Speak Italian: The Fine Art of the Gesture [Paperback]

Bruno Munari (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2005

Attenzione!

They say that a gesture is worth a thousand words, and when it comes to speaking with your hands, the Italians speak volumes. This quirky handbook of Italian gestures, first published in 1958 by renowned Milanese artist and graphic designer Bruno Munari, will help the phalange-phobic decipher the unspoken language of gesturesa language not found in any dictionary. Charming black-and-white photos and wry captions evoke an Italy of days gone by. Speak Italian gives a little hand to anyone who has ever been at a loss for words.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bruno Munari (1907 1998), internationally acclaimed painter, sculptor, photographer, graphic designer, and creator of books, was a member of the Milanese Futurist group and taught at universities in Europe and America. Munari also designed advertisements, objects, toys, and games. His artwork has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale and in museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; Bilingual edition (March 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811847748
• ISBN-13: 978-0811847742
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Italian

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific gift item in a compact format, December 24, 2005

By 

Jessica Lux (Rosamond, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Speak Italian: The Fine Art of the Gesture (Paperback)

This beautiful paperback is just over a hundred pages, but it packs a punch with the gorgeous black and white photo illustrations. Each is accompanied by text in both Italian and English explaining the technical aspects and the nuances of each gesture. This timeless guide was first published in 1958, and the 2005 re-release is a must-have for anyone studying Italian language and culture. (No vulgar gestures included.)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mostly Average, May 13, 2007

By 

BellaBull "RJ" (Georgia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Speak Italian: The Fine Art of the Gesture (Paperback)

I bought this book because I thought I'd learn something new . The pictures are nice enough, & it being in both Italian & English (although not always precisely translated) is neat.
But most of the gestures are universal, not unique to Italy (the international signal for "check please" or "to read") which was a little dissapointing. The more Italian gestures are not well explained in terms of context, but are entertaining enough.
If I were to do it over again, I might buy the book but only for under $9

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The result's funny and informative all in one package., March 11, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Speak Italian: The Fine Art of the Gesture (Paperback)

Take a black and white photo of an Italian gesture and provide a facing page in Italian and English which explains that hand gesture and you may just have the rudiments of learning 'street Italian' - and some of the sign language essential to speaking it. Some surprising subtleties exist here - as in the sign for 'agreement' - as well as some obvious new gestures - such as that for 'ok', an import. The result's funny and informative all in one package.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch