Can you speak Itanglish?

July 6, 1:02 AMItalian Living ExaminerSerenella Leoni

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When you visit Italy, you are a pampered guest. Even if you don't speak the language, people will go out of their way to communicate with you. This is part of the Italian philosophy of hospitality.

Plus, contrary to some opinions, Italians love and are fascinated with all things American, from blue jeans to television shows to the most up-to-date American words. Or so they think.

Italians love to intersperse the American words and meanings into their Italian phrases. It makes them sound hip. This can make a lot of sense if you are talking high-tech and referring to computer functions. At other times, it can be quite humorous as one person talks about the latest gossip on a friend's "Flirt" (pronounced fleert and meaning a relationship). You may also hear about "Un feeling" as someone's crush on another person. "Fiction" (feection) means a television mini-series. Of course terms like 'week end,' privacy and wow (pronounced UWah-oooooooh) have long been part of the Italian vocabulary. This leads some Italians to think they speak English.

You have to love the fact that Italians attempt to communicate with visitors! In the larger cities and at hotels, you will find people who speak English (often the Queen's English) impeccably. But away from the metro aeas, you may run into signs like the ones pictured here.