10/07/2025
On the occasion of the XXV edition of the Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo (SLIM, Week of Italian Language in the World), an annual international initiative promoting the Italian language and culture across the globe, the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington and the Department of Italian Studies at Georgetown University are proud to present “Andrea Camilleri’s Languages”.
Join the conversation, moderated by Professor Laura Benedetti, Chair of the Italian Department, with Professor Gianni Cicali and Professor Anna De Fina, all at Georgetown University, to commemorate the centennial of the birth of Andrea Camilleri beloved Italian author, playwright, director and creator of the iconic protagonist of his detective novels, Il Commissario Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano).
Camilleri was born into a “theatrical” family with ties to the Nobel Prize-winning playwright Luigi Pirandello. He pursued his passion immediately, studying theater before working intensively as a writer and director. In this conversation, Professor Gianni Cicali will explore how Camilleri’s passion for theatre is reflected in his television work, from Maigret with Gino Cervi to Il Commissario Montalbano, and consider it in the context of his times.
The evening, which will begin with a brief overview of the role of dialects in the linguistic evolution of Italy, will focus on Andrea Camilleri’s distinctive use of dialect, which he famously described as “an invented language.” Professor Anna De Fina will explore how this hybrid idiom functions within the celebrated Montalbano novels, highlighting the ways in which Camilleri harnessed dialect to shape narrative voice, convey cultural nuance, and enrich characterization, while examining how Camilleri’s strategies ensure that these dialectal expressions remained accessible and engaging to a broad readership.
On the occasion of the XXV edition of the Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo (SLIM, Week of Italian Language in the World), an annual international initiative promoting the Italian language and culture across the globe, the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington and the Department of Italia...
