 |
|
Domenico Pietropaolo
|
The middle generation had cut its links with Italy. That generation is now in its 40s or 50s, and it includes the children of the first Italians who immigrated to Canada in the Fifties or Sixties. They cut those links for several reasons: to feel fully Canadians, avoiding stereotypes and offensive names such as ginos or wops; to react to family habits such as working in the baccaiarda where tomatoes grow and the summer afternoons spent in preparing tomato paste; to flee the noisy Sunday parties among former townsfolk, or the huge portions of pasta.
Many still remember with annoyance the living room sofas covered in plastic, where nobody was allowed to sit as it would be "consumed". And the Sunday Mass, the processions, the First Communion with the unavoidable photo to send the relatives in Calabria or Sicily or Friuli. Their Canadian peers did not share and did not understand those customs, and therefore joked about them. They dropped Italy, beginning with its language.
Those links are slowly being rebuilt by their own children. Having grown up as Canadians among Canadians, they suddenly found out about their heritage. First they smiled, then they grew curious. They discovered that growing tomatoes in one's backyard and making tomato paste was not that bad an idea; that family reunions gave warmth and flavour to the stiff Anglo-Saxon relations; that the grandparents' untouchable sofa was not taboo, but the sign of a hard-earned well-being that deserved respect. Also, that pasta was really good, Ferrari and Lamborghini were beautiful, and Italian cinema, theatre and fashion were fascinating. When they went to Italy on vacation or as students, they realized the difference with the old tales, and found a dynamic, modern, brilliant country. And rediscovered its language.
Statistics Canada recorded a decrease of spoken Italian over the last five years, but it could not record the raising interest in it; however, the signs are clear. At St. Michael's College, for instance, the University of Toronto Italian Club has blossomed. Its 100 members of not long ago have grown to 400, and its officials are working to federate the other Italian Clubs formed in the major Canadian universities. "We know quite well," says President Nicholas Pappalardo, "the stereotypes still hovering over the Italian-Canadian community: we intend to do our part in eliminating them. The only way is through constant dialogue with our peers from other communities."
Page 1/...Page 2
|
| Home / Back to Top |
|
|
 |
|
|
</ td>
