Magic box to be opened at Italian Cultural Institute

Professor of Italian Joseph Brincat will give a talk entitled L’italiano e le altre lingue on Tuesday at 6.30pm at the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta.

Prof. Brincat will answer the question: How far should we go to protect the Italian language?

The Polytechnic of Milan recently approved the use of English as the medium to teach science courses as from the coming academic year. Prof. Brincat will use this decision as an introduction to answer the question: How far should we go to protect the Italian language?

He will give the background to the decision before arguing whether it should be embraced as a reality or rejected on principle. It is hoped this will lead to an interesting and lively debate, after which wine will be served

This is the first event in a programme of activities entitled Magic Box or Scatola Magica that will start taking place at the institute on the second Tuesday of every month.

It is being promoted by the institute’s new director Salvatore Schermi and Italian lecturer Anna Porcheddu.

The aim of the programme is to re-engage the Maltese with Italian culture and its language, through a programme of interesting, informal presentations and interactive talks.

Each will be presented by a different guest speaker and expert in their field with topics varying from art and music to food and wine to artisan crafts.

Dr Porcheddu said the topics of future presentations will include Italian Opera (with arias), Baroque Architectural Influences in Malta, Rome and the Eastern Catholic Churches, and the History of Pizza and Pizza Today.

Further information about the programme of events will be announced on the institute’s website www.iicvalletta.esteri.it.