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UNIVERSITA’ DEGLI STUDI DI MODENA E REGGIO EMILIA

FACOLTA’ DI LETTERE E FILOSOFIA-CORSO DI LAUREA IN LINGUE PER

LA COMUNICAZIONE NELL’IMPRESA E NELLE ORGANIZZAZIONI

INTERNAZIONALI

Final tesina for the Intercultural communication course 2009/10:

Use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) in the international

communication: a case study on Spicchi di Sicilia, Talatta s.r.l. and

Casale di Villa Rainò websites.

Minelli Lisa Piampiano Antonella

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Preface

Our work comes from the study of English as a lingua franca (ELF)that today has become the main

vehicle for intercultural communication worldwide between a large number of multilingual

individuals, in fact as Crystal affirms “only one out of every four users of English in the world is a

native speaker of the language”. As a consequence most ELF interactions take place among ‘non-

native’ speakers of English not only in speeches and conversation but also in written texts such as

announcements, advertisements or websites. in particular, our analysis will focus on the use of ELF

in Italian websites aiming to the promotion of local culture and products.

In the first section we will be dealing with the main studies concerning ELF such as Kachru’s,

Quirk’s, Berns’ and Modiano’s theories; In the second section we talk about the use of ELF as a

medium of communication in a global market and its characteristics and usages; in the third

section we will analyze three commercial and touristic Sicilian websites using ELF an finally, in the

last chapter we will propose a re-writing of all the previously analyzed texts.

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Introduction

In the last decades, globalization and internationalization processes have extremely changed our

way of communication. In international communication English became the dominant language,

the language commonly used, in a nutshell: the “lingua franca”. ELF (English as a lingua franca) as it is

generally conceived of is essentially “a ‘contact language’ between persons who share neither a

common native tongue nor a common (national) culture, and for whom English is the chosen

foreign language of communication” (Firth, 1996: 240, original emphasis). It can, of course, also

include native speakers when they engage in intercultural communication (Gnutzmann, 2000: 357).

Like Firth, House defines ELF interactions as being “between numbers of two or more different

linguacultures in English, for none of whom English is the mother tongue” (1999).

The origins of the term "lingua franca" date back approximately to the fifteenth century when it

was adopted as the primary means of communication between merchants and sailors in the

South-East coast of the Mediterranean Sea who did not share the same mother tongue.

Considering the different origins between users from both a geographical and linguistic point of

view, the resulting language was a pidgin based on some Italian dialects including elements of

French, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Turkish, Greek and Persian, a sort of "patchwork”.

English obtained the status of the world's lingua franca through globalization. Over the centuries

English has become widespread and it is used worldwide mainly for some socio-economic reasons

but also for political and cultural causes strictly interlinked with the British Empire hegemony in

the past and the United States hegemony in the last century.

As Crystal quoted “the one main reason” for the global recognition of a single language in “the

political power of the people who speak it”.

Furthermore, other additional factors have contributed to the spread of English as a lingua franca:

travel, migration, mass media, popular culture, Internet but also the using of English in the

international scientific community.

The success of English as global language also depends on practical reasons such as a rich

vocabulary (the Oxford dictionary counts 615,000 words) and its borrowing and incorporating

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nature (only 50-60% of English vocabulary is proper English, the other words came from Germanic

and Scandinavian idioms), the simplified morphology (free of gender and simplified verb system)

and syntax that make the usage easier and more flexible for non-native speakers.

Barbara Seidlhofer pointed out that ELF is preferred not so much “because most lingua franca

definitions restrict it to communication among non-native users as such, but because it best

signals that it is these non-native users that provide the strongest momentum for the

development of the language in its global uses”. In fact it is NNSs rather than NSs who contributes

the most to the evolving and changing of ELF, the majority of linguistic innovations come from the

development of American English, Singapore English, Indian English and so on and so forth. The

NNSs monopoly is due to the international rather than the intranational use of ELF.

Another element that can be taken in support of this thesis is the similarity of the linguistic

evolution processes in ELF and in the other Englishes which will be discussed in the following

chapter.

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1. Englishes and some theoretical points on ELF

Do the British speak the same English as the Americans, the Nigerians, the Singaporeans, the

Australians, the Irish, or the Indians? Is there a global standard for all English speakers or not? Can

we claim that one version of English is more correct, formal, or proper than other forms? Are

native speakers of English really the best English example to emulate for those who are learning

English? These questions are among the most frequent in the debates on the status of English

where the contrast between two radically opposed views emerges: Kachru’s pluralistic model and

Quirk’s monolithic point of view. The first one promotes the multiplicity of several “new Englishes”

through which individuality or nationality can be expressed.

On the contrary, the second one expresses fear of an eventual fragmentation of English which

would inevitably obstruct the role of English as the ‘word language’.

The most influential model of the spread of English has

undoubtedly been that of Kachru (1992)

Kachru divides World Englishes into three concentric

circles, the Inner Circle, the Outer Circle and the

Expanding Circle.

The three circles ‘represent the types of spread, the

patterns of acquisition, and the functional allocation of

English in diverse cultural contexts’, as the language

travelled from Britain, in the first diasporas to the other

ENL countries (the Inner Circle), in the second diasporas to the ESL countries (the Outer Circle)

and, more recently, to the EFL countries (the Expanding Circle). The English spoken in the Inner

Circle, English as a native language, is ‘norm-providing’, that in the Outer Circle, English as a

second language, is ‘norm-developing’ and that in the Expanding Circle, English as a foreign

language, is ‘norm-dependent’. In other words, English-language standards are determined by

speakers of ENL, ESL speakers are not totally dependent of ENL because their varieties are

characterized by robustness, sistematicity and creativity, and they made English the language of

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the institutions and bureaucracy, EFL speakers are the largest group of the three and they are also

the users of ELF.

In opposition to Kachru’s model it is important to talk about the famous view of Quirk. Although

he acknowledged an obvious degree of variety within English spoken worldwide, he expressed

some concerns on the fact that English could diversify and fragment into many mutually

unintelligible local forms (the same fate which affected Latin), which, according to him, could not

have had the status of standard language. He focused on the presence of a uniform standard, a

form of English that is both understood and respected in every corner of the globe, the only one

that can be considered as an international language. The position of Quirk can somehow be

justified if we take into account the fact that at the time of his studies, very little had been done in

research and analysis on ELF.

As previously explained, opponents to the ELF legitimacy do not only come from the group of

native speakers, a prominent example is Kachru himself. When it was first proposed, Kachru’s

concentric circles paradigm proved to be extremely useful as it helped promote varieties of

English, but his model tends to generalize: within the same circles there are not homogeneities.

The idea that English is a second language for someone and a first language for someone else can

create problems and discriminations, giving the impression that English belongs to the NSs who

hold it as their mother tongue and who are considered the owners of the “right” variety.

