Reading knowledge of a language is a low standard to content oneself with. Furthermore, reading knowledge of a language is vastly improved if one is able to understand the same language when spoken. Where to begin? With audio recordings of the Bible, I suggest.
Perhaps you know passages of the Bible by heart, in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek; if not, in your mother tongue. If so, a great way to work on comprehension of spoken Italian is to listen to an audio recording of a biblical passage you know well. For example, go here for chapter-by-chapter audio recordings of La Nuova Diodati 1991. It pays to listen to the tapes with and without accompanying written text, which one can open up in another window on one’s browser, from this site. For an audio version of La Riveduta (Luzzi) (NT only), go here. For the text (1925 edition), with a cool concordance feature, go here. The revised edition of La Sacra Bibbia della CEI (2008) is available online, but not in an audio version.
One may also listen to an audio stream of a news flash while reading the equivalent in print on this site. Click on the image for access to the audio of the newsclip.
Two other sites I recommend to those who wish to keep their biblical and theological Italian alive in a non-Italian environment:
Sergio Rotasperti ed altri Bibbiablog
Richard Wilson has a delightful setup in which it is possible to compare the following translations of the Bible in Italian side-by-sidet: Diodati, La Nuova Diodati, Luzzi / Riveduta, Nuova Riveduta, C.E.I. / Gerusalemme (2008). Fabulous.
While a student in Rome “al Biblico [PIB]” and “alla Facolta Valdese,” I had the opportunity to hear a number of excellent scholars lecture in Italian. My comprehension of spoken Italian was weak at first, so much so that I almost threw myself into the Tiber River in despair. However, many students from around the world at both institutions were in the same situation. We struggled together. Later, I met a ravishing and loquacious Italian whom I eventually married. Romance is the best way I know of to learn a language quickly and well. The rule is simple: practice makes perfect.
A full set of links for learning and keeping up one’s Italian is available here.
Practice your languages series
Improve your Italian: a guide for grad students and scholars
Improve your German: a guide for grad students and scholars
Improve your French: a guide for grad students and scholars
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