The Veneto Club in Melbourne, long a key hub for the Venetian community, will host a fascinating event celebrating the Venetian language and identity: La nostra lingua - Our language.
This interactive workshop, accompanied by a rich exhibition, is a journey through time that traces the evolution of the Venetian dialect and its cultural impact over the centuries, with a series of events taking place from September 9-14.
The event is the result of the work of the Federation of Veneto Associations of Victoria, sponsored by the Veneto Region, which has been promoting Venetian culture worldwide for years.
It is designed for second and third-generation Venetians and Italians who wish to reconnect with their linguistic roots, often forgotten or set aside in everyday life in Australia.
It will be the perfect opportunity to discover how the Venetian language, with its unique expressions and particular inflections, has helped shape not only the cultural fabric of Veneto communities in Italy but also abroad.
Professor Alessandro Mocellin, a renowned linguistic expert from the Accademia de la Bona Creansa in Asolo in Veneto, will lead the event.
With his engaging style, Mocellin will teach participants about the stories and peculiarities of the Venetian language, alternating between explanations in English, Italian and Venetian to immerse the audience in an authentic experience.
In addition to involving what is now known as the ‘home of Venetians in Melbourne’ (the Veneto Club in Bulleen), related initiatives have been organised by other key institutions within the Italian community.
Such institutions are the Dante Alighieri Society of Melbourne, Co.As.It. and the Savoy Club in Myrtleford, each further expanding the reach of the initiative in order to engage a broader audience.
The Dante Alighieri Society recently held a talk titled Dante in Veneto and Dante in Venetian. Guests were able to hear passages from Dante’s The Divine Comedy that had been translated into Venetian language in 1875.
On Thursday, September 12, an interactive lesson and exhibition has been organised by Co.As.It. at their historic Carlton location, followed by another exhibition at the Savoy Club.
Finally, on Saturday, September 14, there will be an event at the Veneto Club in Bulleen to explore the value of language as a vehicle of identity and belonging.
All events are free, but places are limited, and booking is essential to guarantee a spot. For information and bookings, contact the respective organisations directly.