In 1995 Margie Berns, with reference to the available

literature, discussed some of her own research on the

uses of English in the 12 EU member nations. Originally

she wanted to classify the EU as a single sociolinguistic

entity, but she found that each country must be

considered its own entity. She found that Kachru’s

widely-used model is not quite adequate in accounting

for the situation in unified Europe problem areas:

Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands.

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She proposed a revised analysis:

• Inner Circle: English functions as a native language;

• Expanding/Outer Circle: a combination of Kachru’s original Outer and Expanding Circles

which shows their interrelatedness;

• Expanding Circle: English used as a foreign language.

More recently, in 1999, Modiano

proposed “the centripetal circles of

international English model, re-

establishing the notion that the language

is the property of specific groups and that

correct use is determined by experts who

speak a prestige variety”.

The centre is made up of those who are proficient in international English. That is, these speakers

function well in cross-cultural communication where English is the lingua franca. They are just as

likely to be non-native as native speakers of English.

The next band consists of those who have proficiency in English as either a first or second

language rather than as an international language. In other words, their communication is efficient

with, respectively, other native speakers (with whom they share English as an L1) or other non-

native speakers from the same L1 background as themselves.

The third circle is made up of learners of English, i.e. those who are not yet proficient in English.

Outside this circle is a final band to represent those people who do not know English at all.

Modiano was strongly criticized for this model, mostly by native speakers.

In reaction to the criticisms to his first model

Modiano proposed a new system in which English

as an international language (EIL) is illustrated by

those features of English which are common to all

native and non-native varieties. At the centre is EIL,

a core of features which are comprehensible to the

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majority of native and competent non-native speakers of English. The outer area consists of five

groups (American English, British English, other major varieties, local varieties, foreign varieties)

each with features peculiar to their own speech community and which are unlikely to be

understood by most members of the other four groups. But even in this model the scholars’

community underlined two main problems: the vague definition of the core and non-core varieties

and the assumption that native speakers were made equal to the ‘competent’ non-native

speakers.

For example, according to Barbara Seidlhofer, the use of International English “is misleading […] it

suggests that there is one clearly distinguishable, codified and unitary variety called International

English, which is certainly not the case”.

To conclude our theoretical approach we can say that ELF is the term that best fits a "new kind of

English" (different from EFL and ESL) used above all for communication purposes in interactions

among non-native speakers.

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2. ELF as a medium to reach the global market in internet websites

Given the growth of the global market, the effective international communication has become

imperative for companies. One of the most powerful tools at their disposal is undoubtedly the

World Wide Web which can be considered a means to “think locally and act globally” as Geert

Hofstede said. To put together local and global, English is the strategic medium not only for native

speakers companies and countries but also for non-native speakers ones who, as we said before,

use ELF in business and commercial communication to reach a global market.

The localization process is most generally related to cultural adaptation. Companies operate in a

number of countries, adjusting products and practices for each. Their main goal is to be present in

the markets of other nations with targeted products. While globalization aims is to sell the same

things in the same way everywhere in the world without paying any particular attention to the

local culture and demands (e.g. chain stores like Mc Donald’s).

The companies most interested in thinking locally and acting globally are those producing culture

specific goods such as drink or food that have to avoid neutralization and standardization in order

to convey the specific and unique cultural features of their products. The previously mentioned

local products are characterized by their particular capacity to transmit emotions and different

sensorial experiences, deep-rooted in specific periods and places. Furthermore they are often

conjugated to a high collective image of the territory and they are of great appeal in local terms;

actually, the product qualification and selling mechanisms can be activated thanks to the renown

of the product itself. In this case the consumer is primarily the tourist who visits or has visited the

territory and appreciates the cultural importance of the territory; this is a primary reason why the

product can be exported.

Since the territorial system plays a fundamental role in defining the prestige of the local products,

companies’ websites tend to focus on the typical and unique socio-cultural context.

The interconnection between the local culture and a company’s identity is the benchmark on

which management builds its strategy, structure and communication. Culture mirrors the

philosophy of past, present and future leadership styles and commitments to its core values.

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The corporate identity is the presentation of an organization to every stakeholder. It incorporates

the organization’s design, culture, behavior, structure and strategy.

Balmer and Soenen have illustrated all these components in

“the new identity mix” scheme which underlines the relation

between culture and all the other elements.

The corporate identity is promoted in all the companies’

websites (big, small and medium-size companies). The

corporate communication aims at strengthening its target audiences knowledge of the company’s

activities to gain competitive success, promote ethical codes, stress social responsibility and allow

stakeholders to play more active roles in corporate governance.

In order to spread their corporate identity and promote their culture and products non-native

speaker companies have to provide an English version of their websites to reach the greatest

number of potential customers.

Before starting the actual analysis of selected texts we would like to introduce another theoretical

concept concerning the practice of translation introduced by Lawrence Venuti: foreignization and

domestication. They provide both linguistic and cultural advice. According to Venuti, foreignization

refers to an ethnocentric reduction of the foreign text to target-language cultural values, while

domestication is an ethnodeviant pressure on those cultural values to register the linguistic and

cultural difference of the foreign text, sending the reader abroad. Generally speaking,

domestication designates the type of translation in which a transparent, fluent style is adopted to

minimize the strangeness of the foreign text for target language readers, while foreignization

means a target text is produced which deliberately breaks target conventions by retaining

something of the foreignness of the original. Venuti supports the foregnizing strategy: resisting,

and estranging translation against domestication in order to raise “an opposition to the global

hegemony of English”.

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After careful analysis of several sites of small and medium-sized Italian companies, we realized

that the English version is often a mere translation of the site’s Italian version. This kind of

translation causes a sense of uneasiness both linguistic and cultural under various aspects:

• The incorrect distribution of information in the text due to the adoption of an Italian

structure which goes against the theme-rheme rule of English;

• The presence of too long sentences which are sometimes divided in two, following the

Italian structure of inciso, cause a loss of coherence;

• Use of inappropriate or out-of-place words especially culturally bound terms which are

difficult or challenging to translate.

While the cited inaccuracies may compromise the text comprehension, there are is some

regularity in the use of ELF that does not hinder a successful communication; According to Barbara

Seidlhofer these typical traits or deviations include:

• Dropping the third person present tense –s;

• Confusing the relative pronouns who and which;

• Omitting definite and indefinite articles where they are obligatory in ENL and inserting

them when they do not occur;

• Inserting redundant prepositions;

• Overusing of certain verbs with high semantic generality (do, have, make…);

• Replacing infinitive constructions with that clauses (I want that…);

• Overdoing explicitness;

• Plural subjects + singular verb forms.

The ELF employed in companies’ websites is clearly subjected to many influences, above all the

writer’s native culture and language. Nonetheless, companies make efforts to adapt the language

in order to convey their specific identity to multiple audiences.

