Linguistics does not only study words, but also how language constructs reality, shapes relationships and guides thought.
As leaders, we communicate constantly: through public speeches, emails, Excel spreadsheets, or silence in meetings.
Every linguistic choice sends a message, explicit or implicit, that affects the trust, clarity and direction of a group.
“Linguistics” offers a space to slow down and observe language closely: how meanings change over time, how metaphors guide our decisions, how tone can build bridges or erect walls.
Which words value people and which reduce them to numbers? How does the vocabulary we use every day reveal our organisational culture?
This section draws on reflections on syntax, vocabulary, rhetoric and pragmatics, showing how linguistic choices are never neutral.
From the nuances of politeness to the power dynamics hidden in sentences, these insights invite us to become more aware of what we say and how we say it.
As you explore these pages, let linguistics become a tool for listening and precision: to build clearer messages, stronger relationships and leadership that unites rather than divides, starting with words.
In recent times, across social networks and chats, a curious pseudo-Latin abbreviation has appeared: “etm”, used in contexts where one would normally find “etc.”. According to some, it stands for “et merda”, that is, “and shit”, placed at the end of a list to give the same flavour as the more straightforward English “and shit”, … Read more
“Diffuse potamophagy” is an ironic, pseudo-scientific term used to render into Italian the Sicilian noun “manciaciumi”, commonly known, outside Sicilian linguistic circles, as “itching”. What we have here is a fine example of macaronic Latinism, or more precisely, of jocular pseudo-scientific language typical of Sicilian linguistic culture: a culture in which erudition is not intended … Read more
• Brits call it “the Beast from the East”• Germans call it “der Sibirische Bär” (the Siberian Bear)• Americans call it “Snowmageddon”• Canadians call it “Monday” (because it is nothing special)• Nordics call it “Thursday” (and ask if you are alright)• Russians call it “весна” (vesna: spring)• Poles call it “zima” (winter)• Spaniards call it … Read more
The French expression “Après moi, le déluge” survives because it captures a familiar human reflex with ruthless clarity. The literal translation is simple: “After me, the deluge.” Older English sometimes makes the attitude explicit:“When I am dead, the deluge can come for all I care.” In modern terms:“I will take what I want now. Whatever … Read more
Research in psycholinguistics and social psychology shows that the use of different languages can be associated with consistent variations in behaviour, emotional expression, and modes of self presentation among bilingual and multilingual individuals. Numerous empirical studies indicate that each language tends to activate specific cultural frameworks, together with social norms, communicative conventions, and patterns of … Read more
In Sicilian one says “accattari un picciriddu”: literally, “to buy a child”. An expression that, to modern ears, may sound amusing or disorienting. Yet behind those seemingly improper words lies a precise linguistic history and an ancient way of understanding birth. The verb “accattari” did not originally mean “to buy”. In older language and in … Read more
We are talking about one of the most common and indispensable kitchen tools: the rubber or silicone spatula, more commonly known in English as a “rubber spatula” or simply a “scraper”. The rubber spatula consists of a long handle, usually made of wood, steel, or rigid plastic, and a flat, soft, flexible tip, today almost … Read more
This post is a challenge — against yours truly!
I came across a Facebook post about the art of insults, especially in British English, quoting Shakespeare’s delicious volley:
“You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian!”
Henry IV, Part 2 (Act 2, Scene 1)
Languages are not merely tools for communication; they are supple instruments, capable of shaping emotions, ideas, and nuances of thought with surgical precision or poetic grace.
To speak and write with awareness is not merely a matter of style — it is a matter of effectiveness.
The right words, carefully chosen, can resonate with the listener or reader, invite empathy, and turn a muddled thought into a shared reflection.
“Cu mangia fa muddichi.”
He who eats makes crumbs, says a Sicilian proverb.
This is not about being the cleverest in the room.
It is about creating a system where speed, experimentation, and continuous learning are at the core.
Progress is rarely clean.
But mess means movement, and the real question is: how fast can you and your team learn, adapt, and evolve—faster than your competitors?
I often mention Sicilian as a joyful blend of languages, with Latin at its core.
Of course, it is not the only language shaped by such a pot-pourri of influences. Let us not forget English.
I recently came across this humorous description on War History Online:
“English is what happens when Vikings learn Latin and use it to shout at Germans, and then the French shout back.”
Hurry up slowly… perhaps without moving at all.
Only languages shaped by the long arc of history can produce expressions as refined—and as paradoxical—as this one that still echoes, generation after generation, in Sicilian households.
A parent watches their restless child, points to a precise spot on the floor and, in a firm, clipped tone, commands:
“Ammuòviti fèrmu, cà.”
Move—but stay still. Here. Exactly here.
Saying “sorry” may seem universal, but its meaning and impact vary widely across cultures. In some places, it signals guilt or weakness—especially in legal or corporate contexts. Elsewhere, it is a simple gesture of empathy or politeness, without legal implications.
In both personal and professional settings, owning up to mistakes is often respected. Many legal experts argue that the freedom to apologise without fear of reprisal fosters more open, conciliatory environments and can help avoid costly disputes.
Today, the true devil is approximation.
By devil, I mean that kind of irredeemable negativity, from which no good can arise.
We encounter it in vague speeches, in generalisations, in the imprecision of thought and language, especially when accompanied by arrogance and petulance.
Here, the devil reveals itself as the enemy of clarity, both in one’s inner reflections and in communication with others. It is the personification of deception and self-deception.
Every culture has recognised a simple truth: when we are hurt, we become cautious. And when the pain is sharp enough, the lesson is remembered instinctively — not as theory, but as reflex.
Language, with its gift for memory and metaphor, has captured this in strikingly similar ways across the world.
“Parlare senza bastonate.”
This Sicilian expression literally translates as:
“To speak without beatings.”
But idiomatically, it refers to someone who gives away information, secrets, or truths too easily — without being coerced, threatened, or pressured.
It does not celebrate free speech — quite the opposite, it is used critically or ironically to describe someone who:
Talks too much
Reveals things they should keep to themselves
Volunteers sensitive information before anyone even asks
Confesses without being tortured, figuratively speaking
“All together” is written separately.
“Separately” is written all together.
The philosophical twist is irresistible: togetherness is expressed through distance, and separation requires unity.
It is a confession: language was never built for logic—it was built for theatre.
Language is not a precision instrument. It is not a Swiss watch ticking reliably through meaning.
It is a surrealist theatre, staged in grammar and costume changes, built on idioms, accidents, and centuries of beautifully uncorrected mistakes.
“Mancanza di chiffari”
A Sicilian epidemic with no vaccine in sight
In Sicily, chaos rarely requires a reason.
A row over a sunbed, a conspiracy hatched in the queue at the bakery… Ask why, and someone will sigh: “Mancanza di chiffari.”
(Too much free time, not enough real business.)
It may sound harmless, but it is deadly.
This overview presents the customs of European and North American countries regarding women’s surnames after marriage, highlighting when the preference shifted towards retaining the wife’s original surname.
In summary:
In most Countries the trend of women to keep their maiden surname (and the subsequent law reforms needed to enable it) emerged between the 1970s and 1990s.
While it is relatively straightforward to quickly grasp and appreciate the more obvious aspects of local culture – such as food, traditions, and customs – familiarising with local expressions and communication styles tends to be more challenging.
A great starting point to break down language barriers and start communicating effectively is to learn the most common courtesies: “thank you”, “you’re welcome”, formal and informal greetings on arrival and departure.