When I first moved to Italy and was in the throes of learning the language, I made quite a few rookie mistakes (actually, I still make rookie mistakes, though--I like to think--with a certain amount of flair). One of which was in wishing those around me a 'Happy New Year.' Buon anno, as you can see, has an all-important double 'n' in the second word of the phrase. Italian is a lovely language, but one of slavish pronunciation--if you don't get it exactly right, you risk morphing the entire meaning.
To wit: you must absolutely and emphatically enunciate that double 'n' sound, or you are--in reality--saying 'Happy Anus' (single 'n' = ano = you-know-what). So that first capo d'anno in the Bel Paese I went around wishing pretty much everyone's nether orifices well.
But, you know, after ten years here, my early malapropism seems strangely prescient. With the recent austerity measures ('austerity' being a euphemism for 'screw'), many Italians feel they're being forced to, ahem, take it up the butt. Suddenly, wishing someone a happy anus doesn't seem like such a bad idea, after all. They'll need all the help they can get.
Well, let's not dwell on the negative--best to face these things with a champagne flute filled with good cheer, no? So let's raise our virtual glasses and have a toast:
My very best wishes for a Happy New Year (she said)
Though it's likely we'll be buggered in the months ahead
Counting my blessings,
Campobello
Bottoms Up!
ReplyDeleteChristine, you get the award: most succint, apropos comment of 2011!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping 2012 will not be a an(n)us horribilis for everyone in Italy!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful year ahead!
Dear Isabel,
ReplyDeleteLol!!!! Wishing you, too, a wonderful New Year filled with warmth and dance and exciting new experiences there in your adopted home of South India :)
Thanks, as always, for reading!
But to turn the tables on the Italians--my last name is often pronounced 'Trombo' by the natives. For those whose second language isn't Italian, Google the the verb trombare as I am a too much of a signora to give the definition here. Brava Campobello and the best for all of us here in 2012!
ReplyDeletePapaya
All the best to us indeed, papaya--thank you! I never would have guessed they'd savage your name like that, but of course, now that you mention it--I can see it happening. Only in Tuscany do they call a plumber--"idraulico" in the rest of Italy--a "trombaio," much to the amusement and derision of other Italians.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous, as always, E. Sorry you did't get into the fig mistake ... :) Or the I must leave mistake ... Happy New Year, and Happy Anus to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteAh, E: posting on your marvelous blog is a difficult thing. Buon Anno e good anus to you and yours! Can't wait to see what you come up with in 2012. xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, as always, P. :)
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