Intercultural Communication - Essay Example

Italian Intercultural Communication al Affiliation Italian Intercultural Communication Italy is one of the countries found within thecontinent of Europe. It is of critical importance to note that in Europe, the country of Italy is situated at the southern parts. Therefore, Italy forms part of the nations found in Southern Europe (Marzano, 2007). There are several countries that are bordered by Italy. In the northern parts, Italy borders several countries including France, Switzerland as well as Austria. In addition, Italy also borders the nation of Slovenia at the north. In the south, it is prudent to note that Italy is a neighbors such islands including Sicily Island as well as Sardinia Islands. The location of Italy in the global perspective is quite complex. Italy is almost delimited by the vast Alpine watershed as well as other features found in the Venetian Plains (Bindi, 2011). Italy has a very large area. It covers approximately 301338 square kilometers with very fertile lands, conducive environments as well as extremely god climate. It is of critical importance to note that the largest city in Italy, which also form its capital city is Rome. The official language of Italy is the Italian. The waters of Italy are very nice for human consumption. It is of critical importance to acknowledge the fact that the Italian soil covers a large proportion compared to the Italian waters. The proportion covered by water in Italy is approximately 2.4 percent (Di, 2009). This water serves all the needs and demands of the productive Italian population. It is of critical significance to note that Italy has a considerably large population within the European countries. According to the recent census that was done in the year 2011, the total population of Italy was estimated to be about fifty nine million, four hundred and thirty three thousand, and four hundred and forty four. However, in the recent census survey conducted in the year 2013, the population of Italy was estimated as fifty nine million, nine hundred and forty three thousand, and nine hundred and thirty three (Bindi, 2011). This shows that the growth rate of the people of Italy is not very high compared to other countries in the world. It is of critical significance to note that Italy has a variety of climate systems. This follows the location of this country with reference to the latitudes and longitudes. The location of this nation in this regard leads to a variation of climatic conditions experienced in different parts of the country. It is prudent to note that the country of Italy experiences both cool mid-latitude climates (Patriarca and Riall, 2012). In addition, other than the cool mid latitude climates, the country of Italy also experiences humid subtropical climates in different periods of the year. Other than the subtropical climate, Italy also experiences Mediterranean type of climate at different times of the year. These forms of climates are experienced in different parts of Italy. For instance, the interior parts of Italy always experience relatively cool climates. The inland parts of the nation experiences mid latitude versions of climate in Italy. Some of the regions in Italy where the humid subtropical form of climate is experienced include places like Turin, Milan as well as Bologna (Patriarca and Riall, 2012). On the other hand, there are several regions in Italy that experience Mediterranean form of climate. Some of these regions include the regions bordering the coastal areas of Italy. Examples of such places in Italy where Mediterranean form of climate is experienced include places like Liguria. In addition, regions of the peninsula south of Florence are also characterized y Mediterranean forms of climate. Italy is characterized by a variety of fluctuating temperatures (Forgacs and Gundle, 2007). In this regard, it is prudent to state that the differences in the temperatures are less extreme with regards to the seasons. For instance, in summer, the fluctuations in temperatures in Italy are always not that much. The differences in temperatures are always noted between the north and south of Italy. For instance, during some days in winter, the temperatures can fluctuate up to negative two degrees centigrade. This may be associated with snowing as is sometimes evident in Milan. However, sometimes the temperature can rise up to eight degrees centigrade as is always evident in Rome as well as twenty degrees centigrade in Palermo (Forgacs and Gundle, 2007). This denotes that temperature differences are always not too much in the periods of summer. It is of critical importance to note that Italy is one of the greatest economies amongst the European countries. The country boasts of a diverse economy that is fuelled by the large population in the country (Hin, 2013). The large Italian population offers a expansive customer base for the industrial goods produced by Italy. This leads to improved productivity realized in such industries within Italy in order to satisfy the escalating demands of the customers. As a result, increased consumption of the goods and services produced leads to high profit gains by the nation. This leads to rising economies as is experienced in the country of Italy. It is of critical importance to note that Italy boasts of a very high gross domestic product per capita ( Forgacs and Gundle, 2007). In Europe, Italy is ranked the fourth largest economy. This shows how strong the country is with regards to development, infrastructure as well as economic issues. However, it is quite imperative to underscore the fact that Italy is also ranked the eighth strongest economy in the global perspective with regards to the nominal Gross Domestic Product. Moreover, Italy is placed in the eleventh position globally in relation to the global economy. It is of crucial significance to note that Italy is amongst the members