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3. Analysis of Italian websites

Looking for a practical comparison of ELF theories, we decided to analyze a sample of Italian

websites’ English versions, both commercial and touristic. To better emphasize the importance

that culture plays in the export of typical products related to national and local identity, we

focused our attention on some Sicilian websites. Firstly, we examined the site “Spicchi di Sicilia”

(Wedges of Sicily), a citrus producing farm interested in the export of both raw materials and its

by-products (including retail). Secondly, we analyzed the site of another Sicilian company engaged

in selling and exporting ichthyic local products, such as anchovies and sardines, whose translation

appears to have been edited by the fishermen themselves and not by professional translators to

whom big firms generally turn to. Finally, to bring an example of translation for tourism, we chose

the site of farm holidays located in the small village of Gangi in the province of Palermo.

Considering that in the last decades, the visual and oral modes have received particular attention,

the first step in the analysis of websites has been the evaluation of their intrinsic multimodality;

According to Kress and Van Leeuwen multimodality is the use of a wide range of semiotic modes

(verbal, visual, and oral) and the way in which they are combined in a single communicative

process. This is considered a particularly important ongoing project to construct meanings and to

convey a complex image of the company in websites.

The result of all the components of a website (generally images or animations, sound and written

texts) is not simply the sum of the meaning of each one, because every part has to be interpreted

thanks to the presence of the others.

In the citrus producer’s site, multimodality can be immediately noticed in the home page, where

you are hit by the massive presence of orange (repeated throughout the website) that refers both

to the color of many citrus fruits and to the sun of Sicily tanks to which they ripen.

In fact, colors are not simply ornamental in websites, but are used as visual devices in order to

perform various communicative functions, such as cohesion.

The company’s mark (logo) is both textually and graphically reproduced.

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In the same page, next to the text, we find the image of an orange wearing a

typical Sicilian hat (coppola) and with a mustache. As expressed in Pierce’s

categorization of signs, this type of image also plays the function of an icon

because it is used symbolically to identify the origin and highlight the quality of

the product. This image is even maintained in the English version of the site as it refers to a

stereotype or a trademark universally recognized.

In the section dedicated to the farms there are some realistic pictures of land where citrus fruits

are grown as well as photos of the citrus trees. In each of the sub-sections devoted to the farms,

the images emphasizes faithfully and graphically what is described in the text.

The same choice was made by the owners/creators of the site of Villa Rainò: the text for each section is

enriched by pictures which show the inside and the outside of the farm which is surrounded by nature.

Villa Rainò’s owners have also chosen a family/friendly approach by including in the "Who We

Are" section some photos that feature them to establish a direct connection with its potential

customers.

In regards to the TALATTA’s website, there is an underlining

presence of the color blue in combination with red that emphasizes

their corporate logo.

Another strategy adopted by TALATTA’s website is the repetition of a slogan found in various

pages in order to emphasize the message that: “Mediterranean diet is good for your Heart. ”.

In addition to this the ichthyic company’s website is the only one that includes an animation which

shows the entire production process from the fish cleaning to the fish canning.

Another important property of computer-mediated discourse is granularity: the text is broken up

into basic units or grains which often correspond to the amount of text that can be displayed on

screen. This sort of structure presents a “meaning-by-degree” system (Lemke:2006).

Proceeding step by step, we analyzed each grain of the websites’ text starting from the home

page. We will now begin with the analysis of Spicchi di Sicilia web site.

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Home page

We are young and willing farmers who have recently decided to come in direct contact with you,

consumers(INAPPROPRIATE), to disclose (DEVIATION)to you the gates of our farms and to shorten the

supply chain, in order to be able to offer citrus fruits of high quality (WORD POSITION) at a price convenient

for both. The lands on which we grow citrus trees are particularly favourable and we, with the experience

inherited and following the scientific knowledge acquired with studies, (TOO LONG PARENTHETIC CLAUSE)

grow the varieties most suited (WORD ORDER) to each farm with that care that (OVERUSE OF “THAT”)

comes from passion. Our products grow and ripen in harmony with the environment, because nature is our

fellow (INAPPROPRIATE) and needs to be protected now, before it is too late. Our employees, with their

special care for the plants, make of our citrus fruits some real artworks(DEVIATION). We believe in

transparency so much that we invite you in Sicily to find out how we grow our oranges, because we have

nothing to hide but everything to tell (INAPPROPRIATE). To disclose the gates (DEVIATION) of our lands

means, therefore, to hope you would like to discover the treasures we are offering(ITALIAN SYNTACTIC

STRUCTURE).

About us section

We believe(REPEATED ANAPHORA) it is important to choose the most suitable lands for different

productions(INAPPROPRIATE), in order to have the best products without forcing plants

(INAPPROPRIATE).

We believe that the culture inherited (WORD ORDER) from the previous generations(OVERDOING

EXPLICTNESS) is a fundamental value also in agriculture.

We believe in the respect of the same rules that safeguard both the consumer and the

producer.(REPLACING –ING CONTRUNCTIONS WITH “THAT” CLAUSE)

We believe in that choices that (OVERUSE OF “THAT” IMITATING ITALIAN STRUCTURE ) allow (OMITTING

PRONOUN) not only to maintain the environment as it was given to us but, where possible, to

collaborate to improve it.( ITALIAN SYNTACTIC STRUCTURE)

We believe in science and progress, applied with knowledge, respect and clear rules.

We believe it is high time to (WRONG USE OF A FIXED ENGLISH STRUCTURE) cut the long supply chain,

which makes high-quality citrus fruits too expensive for consumers and the incomes too low for

producers.

We believe in transparency, as we think it is fundamental for consumers and because we have nothing to

hide and everything to tell.(INAPPROPRIATE)

We believe in respect (OMITTING DEFINITE ARTICLE) for people who work in our farms, as they represent

that added value which makes our citrus some real artworks.

We believe in the absolute respect for the consumer, because they give a reason (GRAMMAR INACCURACY)

to our efforts.(ITALIAN STRUCTURE)

We believe it is high time to raise heads (WRONG USE OF A FIXED ENGLISH STRUCTURE) against unfair

competition, which does not respect any of the values on which our job is founded. (INAPPROPRIATE)

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The anaphoric repetition of “We believe” aims at establishing credibility and trustworthiness,

trying to convince the audience by taking the responsibility for what they are saying (evaluative

language).

Our Farms section

Castiglione di Sicilia

Along the valleys at the (INSERTION OF PREPOSITION + ARTICLE WHERE THEY DO NOT OCCUR IN ENL) north

of Etna which run to the sea (INAPPROPRIATE), the Alcantara river flows jumping into bright rocks and deep

gorges, bringing (INAPPROPRIATE) nourishment to plants and animals which are (INSERTING UNNECESSARY

PRONOUN) , nowadays, protected by the Parco Fluviale. It is there that (UNNECESSARY STRUCTURE) we

grow our organic citrus fruits certified Ecocert,(OMITTING PREPOSITION) with the same love which

(OVERUSE OF “WHICH”) the ancient river gives (INAPPOPRIATE USE OF A HIGH SEMANTIC GENERALITY

VERB) to its creatures. Our farm consists of an orchard of Tarocco “comune”, which was established in

ancient times close to the Gole dell’Alcantara; it is watered with the same water that flows into the

river,(INCORRECT DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION) the freshness that comes through the rocks and the

special exposition (INAPPROPRIATE) allow our oranges to ripen with the long times of nature (OVERDOING

EXPLICITNESS), and to gain, just between the old and the new year, unique (OMITTING INDEFINTE

ARTICLE)aroma and taste.

