Snippets of conversation from 2nd generation (and later) Sicilians

"ALWAYS, ALWAYS remember that you are Sicilian." When someone asks you what your nationality is you ALWAYS respond with Sicilian." ....Anthony Paturno ( my grandfather). This is ingrained in me a 2nd generation Sicilian American. I'm determined to learn Sicilian fluently.
- Michelle Mayer, under video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeMurW_0XRo

My grandfather came to America from Linguaglossa Sicily in 1917. His family struggled and worked hard to become Americans. If you spoke anything but English at the dinner table you got "popped" in the mouth.

-James Brough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzyzxRoMVyY

-Meghan Savalle

When I was younger and would speak both English and Italian I didn’t realize I was speaking Italian in some words lol For example I didn’t even know the word “miele” was honey in Italian. I thought it was just the word for honey. I didn’t know I was speaking Italian so young. It just seemed first nature.

Like “amore mio” my love. “mangiare” eat. “cattivo” naughty when speaking to a child or pet lol.

Yes! I wish I was more fluent in the language so I can pass it on as well. It actually makes me sad. Especially considering my papa just passed away who was really in tune with his culture. I wanted to learn it fluently from him. When I go to Sicily hopefully after the pandemic I want to have learned more by then.

My papa was a baker actually but he made amazing Christmas cookies. There’s a classic Italian Christmas cookie that is shaped like an s for some reason and I always thought that the s was for last name and then I found out it was just the shape of the cookie. He also made one with a sheer pink frosting that was kind of just like one of our families things not necessarily a traditional Sicilian frosting.

Though I love how there are a lot of Italian shops and restaurants near me. We also have an Italian grocery store that is only a mile down the road from me.

Melanie Jade

So my mom’s parents are both from Sicily. They immigrated to the US in 1959-1961, when they were 28-31 years old. My Nonna worked in a sewing factory in New Jersey for just a few years until she married my Nonno. My mom was born 2 years after they immigrated.

I visited Sicily for the first time when I was 13 years old, then at 20 years old. Then two times in 2017 - for il matrimonio della mia cugina e poi per ferragosto

Me matri parra sulu Sicilianu. Fazzu un classe ogni Sabato da parrare chiù megghiu. It feels very important to me to learn it and use it and hopefully teach my daughter. My mom learned Italian in high school but she never speaks it. My Nonna spoke only Sicilian.

My coworker from Milano called me “maleducata” for speaking a a Sicilian word at work

Nestis

Trinacria, the cards, family olive oil, tamburello... actually I have a Tinacria tattoo on my foot, to remember to never lose my roots. And I ask my family to send me olives, oregano and dried tomatoes on regular basis. When I was younger I used to hang a Sicilian flag out of my window, now I feel a bit ashamed so I still have it but don’t hang it outside

SECTION 2 _ Scenographic Worlds

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