Pecora picked a peck of pickled peppers;

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For the past seven years I have managed to avoid private lessons. My self-taught Italian has fared me well when ordering wine, grappa and pizza, but even a Black Sheep (Pecora Nera) such as I, realises that I need to try to learn more than the 20 words and 3 phrases that are currently in my vocabulary.

Last night I completed my first Italian lesson with a real live tutor.My tutor has excellent qualifications and experience to tutor me. During the day she teaches the Italian language to 7 to 10 year olds at a primary school and is therefore qualified enough to teach to my standard and level of intelligence.  Obviously I checked her credentials and found that she has the patience of a saint and to date she hasn’t gaffa taped any of her pupils to the chair when they misbehaved.

As long as I behave she wont gaffa tape me to the chair

As long as I behave she won’t gaffa tape me to the wall

The English help students to articulate correctly by teaching them tongue twisters, these are little rhymes that become increasingly more difficult to say  as the volume of alcohol is increased. You didn’t know this famous English drinking game?

Here is an example of a typical English tongue twister

Pecora Nera picked a peck of pickled peppers;

A peck of pickled peppers Pecora Nera picked;

If Pecora Nera picked a peck of pickled peppers,

Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Pecora Nera picked?

The Italians have gone one better, they have included a tongue twister as part of their daily language, it is a word that I am going to try my best to avoid. What is this fabulous word I hear you cry.

It is non other than Gli 

Gli

I hope this chart explains what gli is please feel free to enlighten me

Here is a clip I found of a young boy pronouncing gli

As you can see It is not difficult, unless of course you are an Englishman, here is my pitiful attempt.

Many many thanks to my wonderful tutor….

62 thoughts on “Pecora picked a peck of pickled peppers;”

    • Hi Beth

      I know the feeling, I can see Mrs S look at me when a 4 year old has a better grasp of the language that I do.

      But it is a nightmare of a language, if you listen to Italians during everyday conversation you will often hear “scusi non capisco” (I don’t understand)

      They will then explain what they are trying to say. I mean, good grief, if the Italians don’t understand each other what chance have I got!!!!!

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  7. First of all, I love your tongue twist with the personalized Pecora Nera addition!
    I also feel your pain as an American who tried to learn the “gli” sound … I can’t say that I’ve nailed it but I kind of fake it til I make it! Perhaps I should teach the “gli” sound to my train mates this morning?
    Your recording is fabulous by the way!

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  9. Hahahaha … seems to me that when you told her your tongue can do many things but not “that”, she quickly changed subjects before you tried to show her exactly what it can do …

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  10. Hahahaha – that’s like my gli lesson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And oh my goodness, it get’s worse glielo…. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, I sympathise. Keep going! x

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  11. I am pretty close in my ability/attempt to pronounce “gli”…. Believe me, it has to do with the position of the tongue and it’s hard to explain in writing. When you say “li” the tip of your tongue is pressing against the back of your teeth. To say “gli” your tongue is pressing the roof of your mouth. And my teacher also said to try saying “yee” when you see ” gli” and you will get it eventually.

    I just want someone to teach me how to roll my “r’s”!

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  13. Oh dear Lord. You poor man and all that Italian being beat into you. I could hardly understand the video. The acoustics are terrible or maybe I just don’t get it. Will you be needing prayers or more wine as you learn from a true Italian?

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    • If I can give you a piece of friendly advice…. give it up.

      For seven years I have tried to master this Language and to be honest I would probably have had more luck learning the Xhosa language of Southern Africa which is made up of clicks and whistles

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