Giarre

The ancient Greek sailors who passed by the east coast of Sicily, were terrified at the sight of the giant

Polifemo who, with his eye dripping blood red as fire,(INAPPRIOPRIATE VERB + POMPOUS LANGUAGE)

threatened whoever dared to step on his land. That same giant that we call “Mongibello”, the Etna volcano,

has created in thousand years (GRAMMAR MISTAKE) a stripe (SPELLING MISTAKE) of volcanic soil between

itself and the sea. It is just on this soil that we lead our farm where, together with cherries, we grow

beautiful citrus fruits which are refreshed by the air that comes up from the sea in the morning, the

“grecalata”, and by that coming from the volcano in the afternoon, the “ricalata”. With all our pride of old

citrus growers, we present the variety of products chosen for this farm: clementine apirene “spinoso”, taclè

from east Sicily, the late mandarins of Ciaculli from west Sicily.

Motta sant’Anastasia

South of the volcano, in the Piana di Catania, there exists an area characterized by pedoclimatic conditions

which are unique on earth.(INCORRECT DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION) Here, during the neverending

(INAPPROPRIATE) sicilian summer, the day brings a dry climate and unimaginable temperatures, while at

night the air becomes fresh in a inconsueta way for our latitudes. The snow that in winter covers the south

side VERSANTE of our volcano, melts in spring filtering between the volcanic rocks and reaching the planes

(SPELLING MISTAKE)south of Catania, were it waters (INAPPROPRIATE) our luxuriant orange orchards.

Thanks to the special composition of the soil in this area, to the temperature excursions (DEVIATION) and to

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the presence of the volcano, the red oranges gain a pigmentation of the pulp (OVERDOING EXPLICITNESS)

and a sugar degree (DEVIATION) that make them famous worldwide. It is in these lands (IMITATING

ITALIAN STRUCTURE) that we produce our Tarocco “nucellare” oranges, with all the heart and passion of our

Sicilian spirit.

All the words highlighted in yellow are clear examples of Venuti’s domestication strategy. The

translator’s decided not to translate these words in order to give the reader a better idea of Sicily’s

particular cultural context.

Our analysis continues with TALATTA’s website:

Company section

Talatta has been active (INAPPROPRIATE) in the quality fish preservation industry(DISTRIBUTION

OF INFORMATION) for half a century, particulary that of Anchovies and Sardins, both salted and in

oil.

The Company follows all the stages of productio from the purchase of the eatch (TAPING MISTAKE?)

to the marketing(INAPPROPRIATE) - now on a world scale(DEVIATION) - of is (TAPING MISTAKE?)

products.

The care and attention with which the lengthy(INAPPROPRIATE) processing phases are carried out,

plus the high quality of the fish itself, give the final product unique qualities of fragrance and

taste.(INCORRECT DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION)

In recent years, in order to satisfy new customer demands(WORD ORDER), but still using

(INAPPROPRIATE) the (INSERING ARTICLE WHERE IT DOESN’T OCCUR) traditional methods, the

Company has tried out new eclectic (INAPPROPRIATE) flavors (SPELLING MISTAKE) for the

preservation of Anchovy Fillets in Olive oil, paprika, parsley, and summer truffles in Worcester

sauce, as well as aromatic vinegar, Provençal herbs, capers, rosemary, oranges and other

specialities known and appreciatef by connoisseurs of the sea.

It could hardly be otherwise, for (INCORRECT) TALATTA is the Ancient word for SEA.

Mediterranean diet is good for your Heart.

Production section

Anchovies under salt (DEVIATION): the product consists of (DEVIATION) anchovies fished in the

Mediterraneo sea. The fish arriver(TAPING MISTAKE?) witthiu (SPELLING MISTAKE) 24 hours after

haring (GRAMMAR/SPELLING ERROR) caught. The anchovies are immediately selected, decapitated

by hand, whashed (TAPING MISTAKE) in pickled (INCORRECT) water. Ther arether put in appropriate

(TAPING/GRAMMAR MISTAKE) containers made from tipplate (SPELLING/GRAMMAR MISTAKE) and

set to salt down (LITERAL TRANSLATION?) this phase differs for various reasons (SYNTACTIC

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STRUCTURE): fishing zone, season, temperature, fish dimension, final use of (OMITTING ARTCLE)

product. At the begning (TAPING MISTAKE) the tin plate conteiners (SPELLING MISTAKE), several

positions according to (LITERAL TRANSLATION) the conservation tower " Torre di Maturazione "

during this plase (TAPING MISTAKE) the towers are watered everyday with saturate (WRONG

ADJECTIVE/NOUN OMITTED) of NaCl. Once ready (a person in charge decides wher) (WRONG

TRANSLATION/SPELLING MISTAKE) the containers are closed and staked (WRONG TRANSLATION) in

the warehouse.

Casale Villa Rainò home page

...... to travel it is to feel every breath of wind to tell centuries to us of history whispers to you

between the trees… (POMPOUS AND INCORRECT TRANSALTION)

Who we are section

One autumn afternoon, Aldo and Nina Conte fell in love with this old farmhouse situated in the

Rainò valley and decided to bring back life the rooms (WORD ORDER), the walls, but above all the

warm family atmosphere af Villa Rainò which once belonged to the Li Destri family and Aldo and

Nina decided to share this ancient dream with travellers... (TOO LONG SENTENCE)

The rooms section

The villahas maintained its original structure and each room has a ladies name (GRAMMAR

ERROR). Elisabetta has a beautiful view of the valley, Diletta is the most romantic, Ursula….well you

just cannot describe her(ORAL FORM), but afterall you have to live ther (TAPIMG

ERROR:THERE/HER?) to decide which (MISSING WORD) you prefer. All the rooms have “en suite”

and central heating. The real (DEVIATION) bonus though, reserved (DEVIATION) only to (WRONG

PREPOSITION) a few spring mornings, is the natural early morning wake-up call made by the

woodpeckers.

The restaurant section

Our restaurant offers traditional Sicilian dishes, typical menus include a variety of hors d’ oeuvres

like “caponata”, fresh vegetables cooked in a number of ways, and ricotta cheese, all local products

of the land. (ITALIAN STRUCTURE) First courses are enriched with natural spices. Filled aubergine

rolls, risotto with pumpkin sauce, pasta with ricotta cheese are just a few of the variety of recipes.