of the Group of Seven (G7) and the Group of Eight (G8) countries in the world with regards to economic and industrialization perspectives (Hin, 2013). It is estimated that in the year 2014, the Gross Domestic Product per capita of Italy will rise by approximately 0.6 percent. This denotes a very strong economy. In addition, the projections for the year 2015 denotes that Italian economy would realize a growth of 1.15 percent with regards to its Gross Domestic Product (Di, 2009). There are several sectors that bolster the economy of Italy to the escalating heights. Some of these economic sectors in Italy include the Agricultural sector, the transport sector as well as the financial sectors. In addition, other economic sectors responsible for heightening the economy of Italy include the energy and natural resources sectors. Furthermore, the growth of Italian economy is also impacted positively by the industry and manufacturing sectors (Evans, 2000). History has it in records that Italy may have started in the twentieth century (20th Century BC). This was a time when the people stared inhabiting the present day Italy. During such a time, the individuals were divided into several linguistic groupings. Some of these linguistic groupings included the Oscans, the Latins as well as the Umbrians (Simonis, 2010). However, as time progressed, the Latin culture became more prevalent in the Italian region. This dominance of the Latin language and culture was spear headed by the emergence of Rome as a very powerful city in the region. This happened in the year 350 BC. During this time. There were several other civilizations that preceded Roman civilization. One of these civilizations included the Magna Graecia standing for the Greater Greece. This was present and was short-lasted. The Magna Graecia was a form of civilization that took its roots when the Greeks commenced settling in the southern parts of Italy in the late eighth century (Simonis, 2010). The other civilization that preceded the Roman civilization in Italy was the Etrucan civilization (Castex, 2008). This form of civilization was quite prevalent in olden day Italy in the periods around 900 and 150 BC. They majorly occupied the central sections of the Italian peninsula. However, these civilizations were short lived. The emergence of the Roman civilization gave rise to the rise of the Roman Empire. This was a very strong empire as history indicates. The Roman Empire dominated several regions in Italy including the Western Europe as well as the Mediterranean regions. This happened for quite a very long time. This form of Roman Empire created a good ground for the development of the Western philosophies, arts as well as science (Castex, 2008). These played significant roles in the Middle Ages as well as the periods of Renaissance as is recorded by world history. Following the political on-goings that were evident during those periods, the Kingdom of Italy emerged. The emergence of the Kingdom of Italy happened in the periods around the year 1861. His kingdom was so strong that it quickly led to the modernization as well as spread to colonize several parts of African continent (Whitaker, 2010). This was mainly evident in regions that border the Mediterranean Sea. It is critical to note that Italy was also engaged in the World War I. one of the enemies to Italy was the Austrian Empire which Italy successfully defeated . the country was also engaged in the second world war that happened in the periods around the year 1943 to 1945. However, during this period, the sovereignty of Italy was taken by a monarchy coup that swept out the reign of Mussolini (Di, 2009). This happened in the year 1943. This immersed the country in to a state of political quagmire. However, this monarchy was thrown out by a successful referendum that was conducted in the year 1946 after the end of World War II. However, following this success were some of the compromising states of political instability that were experienced between 1970s and 1980s. One of these was the political instability referred to as the Years of Lead that involved several conflicts and terrorism activities. However, currently Italy boasts of a very strong country founded in deep religious beliefs, faiths and teachings. The country also boasts of a very strong economy steered forth by very noble citizens and competent leaders (Abbott, 2008). It is of crucial significance to note that a greater population of the Italians are Christians. Therefore, the people of Italy share with the rest of others around the world the practices, the beliefs as well as the doctrines of Catholicism and Christianity as the main religions (Gilmour, 2012). However, it is imperative to note that in any country, there must be different religions that exist. However, majority of such religions may be considered insignificant with regard to the populations who identify with them. On the same note, it is of critical importance to note that several religious have different denominations. For instance, in Christianity, there is the Roman Catholics as well as the Protestants. The protestants are also divided in several groupings with regards to several teachings and doctrines that differ from each other grouping. However, the case of Italy is a stand alone with regards to religion as well as religious practices (Gilmour, 2012). A good number of the Italian population shares the faith in Catholicism and Christianity. In this regard, it is quite critical to note that majority of the Italians identify with the Roman Catholic as their main denomination. Therefore, it is critical to understand that Roman Catholic is the main religion in Italy. In this perspective, it is in order to take in to perspective some of the statistics contributed by the Roman Catholicism in Italy with regards to the population (Gilmour, 2012). In the recent research that was conducted in the year two