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| The First Christimas Card |
Day 96 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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A fun fact I found states that over 2 billion Christmas cards are sent in the United States each year. According to several sources, the first Christmas card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and illustrated by John Callcott Horsley in London on 1 May 1843. The center of the card shows three generations of a family raising a toast. In 2001 it became the world’s most expensive Christmas card when it was sold for $35,800 at an auction.
Ascolta Questo:
- La prima cartolina di Natale fu commissionata da Sir Henry Cole in Inghilterra, nel 1843.
The first Christmas card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in England, in 1843.
- La cartolina di Natale fu disegnata da John Callcott Horsley.
The card was illustrated by John Callcott Horsley.
- Questa cartolina di Natale suscitò delle polemiche in Inghilterra perché raffigurava delle persone che tenevano in mano dei bicchieri di vino.
The card aroused controversy in England because it depicted people holding wine glasses in their hands.
- Nel 2001 questa cartolina di Natale è stata venduta all'asta per $35.800.
In 2001 this Christmas card was sold for $35,800 at auction.
[ Grazie a mikael-sixsix ]
Alla prossima!
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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.
Hello Ted
ReplyDeletehow are you? I hope all goes well.
Now some tips on the corrections of the sentences.
Con le date si usa la preposizione articolata "nel", formata unendo la preposizione semplice "in" + l’articolo determinativo "il".
Quindi si scrive, "nel 1843", "Nel 2001".
- La cartolina di Natale fu illustrata (disegnata) da John Callcott Horsley
Quando si descrivono fatti avvenuti e conclusi molto tempo fa si dovrebbe usare il passato remoto, anche se nel linguaggio comune molte persone usano il passato prossimo.
"controversial" in Italian is: controverso [controversa female] , discusso [discussa female], che suscita polemiche.
"holding" in questo caso si traduce con "tenere" o "reggere"
La frase è più fluida se scritta in questo modo:
- Questa cartolina di Natale suscitò delle polemiche in Inghilterra perché raffigurava delle persone che tenevano in mano dei bicchieri di vino.
- Nel 2001 questa cartolina di Natale è stata venduta all'asta per $35.800.
Cartolina è un sostantivo femminile quindi il verbo deve concordare con il genere (cartolina > è stata venduta)
Now in English:
With the dates we use the preposition articulated "nel", formed by joining the simple preposition "in" + the definite article "il".
So we write "nel 1843", "nel 2001".
- La cartolina di Natale fu illustrata (disegnata) da John Callcott Horsley
- The Christmas card was illustrated (drawn) by John Callcott Horsley
When you describe facts that have occurred and ended a long time ago, you should use the "passato remoto", even if in common language many people use the "passato prossimo".
"controversial" in Italian is: controverso [controversa female], discusso [discussa female], che suscita polemiche (which provokes controversy).
"holding" in this case translates as "tenere" or "reggere"
The sentence is more fluid if written this way:
- This Christmas card aroused controversy in England because it depicted people holding wine glasses in their hands.
- In 2001, this Christmas card was auctioned for $ 35,800.
Cartolina (Postcard) is a feminine noun so the verb must agree with the genre (cartolina > è stata venduta)
I hope my English is understandable and I also hope I have not bored you too much ^^'
Have a good day
Mik
Mik, it's good to hear from you. Thanks for the corrections and instruction. The insight you provide I could not find in books. Even in English there are some words that are commonly misused -- for example the word "people." The word "people" is often misused, in place of "persons." Since the misuse occurs so often, the correct use of "persons" (plural for person) sounds incorrect. Sometimes misused words become the custom. Please note that I find your comments absolutely instructional and interesting (not boring). Grazie mille. ~Ted
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