(ITALIAN STRUCTURE) Meat dominates(INAPPROPRIATE) our main courses, why not taste our

“stigliole”, “mutton” and “sausages”. (INACCURATE INTERROGATIVE FORM). Accompanied

(DEVIATION) with home made (INCORRECT FORM) local wine that tastefully complete your meal.

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The swimming pool section

Villa Rainò is situated on (INCORRECT PREPOSITION) a beautiful Valley, dominated by Mount

Marone. The countryside, (INACCURATE PUNCTUATION DIVIDING SUBJECT AND VERB) is a

flourishing abundance of vegetation which culminates in a forest of oak (PLURAL FORM MISSING)

and fir trees, giving the valley beauty, colour and tranquillity (INCORRECT USE OF THE VERB). In

spring and summer time you can enjoy all this (ITALIAN STRUCTURE) while sunbathing by the pool

which (INCORRECT USE OF WHICH INSTEAD OF AN –ING FORM) reflects the spectacular

surroundings. Just a few metres along, (INCORRECT PREPOSITION) you can admire “la rotonda” of

the age-old trees and by shutting (INCORRECT FOR THE CHOSEN REGISTER) your eyes for just a few

seconds you can feel you are part of a period which has no present or future, just a continuity

between one era and another, very different but united under the same sky and surrounded by the

same nature….. (DEVIATION/ITALIAN POMPOUS STRUCTURE)

History and legend section

For many years the villa was (WRONG VERB TENSE) the residence of the Li Destri family who

originaly (TAPING MISTAKE?) came from Spain, and had a prominent rote (TAPING MISTAKE?) in

Sicily in that period (ITALIAN PHRASAL STRUCTURE). It was an old letter addressed to Antonio Li

Destri, came of Villa Rainò that gove (TAPING MISTAKE) the present structure its name (ITALIAN

STRUCTURE). Many legends are told about the villa and its inhabitants (ITALIAN STRUCTURE). There

are stories of brigands that hid outside the main town and used tunnels under the villa that

(OVERUSE OF “THAT CLAUSES” INSTEAD OF –ING FORMS) took them to safer places. There are

stories of great festivities (INACCURATE) organized in honour of renowned guests; like the reception

in honour of the Zar (ITALIAN FORM) visiting the Baron, or the lunch with Mussolini in the shade of

“the Rotonda”. There are stories of balls and conspiracies…. We don’t know just how much is true

and how much is just fruit (DEVIATION) of collective imagination, for certain entire generations, day

after day have designed the present form that has established the true identity and authenticity of

the Villa. (LITERAL TRANSLATION)

Where we are section

Villa Rainò is just 4km from Gangi, that was original (INCORRECT) founded by the Cretans. Its

distant origins today permit us to boast of special treasures, like churches, a sign of distant religious

traditions (ITALIAN STRUCTURE). The museum that has collected traces of an ancient city. The

works of many local artists like the famous “zoppo di Gangi” and the latest picture gallery that

possesses numerous works of the Sicilian painter Gianbecchina. (INACCURATE PUNCTUATION IN

TRANSLATION) Gangi is also proud of its variety of charming countryside. From a distance Gangi

looks more like a Christmas crib nestling around(WRONG PREPOSITION) the summit of Monte

Marone; from the peak of Gangi you can admire vast green countrysides (GRAMMAR ERROR) and

19

when the sky is clear the blue Tyrrhenian Sea and the silhouette(ITALIAN STRUCTURE) to

(UNNECESSARY PREPOSITION) of the Eolian Islands. Rich in history but also in traditions,(ITALIAN

STRUCTURE WITHOUT THE SUBJECT, important festivities, like:(UNECESSARY PUNCTUATION) the

Corn festival, Palm Sunday and the festivity of the Holy Spirit. On the outskirts of Gangi there are

many more interesting places to visit like, Petralia, Sperlinga, Polizzi Generosa and Geraci Siculo.

Thanks to its position it is also ideal for lond (TAPING MISTAKE) walks through the vast Madonie

Park.

How to find us:

☺Travelling from Palermo, after driving 100km along the Palermo-Catania motor-way turn off at

Tremmonzelli and Gangi is just another 38km away.

☺Travelling from Catania along the Catania-Palermo motor-way, turn off at Mulinello.

All the words highlighted in fuchsia are a clear example of Venuti’s foreignization strategy.

20

4. Re-elaboration of Italian websites

Bearing in mind the above theories and the errors we have analyzed, we will now try to propose a

better approach to rewriting of all sections of each website.

Spicchi di Sicilia

Home page

We are a group of young farmers

willing to come in direct contact with

our customers in order to shorten the

supply chain.

Our main mission is to offer high-

quality citrus fruits at a fair price

convenient both for you and for us.

Thanks to the fertile and fruitful lands

and our scientific knowledge,

experience and passion, our products

grow and ripen in harmony with the

environment which is aligned with our

attention to sustainability.

Our experts take care of the citrus

fruits turning them into some real

masterpieces.

Waiting for you to come and visit us

and our farms, to see our treasures

with your own eyes, discover our

values and products in the website!

Siamo dei produttori giovani e volenterosi e, da

qualche tempo, abbiamo pensato di metterci in

contatto diretto con voi consumatori per aprirvi

le porte delle nostre aziende e tagliare la

filiera, in modo da offrirvi agrumi di qualità ad

un prezzo conveniente per entrambi. Le terre

su cui produciamo gli agrumi sono

particolarmente vocate e noi, ricchi

dell’esperienza tramandataci e della scienza

appresa con gli studi, coltiviamo le varietà più

adatte ad ogni azienda con quell’amore che solo

un appassionato può avere. I nostri prodotti

crescono e maturano senza pesare

sull’ambiente, perché la natura è la nostra

compagna di strada e va protetta oggi, prima

che sia troppo tardi. Gli uomini che lavorano da

noi, curano le piante con quell’attenzione che

rende i nostri agrumi delle vere opere d’arte.

Crediamo nel valore della trasparenza tanto da

invitarvi in Sicilia a vedere come produciamo le

nostre arance, perché noi non abbiamo nulla da

nascondere e tutto da raccontare. Aprirvi le

porte delle nostre terre significa infine avere

la speranza che vogliate scoprire i tesori che

oggi vi offriamo.

21

About us

We believe in the importance of choosing

the most suitable lands for each

plantation in order to obtain the best

organic fruits.

We believe that our inherited age-old

culture is a fundamental value for our

mission.

We believe in the value of transparency

for the sake of both the customer and the

producer.

We believe in the choices allowing us to

safeguard and improve the environment

even for the future generations.

We believe in science and progress ,

applied with knowledge, respect and

clear rules.

We believe it is high time we cut the long

supply chain which is detrimental to

both consumers and producers.

We believe that people who work in our

farms are the real added value of our

company.

We believe in respect for our customers

since they are the reason behind our

efforts.