thousand and six, it was estimated that approximately eighty seven percent of the Italian population shared in the beliefs and doctrines of Catholicism. In this survey, it was found out that approximately thirty percent of the entire population of Italy attended church every day. On the other hand, an estimate of approximately thirty six percent of the entire population of Italy were found to be practicing Catholics. This clearly shows that Roman Catholicism is the religion that is reigning in the entire of Italy (Gilmour, 2012). It is of crucial significance to note that the issue of religion always incorporates several roles within the society. In this regard, it is of crucial significance to note that religion always acts as an authority on its own with regards to several societal matters (Monger, 2013). For instance, the institution of marriage is one of the areas that religion may have a lot of influence. Other institutions where the issue of religion may have a great influence include the legal laws including observance of human rights. However, it is prudent to note that the marriage institution is where the issue of religion has a critical impact. In Italy, religion has a widespread impact in the institution of marriage (Winters, 2013). There are several things that each and every individual who wishes to get married must observe in relation to the religious perspectives. In this regard, it is imperative to note that the fact that majority of the population in Italy are religious believers, the rate at which they have shown reverence for the role of religion in issues touching on marriage is quite outstanding. It is of crucial significance to note that a large number of marriages are still conducted in churches in Italy (Monger, 2013). This has been done for several centuries, decades and times. Even today, a great population of Italy still prefers church ceremonies involving the issues touching on marriage. In most instances, issues regarding marriages must always have those who act as witnesses. These people are always critical in ensuring that such ceremonies as well as marital functions are officiated in a proper manner. In several cases, such people who always come to officiate such marriage ceremonies are always members of the same churches. In Italy, individuals who represent the churches always attend most ceremonies involving marriages (Armiero and Hall, 2010). Such individuals are always critical in ensuring that the ceremonies are religiously officiated. This is in line with the beliefs that each and every religion in Italy holds with regards to such ceremonies. One of the cultures of the Italians is to observe the First Holy Communion (Ianziti, 2012). The First Holy Communion is one of the rights of passage that majority of the Italian population observes. This passage is meant for all the young members of the Italian society sharing on the faith in Catholicism. This follows the fact that most people of Italian origin are born Catholic. Therefore, observance of the First Holy Communion plays a great role in their faith and beliefs with regards to the doctrines and teachings in the religion (Dues, 2012). It is of crucial significance to underscore the fact that not only Catholicism thrives as a religion in Italy. Some other religions are also evident in the region. For instance, several people identify with Islam in the region of Italy. It is imperative to note that Muslims are the second largest religious group in Italy following the Catholicism. The total number of Muslims in Italy is estimated at approximately seven hundred thousand individuals. However, the immigrants in Italy mainly contribute to this number. Italy is a country that boasts of diverse cultures and traditions. The core of the Italian cultures and traditions are vested within their arts, architecture as well as the music (Dues, 2012). In addition, the vast of the Italian cultures are based on their music as well as food. It is critical to underscore the fact that the official language in Italy is the Italian. However, other dialects are also preset in the region. These include the Sardinian dialects, the Friulian as well as the Neapolitan dialects. Other dialects include the Ligurian, Piedmonetese as well as the Venetian dialects. In the periods around the seventeenth century, Italy was considered the hub of the western culture by the Roman Empire (Gribble, 2010). This has led to the present day architectural styles that form the pride of Italy. Some of the architectural styles that form a greater percentage of the Italian culture and traditions include the classical Roman, Renaissance as well as the Baroque. On the same note, it is of critical significance to note that Italy is renowned worldwide for its famous architectural structures involving the Colosseum as well as the Leaning Towers of Pisa (Gribble, 2010). In addition, in Italy several staples contribute greatly towards the country’s traditions and cultures. These include such foods like the roasted peppers, tomatoes as well as the zucchini. In addition, some staples include the garlic, cheese as well as prosciutto. Italians also observe several holidays as part of their traditions. Some of these holidays include the Christmas Holidays as well as the Easter Holidays (Dues, 2012). These holidays are always associated with several incidences of family picnics that contribute towards marking the beginnings of springtime. In addition, the Italians also have several festivities in the Saints Day that is always celebrated in November 1 (Gribble, 2010). During these festivities, the Italians always decorate the graves of their relatives who had passed on long time ago. The decorations involve heavy uses of flowers as well as other items that are relevant to the occasions. References Abbott, C. (2008). Italy. London: Kuperard. Bindi, F. (2011). 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