The Italian Cultural Institute in New York recently hosted an engaging event to kick off Italian Language Week, celebrating the profound connection between the Italian language and culture and their role in promoting sustainability.
The Italian language mirrors Italian culture and embodies sustainability principles that go beyond environmental concerns: It emphasizes aesthetics and the deep connection between beauty and the natural world, highlights the relationship Italians maintain with their environment, fosters a strong sense of community and shares values that are instrumental in sustainable living.
A distinguished group of speakers provided insights on various facets of sustainability and its connection with the Italian language and culture.
Fabio Finotti, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, offered opening remarks to set the tone for the event. Fabrizio Di Michele, Consul General, highlighted the dynamic nature of language and the need for vigorous efforts to keep it vibrant. He extended warm greetings to the participants. Roberto Dolci, from the University for Foreigners of Perugia, discussed the pivotal role of the Italian language in promoting sustainability. Valerio de Cesaris, Rector of the University for Foreigners of Perugia, explored sustainability in international relations, emphasizing its significance. Antonella Valoroso, representing the Romeyne, Robert and Uguccione di Sorbello Foundation, delved into the protection of landscapes and historic centers as conveyed in Uguccione Ranieri di Sorbello’s writings from 1959-1968. Silvana Mangione, Vice-Secretary General of CGIE for the Anglophone Area, discussed the critical investment in Italian language education abroad. Anthony J. Tamburri, Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute at CUNY, discussed the inseparable interplay between language and culture in the context of sustainability.
Consul General Fabrizio Di Michele emphasized the collaborative efforts of Italian institutions in New York to promote the Italian language and discussed the broader humanistic concern of language preservation.
“Every language is dynamic – Di Michele said – and we must be equally dynamic to keep the language alive. On this side, one of the issues close to my heart is the involvement of the Italian-American community in supporting the Italian language”.
New York, as a global hub of culture and language, plays a pivotal role in advancing these goals, fostering an intercultural dialogue that encompasses sustainability and shared values. Italian Language Week serves as a reminder of the enduring bond between language, culture, and the environment.
In this context, the Italian Cultural Institute continues to make strides in preserving and celebrating the Italian language and culture, addressing contemporary issues such as sustainability and environmental consciousness, making it a platform for fostering awareness and appreciation of Italy’s cultural and linguistic contributions to a more sustainable world.
