Face/Politeness in Italian



Greetings in Italian

PRACTICAL IDEAS AND RESOURCES

Resources in this section curated by: Illena Trebont

“Hello” in Italian: A Complete Guide to Formal and In | Blog Post

This article describes different greetings and goodbyes in Italian, and explains how the appropriate context in which to use them depends on the dialect of Italian that you are speaking. It also includes information on how to politely greet and say “goodbye” to elders and superiors by using the formal pronoun “lei.” The last part of the article provides information about various greetings and goodbyes that can be used in specific situations, such as phone greetings. 

The Art of Italian Greetings & Goodbyes | Article

This article provides learners with several pieces of advice related to greeting and leave-taking in Italian. The first piece of advice is to avoid overusing “ciao,” which is only appropriate to use with family members and friends. The second piece of advice is to opt for longer goodbyes and hellos, as shorter ones are considered impolite in Italian. Lastly, this article explains how to demonstrate respect through the use of the formal greetings “salve” and “arrivederci.”

How to Introduce Yourself in Italian | Blog Post

This article provides learners with information about how to introduce themselves and make friends in Italian. It includes phrases associated with formal and informal greetings, common gestures used during introductions, and polite ways to ask someone about their age or occupation. It also gives learners advice about how to introduce their friends in Italian, and explains what information can be shared during introductions in specific contexts, such as business meeting introductions. 

Politeness in Italian

PRACTICAL IDEAS AND RESOURCES

Resources in this section curated by: Illena Trebont

How to Use Tu and Lei in Italian | Article

This article provides a detailed explanation of how and when to use the Italian courtesy forms “tu” and “lei.” It includes examples of conversations between native speakers in which these pronouns are used, followed by explanations of why each speaker used the pronoun they did. The article also discusses how Italian speakers of different ages feel about the use of “lei,” and explains that “tu” is becoming more common in formal settings. 

Tu or Lei? The Messy Matter of Italian Courtesy Forms | Blog Post

This article discusses three Italian courtesy forms that mean “you” in English: tu, lei and voi. It explains how to determine which pronoun to use based on age differences and the amount of social distance between the speaker and the listener. It also describes the history of the pronoun “voi,” which is the older Italian courtesy form that was replaced by “lei” and is now only used in certain parts of South Italy.

Keep It Casual with Informal Italian: How and When to Use It | Blog Post

This article provides a definition of informal Italian and describes the contexts in which it is commonly used. It also explains how it differs from formal Italian in terms of its grammar by providing information about the informal imperative and informal/formal pronouns. This article advises learners to follow the lead of native speakers when it comes to deciding whether or not to use formal Italian, and to listen to authentic speech to learn when it is typically used. It also encourages learners to be mindful of the social impact of using informal speech.

Requests in Italian

PRACTICAL IDEAS AND RESOURCES

Resources in this section curated by: Illena Trebont

How to Say "Please" in Italian | YouTube Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=161U0xPQmYU

This video explains how to say “please” in different contexts while speaking Italian. It provides examples of how to say “please” when making a request, accepting an offer, and making a concession. It also includes examples of conversations in which the different forms meaning “please” are used, as well as information about which forms are more or less common. This video was created by a native Italian speaker, but all of the explanations are in English. 

Thanking in Italian

PRACTICAL IDEAS AND RESOURCS

Resources in this section curated by: Illena Trebont

All the Different Ways You Can Say Thank You in Italian | Blog Post

This article provides information about how to say “thank you” and respond to “thank you” in Italian. It gives learners several phrases that can be used to say “thank you” in formal contexts, and explains how to say that you are deeply grateful for something in Italian. This article also includes information about how to formulate the “thank you-for” construction in Italian, as well as information about how to use three phrases that mean “you’re welcome.” 



ACADEMIC RESOURCES ON POLITENESS IN ITALIAN

Resources in this section curated by: Illena Trebont

Fedriani. (2019). A pragmatic reversal: Italian per favore “please” and its variants between politeness and impoliteness. Journal of Pragmatics, 142, 233–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2018.09.008 

This study discusses how the pragmatic meanings of the Italian politeness markers “por favore,” “por piacere,” and “per cortesia” have changed over time. In this study, the researchers begin by providing a history of the use of these terms. They then use an online corpus of written Italian in order to analyze the contexts in which these politeness markers are used in contemporary Italian. Their findings suggest that Italian speakers have started to use these politeness markers in order to carry out impolite speech acts, such as rude requests and rebuttals. The researchers call this phenomenon “pragmatic reversal,” and explain that it is a common process that has been documented in several languages.