Last but not least, we believe it is high

time we raised up against unfair

competition which conflicts with the

valuable objectives of our work.

Crediamo che sia importante scegliere le

terre adatte alle produzioni, al fine di

avere i migliori prodotti senza

forzature.

Crediamo che la cultura tramandataci dalle

generazioni precedenti sia un valore

fondamentale anche in agricoltura.

Crediamo nel rispetto di quelle stesse

regole che proteggono il consumatore e

il produttore.

Crediamo in quelle scelte che ci

permettono non solo di conservare

l’ambiente come ci è stato lasciato ma,

ove possibile, di collaborare a

migliorarlo.

Crediamo nella scienza e nel progresso

applicati con cognizione, rispetto

e regole chiare.

Crediamo che sia ora di tagliare quella

lunghissima filiera, che rende cari gli

agrumi di qualità per i consumatori e

miseri gli incassi per i produttori.

Crediamo nella trasparenza, perché

riteniamo sia fondamentale per i

consumatori e perché non abbiamo nulla

da nascondere e tutto da raccontare.

Crediamo nel rispetto per le persone che

lavorano nelle nostre aziende, perché

sono quel valore aggiunto che rende i

nostri agrumi delle opere d’arte.

Crediamo nel rispetto assoluto per il

consumatore, perché senza di lui il

nostro impegno non avrebbe senso.

Crediamo sia ora di ribellarci a quella

concorrenza sleale, che non ha rispetto

per nessuno dei valori su cui si fonda il

nostro modo di fare.

22

Farms

Castiglione di Sicilia

Along the valleys north of Etna the

Alcantara river flows down to the sea

jumping into bright rocks and deep gorges,

providing nourishment to plants and

animals nowadays protected by the Parco

Fluviale. There, with the same love given by

the river, we grow our organic citrus fruits ,

certified by Ecocert.

Our farm is composed by an ancient

orchard of Tarocco “comune” located close

to the “Gole dell’Ancantara “; the river

itself irrigates the orchard and the

freshness coming from the rocks and the

peculiar exposure to the sunlight, allow our

oranges to ripen naturally. Thus, they gain

the unique aroma and taste.

Motta Sant’Anastasia

The area south of the volcano in the Piana

di Catania is characterized by unique soil

and climate conditions. Here, during the

endless Sicilian summer, days are dry and

hot, while nights are surprisingly fresh.

Thanks to the soil’s special composition in

the area, to the temperature range and to

the presence of the volcano, red oranges

gain a particular pigmentation and a

percentage of sugar that makes them

known all over the world.

In these very lands we produce our Tarocco

“nucellare” with all our heart and passion.

Lungo le valli, che poste a nord dell’Etna,

corrono verso il mare, scorre saltellando tra

rocce lucenti e profonde gole il vorticoso fiume

Alcantara, da sempre ricco di nutrimento per una

flora ed una fauna protette oggi dal parco

fluviale. Proprio lì coltiviamo i nostri agrumi

biologici certificati ecocert, con lo stesso amore

con cui l’antico fiume nutre le sue creature. Si

tratta di un impianto di tarocco “comune”

situato vicino alle gole dell’Alcantara da tempi

remoti; la stessa acqua che da vita al fiume lo

irriga, la frescura che sale attraverso le pareti

rocciose e la particolare esposizione consentono

alle arance di maturare con i lunghi tempi della

natura, sì da assumere, a cavallo tra vecchio e

nuovo anno, un aroma unico ed un sapore

inconfondibile.

Esiste una zona a sud del vulcano, all’interno della

piana di Catania, caratterizzata da condizioni

pedoclimatiche uniche al mondo. Qui, durante

l’infinita estate siciliana, di giorno si ha un clima

asciutto e dotato di temperature inimmaginabili, di

notte, per contro, l’aria si rinfresca in modo

insospettabile per le nostre latitudini. La neve che

d’inverno si accumula sul versante meridionale del

nostro vulcano, si scioglie in primavera, penetrando

tra le rocce vulcaniche e giungendo fino alla pianure a

sud di Catania, dove tra l’altro, disseta i nostri

rigogliosi aranci. Grazie alla particolare composizione

delle terre di queste zone, all’escursione termica ed

alla presenza del vulcano, le arance rosse assumono

una pigmentazione della polpa e un grado zuccherino

tali da renderle famose in tutti i continenti. Proprio in

queste terre produciamo le nostre arance Tarocco

“nucellare”, con tutto l’ardore e la passione del

nostro cuore siciliano.

23

Giarre

The ancient Greek sailors who passed

by the east coast of Sicily, were terrified

at the sight of the giant Polifemo who,

with his eye steaming with blood

threatened whoever dared to step on

his land. That same giant that we call

“Mongibello”, the Etna volcano, has

created in thousands of years a strip of

volcanic soil between itself and the sea.

It is just on this soil that we lead our

farm where, together with cherries, we

grow beautiful citrus fruits which are

refreshed by the air that comes up from

the sea in the morning, the

“grecalata”, and by that coming from

the volcano in the afternoon, the

“ricalata”. With all our pride of old

citrus growers, we present the variety of

products chosen for this farm:

“clementine apirene spinoso”, taclè

from east Sicily, the late mandarins of

Ciaculli from west Sicily.

TALATTA

Company section

Talatta has been engaged in high-

quality preservation of ichthyic

products for half a century, above all

Anchovies and Sardines, both salted

and in oil.

Gli antichi marinai ellenici che

costeggiavano la Sicilia orientale,

rimanevano atterriti alla vista del gigante

Polifemo che, con il suo occhio grondante

sangue rosso come il fuoco, minacciava

chiunque osasse mettere piede a terra.

Quello stesso gigante che noi chiamiamo

“Mongibello”, l’Etna, ha creato nel corso dei

millenni una particolare striscia di terreno

vulcanico posto tra sé ed il mare. E’ qui che

possediamo un’azienda in cui, in

consociazione con i ciliegi, coltiviamo

splendidi agrumi che vengono rinfrescati

dall’aria che sale dal mare la mattina

“grecalata” e da quella che scende dal

vulcano il pomeriggio “ricalata”. Con tutto il

nostro orgoglio di vecchi agrumicoltori, vi

presentiamo le varietà di prodotti che

abbiamo scelto per quest’azienda: le

clementine apirene “spinoso”, i taclè

originari della Sicilia orientale, i mandarini

tardivi di Ciaculli originari della Sicilia

occidentale.

Talatta si occupa da 50 anni di produzioni

ittico-conserviere di alta qualità, con

particolare focalizzazione sulle Acciughe e sulle

Sardine sia sotto sale che sott'olio.

24

Talatta takes care of all the

production stages, from the purchase of

the catch to the distribution of its

products in a global market.

The final products unique quality,

fragrance and taste are due both to

the care and attention in the long

seasoning process and to the high-

quality of the fish itself.

