Stop saying "Praticare l'italiano"!

Hi, there! I am Luca, the interstellar representative of advanced Italian, and this wonderful video is aimed at those people who are studying or learning Italian as a foreign language.

In this video I would like to discuss one of the most common pieces of advice given to those who study Italian. Basically, learners of Italian are usually advised to practise Italian, or to practise the Italian language. This piece of advice is typically expressed as follows: "You should practise Italian", "You should practice Italian often". Or: "Practising Italian is very important".

I mean, I'm not referring to a specific wording of this advice, you understand what I mean, I guess.

Honestly, this advice really puzzles me. Not because I don't agree. Not because I think it's wrong, but the phrase "praticare l'italiano" quite frankly puzzles me.

Please pay attention that I said that it puzzles me, I didn't say that I find it disgusting. It's not one of those phrases which I find abominable or revolting. It's just a phrase that puzzles me.

Basically, I agree with this advice. I would never question such piece of advice. What puzzles me is the word combination, that is, the verb "praticare" followed by "l'italiano". Or "praticare" plus "la lingua italiana".

It puzzles me because this advice is given by native speakers of Italian who should know that such word combination sounds quite awkward in Italian.

Then, you could always argue: "No, Luca, it's not true! It sounds fine, that's how it sounds, people have always said that. Praticare l'italiano. There's nothing weird". Or: "Come on Luca, there's nothing weird, people say that. Praticare l'italiano. Praticare l'inglese. There's nothing weird. This word collocation is perfectly fine". "I don't see anything wrong in this word combination. Perhaps it's awkward only for you!".

Ok, maybe it's just me who thinks that this collocation is a bit odd. Because, to be honest, I have never heard this word combination.

Honestly, in this video I would like to express my point of view, which may be different from yours. To be honest, until not long ago, let's say until a few years ago, I had never heard this word combination. Namely, "praticare" + a language. Specifically, "praticare l'italiano".

The first time I read it on the Internet, I was a bit puzzled. It seemed a weird word combination. It seemed a calque from English.

Now I see that on the Internet it's trendy to say "praticare l'italiano", "praticare l'inglese", but this is a recent development.

Also because the people who say "Devi praticare l'italiano" mean "Devi fare pratica con l'italiano".

That's what people used to say when I was young. "Fare pratica con una lingua". Because it's not about putting a foreign language into practice, but rather about exercising and, by practising, acquiring practical skills. Basically, "fare pratica" was a synonym of "esercitarsi".

Now I have seen that among many gurus and vloggers who talk about the Italian language it is trendy to say "praticare l'italiano".

God forbid, I'm not a purist, this could be a new form which is spreading right now. I just wanted to say that this phrase puzzles me.

Also because these people often use the verb "praticare" with no argument and say "Devi praticare". (full stop) Such usage puzzles me even more.

Me personally, I would rather say "Devi fare pratica con l'italiano". Or: "Devi fare pratica".

Because, God forbid, the verb "praticare" does exist in Italian. I'm not saying that the verb "praticare" doesn't exist.

The verb "praticare" does exist. For example, it can be used in a sentence such as: "L'onestà non bisogna soltanto predicarla, ma anche praticarla". What does it mean? You shouldn't just go around telling people to be honest, but you should also put what you preach into practice. So in this sense "praticare" means putting into practice.

The verb "praticare" is also used in reference to certain traditions or social norms, so to speak. For example, we can say: "Quella popolazione pratica la poligamia". What does it mean? That social group practises this tradition, this custom, this practice, that is, polygamy.

The verb "praticare" can also be used in reference to professions. For example, I can say: "Pratica la professione medica". What does it mean? He is a doctor. He works as a doctor.

With this meaning, "praticare" can also be used intransitively and we can just say "Faceva l'avvocato, ma adesso non pratica più". What does it mean? He doesn't do that anymore. He doesn't work anymore as a lawyer. That is, in other words, he doesn't work anymore. "Non pratica più" means: he doesn't practise anymore his profession.

The verb "praticare" can also be used, for example, in reference to sports. One can say: "Pratico questo sport". "Pratico il ciclismo". Or: "Pratico il nuoto". What does it mean? They regularly play this sport.

Usually, when someone uses the verb "praticare", they mean that they play this sport quite often (relatively speaking). That is, relatively often.

An example question could be: "Che sport pratichi?". Or: "Pratichi qualche sport?". If someone asked me this question, I would find this question perfectly fine, I would have nothing against it. To me, it would be a normal question. To me, it wouldn't be a weird question.

However, if someone asked me "Che lingue pratichi?", I would find this question very strange. To me it would be even more strange if someone replied "pratico l'italiano".

Why do I find it strange? Because I've never heard it. Because in the end, let's be honest, it really depends on our memory. I may find a given sentence strange just because I've never heard similar sentences.

Me personally, like I said earlier, I'd say: "Fare pratica con l'italiano". Or: "Fare pratica con l'inglese". Instead, if we speak generally and talk about the languages which we are studying or learning, I would use these two verbs, that is "imparare" e "studiare".

So, to wrap it up, what's the point, the gist of this video? The point is this: to me, the phrase "praticare l'itlaiano", or praticare un'altra lingua, for example "praticare l'inglese", is strange.

Such phrase sounds awkward to me. I had never heard it until a few years ago. When I read it for the first time on the Internet I was a bit puzzled. I thought it was a calque from the English language.

So, to wrap it up, I just wanted to say that the phrase "praticare l'italiano" is quite strange to me, it sounds rather strange.

I suggest that you say "fare pratica con l'italiano". Especially when you mean practising.

I'm not saying that it is wrong to say "praticare una lingua", it's just that it sounds strange to me. If you like this phrase, please, keep using it.

I would like to know what you think about that. Please leave a comment below and tell me what's your take on it. If you find this phrase perfectly fine, or if you too find it strange.

Let me repeat, maybe it's just me. I had never heard it until recently. It may as well be the case that other Italians find this phrase perfectly fine.

I don't want to fight against this phrase, I'm not a purist. Honestly, I couldn't care less. I'm not gonna fight against this phrase.

If people like it, it is quite possible that this phrase will continue to spread. I for one find it odd. It is clear that, one day, after listening and reading it over and over again, I may find it perfectly fine and acceptable. Right now I find it strange.

Well, that is it!

In the comments please let me know what's your take on it.

That said - bye! May the force of advanced Italian be with you!