Jan 22 2009
Il gioco - The Game
While going on a long walk today, the thought came to mind of a friend I have made in Italy, PB and I thought about how he may have played as child. I try to understand his status updates in Facebook and use Google Translate to attempt to get a better understanding of PB’s comments. He is, of course, speaking to his friends in Italy in his native language although his English is very good.
His latest status actually was about playing 5 on 5 football (soccer in our country) and the fact that he had scored 3 goals and something must be going right because he doesn’t normally do that.The translator came back with a reference to triplets and scoring so I thought it might have something to do with a visit to the local club last night (lol)
This new translator from Google is far from perfect but it amazes me that it can help someone like me get a better understanding of people in other parts of the world. So far, I have used it in Italian, German, Spanish and Slovak. I have limited knowledge of Italian and Polish and sometimes I wonder if my English is that good because I use so many metaphors.
I thought it would be an interesting experiment to take the feel of the pick up road hockey game and attempt to get the feel of what it might have been like to be a boy growing up in Italy and starting a pick up football game. So the following is alternating English and Italian. I made minor adjustments to the translator’s approach like Johnny became Giovanni. I have a few Italian friends here in Canada that call me that and hope they will read this and give me some feedback.
I think just the sound of people speaking Italian is very beautiful. If you want to try the Italian, just remember to say it twice as fast, with increased volume and use your hands a lot.
The Game
Il gioco
Johnny one grabs his running shoes on and grabs the old worn out soccer ball and goes to the centre of town.
Giovanni uno afferra la sua scarpe da ginnastica e prende il vecchio usurati pallone da calcio e va al centro della città.Johnny one kicks the ball straight up in the air and bounces it off of his chest and then his shoe and again off his chest and then his head.
Giovanni uno butta la palla dritta in aria e rimbalza fuori del suo petto e le sue scarpe e poi di nuovo fuori il petto e poi la sua testa.He repeats this again and again until Johnny 2 shows up.
Egli ripete ancora e ancora fino a due spettacoli di Giovanni.What is you name?
Come ti chiami?Do you want to play net or forward?
Vuoi giocare al netto o avanti?And again when Johnny 3 arrives.
E ancora, quando Giovanni arriva tre.What is you name?
Come ti chiami?Do you want to play net or forward?
Vuoi giocare al netto o avanti?And when Johnny four arrives, it is a whole new ball game. You have teams now.
E quando arriva Giovanni quattro, è un nuovo gioco di palla. Hai squadre ora.Your teams are AC Milan and Juventus.
Il vostro team sono AC Milano e Juventus.You play as Diego Maradona and Pele.
Si gioca, come Diego Maradona e Pele.You could try this with a home made cricket bat (I joined into a pick up cricket game in the parking lot of my hotel in Barbados and I was instantly accepted by the rest of the players who were much younger than I was.)
I have to believe that children all over the world all play this way and it is always for the same reason—the love of the game.
If I started a war between Canada and Italy, I sincerely apologize.Ciao
