hmmm... regarding the hijack thing, i think im the only one here to have an almost whole AAR posted in the thread opened by another member....

Quote Originally Posted by machinor View Post
Regarding the term "italiota"... I always thought it was kind of a fusion of "italiano" and "idiota" thus meaning "a person who is a stereotypical italian and an idiota".
could be, ive thought of that too, but i have my doubts, lets try to expand a bit the "Italiote" case, taking another similar case:

There are thise two words (i use the english equivalents here) Italiote and Italic

Italiote: greek speaking inhabitants of Magna Grecia
Italic: ancient Italian peoples (Oscan, Umbrians, Etruscans, Latin, Samnites, Volsci etc.)

those above are the scientific meanings, and they are written under an "1" on the dictionary.

Now both the words have in modern italian a second "popular" meaning (while they still retain the first scientifical meaning). It is written usually under a number "2" on the dictionary.
Both the second meaning for both words is a bit "downgraging" and related to stereotype, BUT, with a minimal difference. What is this difference?
I will explain it with an example on 2 identical sentences.

A) "here we see the typical Italic family (famiglia italica) in its car, that is going to sea-bath with all their saucepans full of foods wine etc."
B) "here we see the typical Italiota family (famiglia italiota) in its car, that is going to sea-bath with all their saucepans full of foods wine etc."

the 2 sentences are identical except for the use of the two different words "italic" and "italiote"
both the two sentences in italian, are trying to make some critics on the costumes of the tipical medium italian who use to take with him every thing, from the sausepans to the coffee machine and foods etc. even if he is going to the sea-beach. (this is a stereotypal image from some 60's 70's and movies like "The Easy Life" "I Mostri" etc.

Now both sentences "apparently" are downgrading the thing, but there is a difference.

In the sentence A, the use of the word Italico/italici (italic), is intend to give the scene, an appearence of "false glory", that's were the critic start. It is a joke on the fascist use of the word "italic" everywhere. So the real meaning is:

A) here the glorious italic family who is going to the sea-beach with all their glorious saucepans, coffee machines, wine etc... the humour here is the joke on a "rightist" stereotype.(if we want to use a political language)

in the sentence B, the use of the word Italiota/italioti (italiote), is intended to interpretate the scene in a more "simpathetic" view. If we want to use a political language, we would say that is a more "Leftist" view. The sense is:

B) here the good old italian family who is going to the sea-beach with all their poor saucepans, coffee machines, wine etc... they are good people, and theiy are exerciting their rights to have their good sea bath on the beach, despite they have still this use to take everything with them.

So if im using the sentence A, im joking on the stereotype of the old Italian Virtus (a sentence much used during the fascism)
If im using the sentence B, im joking (in a more leftist way) on a stereopthipe of the Echonomical Boom period, every one has the right to have its sea bath day on Sunday.

So that's to say, that when i say "italiota" im still downgrading it, but im being at the same time "simpatethic" with it.
So in my first example (that of the 2 italiotes connationals on the Kroatian sea-beach, im not saying they are 2 idiots, im just joking on their being simpletons, in a simpathetic way (some time with a slight point of envy, cause i have not the courage to stop random girls on the streets, and i would never wear a thong and sunglasses in my life, and i admit that it could be a simpleton, but they are having some fun in their own).

So in conclusion the first word "italic" is used to ironyze on the relics of a "glorious past" (fascist rethorics).
The second word "italiote" is used in a way more maternalistic and simpathetic. (using a political language, it is a more leftist way to joke at them)
But still the two word are used in a downgrading meaning.

Quote Originally Posted by machinor View Post
It would be quite funny to translate some more recent politician's name into different languages... take for example George Bush jr. or to think about Charles de Gaulle.
hmmm, that is too much invitating... here's a few of my proposals, lets take the example of Bush:

italian/ pseudo-spanish
bush==> something related with trees and grass, so:
Giorgio Silvano
Giorgio Erboso (the grassy)

bush==>something related with "hairy" "hairs"
Giorgio Peloso (the hairy)
Giorgio Pelo
Giorgio Pilu (pilo/pelo means the single hair, yes it is the same of "pilum/pila" of the legionaries)

bush==>something related with that "thing"
Giorgio Figa

bush==>something related with that "hairy thing"
Giorgio Figa Pelosa or Giorgio Topa Pelosa

pseudo-spanish:
Giorgio de la Vulva Pelosa