More recently, in order to satisfy the

customers new demands without

abandoning our traditional methods,

the Company has tried out new aromas

for the preservation of anchovy fillets

in olive oil: paprika, parsley, summer

truffles in Worcester sauce, aromatic

vinegar, Provençal herbs, capers,

rosemary, oranges and other

specialities for each and every expert of

the sea.

It could hardly be otherwise,

considering that TALATTA is the

ancient word for SEA!

“Mediterranean diet is very good for

your Heart “

Production section

Salted anchovies: our anchovies are

fished in the Mediterraneo sea and

within 24 hours they are selected,

beheaded and washed in salted water.

L'Azienda controlla tutte le fasi del processo

produttivo, dall'acquisto del pescato. fino alla

distribuzione, ormai su scala mondiale, dei

propri prodotti.

L'attenzione e la cura con cui viene portato a

termine il lungo processo di stagionatura, unito

a materie prime di elevate doti organolettiche,

conferiscono al prodotto finito caratteristiche

uniche per fragranza e gusto.

Negli ultimi anni per interpretare le esigenze

del consumatore moderno ha sperimentato,

mantenendo invariato l'antico processo

produttivo, nuovi ed eclettiche aromatizzazioni

per le sue conserve di Filetti di Acciughe in Olio

di Oliva, che spaziano dal peperoncino al

prezzemolo, dal tartufo estivo alla Worcester

sauce, passando per l'aceto balsamico, le erbe

provenzali, i capperi, il rosmarino, l'arancia e

ancora tante altre specialità conosciute ed

apprezzate dagli intenditori del mare.

Non potrebbe essere altrimenti perchè

TALATTA significa MARE.

La dieta Mediterranea fa bene al tuo

Cuore.

Acciughe sotto sale: il prodotto consiste di

acciughe pescate nel mare Mediterraneo. La

materia prima arriva nel nostro stabilimento

entro 24 ore dalla cattura.

25

Our experts gather them in tin-plate

containers suitable for the salting

process. The salting phase very much

depends on: the fishing zone, season,

temperature, fish dimension and final

use of the product. During the process,

tin-plate containers’ location in the

conservation tower ("Torre di Torre di Torre di Torre di

MaturazioneMaturazioneMaturazioneMaturazione") is changed several

times, throughout this phase the tower

is regularly watered with NaCl

solution. Finally, the anchovies are

ready to the sealed and stored in our

warehouse.

CASALE VILLA RAINO’CASALE VILLA RAINO’CASALE VILLA RAINO’CASALE VILLA RAINO’

Home section

Travelling is like hearing every breath

of wind whispering centuries of history

among the trees…

Who we are section

One autumn afternoon in the Rainò

Valley, Aldo and Nina Conte fell in

love with this ancient farmhouse,

which once belonged to the Li Destri

family. So, they decided to bring the

rooms and walls back to life by

restoring a warm familiar atmosphere.

Now Aldo and Nina want to share with

travelers the ancient dream of the

historical Villa.

Le acciughe vengono immediatamente selezionate,

decapitate manualmente, lavate in salamoia satura.

Vengono quindi riposte in idonei contenitori in

banda stagnata e sottoposte al periodo di

maturazione. Questa fase ha tempi estremamente

variabili, dipende da molteplici fattori: zona di

pesca, stagione, temperatura media ambientale,

dimensione del pesce, destinazione finale del lotto

di produzione. Nei primi giorni i contenitori in

banda stagnata vengono più volte cambiati di

posizione in seno alla " TORRE DI

MATURAZIONE ". Durante tutto il periodo le

torri vengono quotidianamente innaffiate con

soluzione satura di NaCl. A maturazione avvenuta,

stabilita dal nostro responsabile di ciclo di

produzione, i contenitori vengono chiusi e stoccati

in magazzino.

Home page

Siamo lieti di presentarvi un piccolo angolo di

magia tra le vette delle Madonie e ... l’Etna

Chi siamo

In un pomeriggio autunnale, Aldo e Nina

Conte, si innamorano di questo casale nella valle

di Rainò e decidono di far rivivere le stanze, le

mura ma soprattutto il calore dell'antica Villa

Rainò della famiglia Li Destri e di condividere

con i viaggiatori questo sogno antico.........

26

The rooms section

The original structure of the Villa has

remained unchanged, but the rooms

have found new life bearing ladies’

names: Elisabetta has the most

beautiful view on the Valley, Diletta is

the most romantic and the beauty and

magic of Ursula cannot be described.

It is up to you to decide which one fits

you the most, whatever your choice

may be. In the springtime you will be

welcomed by the early morning wake-

up call of the woodpeckers.

Our restaurant section

Our restaurant offers a true taste of

traditional Sicilian dishes such as

caponata, risotto with pumpkin sauce,

pasta with ricotta cheese, fresh locally-

grown vegetables, and many more...

Meat has also a great importance in

our courses: you can taste our stigliole,

mutton and sausages while drinking

our home made wine, a perfect match

for the flavors and perfumes of our

cuisine.

The swimming pool section

Villa Rainò is located in a beautiful

Valley, dominated by Mount Marone.

Le camere

La Villa ha mantenuto la sua struttura originale

e le camere si differenziano con nomi di donna.

Elisabetta ha una splendida vista sulla valle,

Diletta è più romantica, Ursula....non si può

descrivere, ma del resto bisogna viverle per

decidere quale si preferisce. Tutte riscaldate e

con il bagno in camera. Il vero optional è, però,

riservato a poche mattine primaverili, quando i

Picchi fanno un servizio di sveglia naturale.

Il ristorante

Il nostro ristorante offre piatti della

tradizione siciliana. Un tipico menù comprende

vari antipasti che vanno dalla caponata, alle

verdure cotte con diverse ricette, alla ricotta,

tipico prodotto della vita agricola. I primi si

arricchiscono con i sapori della natura; involtini

di melanzane, risotto alla zucca e pasta con

ricotta sono alcune delle svariate ricette. Tra i

secondi domina la carne; da assaggiare "le

stigliole", "il castrato" e la salsiccia. Ad

accompagnarli un ottimo vino che completa

gradevolmente il pasto.

La piscina

Villa Rainò si trova in una vallata di rara

bellezza dominata dal monte Marone.

27

The surrounding and flourishing

countryside turns gradually into a

forest of Oaks and Firs. During spring

and summer, you can enjoy the beauty,

colors and calm of the Valley while

sunbathing near the pool.

Nearby, you can admire La Rotonda, a

circle of age-old trees, whose magic

works if you just close your eyes: there

you will feel part of the Valley and of

its history.

History and Legend section

For many years the Villa has been the

residence of the Li Destri, a spanish-

native family who played a very

important role in Sicily at that time.

In fact, the name of the Villa comes

from and old letter addressed to

Antonio Li Destri.

Many stories and legends are told

about the Villa and its inhabitants:

people used to say that local brigands

used the tunnel system under the Villa

to escape, and that even the Tsar of

Russia and Mussolini were guests of the

Baron.

Legend mingles with history and we

are not able to tell the difference

between actual facts and people’s

beliefs. What we know for sure is that

the true identity of the Villa has been

shaped by the past generations.

Il paesaggio è un crescendo di vegetazione che

culmina in una foresta di querce e abeti donando alla

valle bellezza, colore e tranquillità.

In primavera e in estate si può assaporare tutto

questo ai bordi della piscina nella quale si rispecchia

lo spettacolare ambiente circostante.

Lì a pochi metri , inoltre, si può ammirare una

"rotonda" di alberi secolari, e chiudendo per un

attimo gli occhi, si può provare a sentirsi parte di un

corso che non ha nè presente, nè futuro, solo

continuità tra un epoca e un'altra, molto diverse ma

unite sotto lo stesso cielo e circondate dalla stessa

natura...

Storia e leggende

La Villa fu per molto tempo residenza della famiglia Li

Destri. I Li Destri, di origine spagnola, ebbero un ruolo di

spicco nella Sicilia del tempo. Durante i moti rivoluzionari

contro i Borboni, in Sicilia si era formato un comitato

rivoluzionario;Gangi era rappresentata dal Barone Salvatore

Li Destri di Rainò. Il governo italiano come benemerenza

garibaldina pregiò il Li Destri di medaglia d'argento: era il

1860. Chi visse maggiormente nella villa, però, fu il figlio

Antonio. Dopo aver studiato a Catania il Barone Antonio

intraprese a Gangi una fiorente carriera di notaio. E'

proprio il ritrovamento di una lettera indirizzata al Barone

Antonio Li Destri presso Villa Rainò che dà il nome

all'attuale struttura. Molte sono le leggende che si narrano

sulla villa e i suoi abitanti. Ci sono storie di briganti che si

nascondevano fuori dal centro abitato tramite cunicoli che

dalla villa li portavano in posti più sicuri. Ci sono storie di

grandi feste organizzate in onore di ospiti illustri; come il

ricevimento in onore della visita dello Zar al Barone o il

pranzo con Mussolini all'ombra della rotonda di alberi

secolari. Ci sono storie di balli e di intrighi ... noi non

sappiamo quanto ci sia di vero e quanto sia invece frutto

dell'immaginario collettivo, di certo intere generazioni,

giorno dopo giorno, hanno disegnato la forma attuale che

costituisce l'identità più vera e autentica della Villa.

28

How to find us section

Villa Rainò is just 4 km away from the

village of Gangi, whose origin dates

back to the Cretans rule. Its

architecture and shape prove this

ancient identity, and the local

museum has collected many precious

evidences. Gangi also looks to the

present and the future with a gallery

featuring several paintings of local

artists, including the renowned Zoppo

di Gangi and of the famous Sicilian

painter Gianbecchina.

Thanks to its location, Gangi looks like

a Christmas crib set around the

summit of Monte Marone. The

landscape is charming: in clear days

you can admire the flourishing

countryside, the Tyrrhenian Sea and

the Eolian Islands’ silhouette.

Gangi’s main festivities like Corn

Festival, Palm Sunday and the festivity

of the Holy Spirit witness its richness

and attachment to traditions. The

countryside also offers many

interesting places to visit, such as

Petralia, Sperlinga, Polizzi Generosa

and Geraci Siculo. Last but not least,

Gangi is the ideal place to start

exciting long walks through the vast

Madonie Park.

Dove siamo

Villa Rainò si trova a 4 km da un piccolo

centro di fondazione cretese, Gangi. Le sue

lontane origini gli permettono, oggi, di

vantare tesori speciali come le chiese,

segno di una lunga tradizione religiosa; il

museo che raccoglie tracce dell'antica

città; le opere dei tanti artisti locali come i

dipinti del rinomato "Zoppo di Gangi"; fino a

tracce più recenti come la pinacoteca

contenente numerose opere del pittore

siciliano Giambecchina. Gangi vanta inoltre

una varietà di paesaggi molto suggestivi, ad

iniziare dalla vista del paese che da lontano

sembra un presepe realizzato sul monte

Marone; dalla cima di Gangi poi si possono

ammirare le distese verdi e, quando il cielo

è limpido, il blu del Tirreno con le sagome

delle Eolie. Ricco di storia ma anche di

tradizioni, le ricorrenze più importanti

sono: la Sagra della Spiga, la Domenica

delle Palme e la festa dello Spirito Santo.

Nei dintorni di Gangi ci sono altri centri

molto interessanti come le Petralie,

Sperlinga, Polizzi Generosa e Geraci Siculo.

Per gli appassionati la posizione è ideale per

lunghe passeggiate nei sentieri del Parco

delle Madonie.

29

Conclusions

Having carefully reviewed all English versions proposed by the translators of the examined Sicilian

websites, we could find some lexical and cultural inappropriateness that may be solved with an

attentively considered re-elaboration of the texts, taking into account the fact that we don’t share

the same cultural backgrounds with the target audience and considering also the extra-linguistic

context.

Otherwise, if the addressee is not able to read the text easily because he/she has to make an

effort to interpret it and to identify him/herself with the conveyed values , he/she will quickly lose

interest and probably turn to another website. This could happen especially if the surfer belongs

to the NS category who still considers her/his self as a custodian of the language and s/he doesn’t

make any effort to interpret possible deviations, in other words, without applying the “let it pass”

and “make it normal” principles (Firth).

Actually, from the point of view of efficiency, NNSs should not be considered as inferior to NSs in

international communication since the message in itself can pass from the addresser to the

addressee even in the presence of some deviations from standard English.

The language of the websites (ELF) is used for the instrumental purpose of communication and

differently from ENL, that aims to establish a national identity, EFL sets out “to make oneself

understood in international encounters” (House, 2003).

English used as a lingua franca has the potential to bring people together and to break down many

linguistic barriers of communication. In the modern global context, studies on lingua franca

communication are bound to increase and ELF will continue to grow and change with the same

force that has always driven the patchworking of language: the natural desire to exchange goods

and ideas.

30

Bibliography:

• Bamford, J., Salvi, R. (eds.) (2007), Business Discourse: Language at Work, Roma: Aracne

Editore. ;

• Jenkins, J. (2007), English as a Lingua Franca: Attitude and Identity. Oxford: Oxford: Oxford

University Press;

• Knapp, K. and Meierkord, C.(eds.) (2002), Lingua Franca Communication , Peter Lang:

Frankfurt a.M. Mein;

• Notes from the Intercultural Communication course of the academic year 2009/10

delivered by Professor Franca Poppi.

Webliography:

• http://eltj.oxfordjournals.org/

• http://www.globalenvision.org/

• http://peo.cambridge.org/

• http://www.linguistics-journal.com/

Analysed websites:

• http://www.spicchidisicilia.com/

• http://www.talatta.it/

• http://www.villaraino.it/