Why some people talk with both their mouths - and their hands

I might have discovered why, when you speak to an Italian or another person in a European country, they use their hands so much when they talk. In Italy, many Italians do not speak Italian in their daily lives. There are hundreds of local dialects with each containing different vocabularies and pronunciations.

For many years, Italy was carved into hundreds of small, insulated areas. For example it might be as if in Bluffton we spoke in a dialect while nearby Beaufort or Hardeeville spoke and pronounced words differently. In Italy until 1861, 90 percent of the population could neither read or write. The people spoke in separate languages or dialects that had been handed down from the Latin language.

The country has many names for things that are very similar and residents of other parts of Italy might have no idea what they are talking about. If you have never heard someone speak Gullah in our country, you are in for a treat even though you may not know what is being said. It was when television appeared in Italy in the middle of the 20th century in public places and in homes that Italians heard their standard language for the first time.

Most people in Italy still use their local dialect but also speak standard Italian. It might take thinking twice about what is being said but behold the facial expressions and Mama Mia, the hands then come into play and the fun begins.

Of bracelets and flowers

The Cartier “Love Bracelet” is a very expensive token given to your beloved and locked on one’s arm, supposedly never to be taken off.

I have recently seen lots of these baubles advertised for resale on several sites on the internet. How did they get them off of their arm? Did the giver ask for it back? Did love go off in another direction? This is not a good example of “forever.” I suppose you can love yourself so much that you can buy one and lock it on and never take it off.

Which brings me to December and the paperwhites or narcissus flowers we see everywhere during the Christmas season.

The flowers smell wonderful and can last for up to two weeks if properly taken care of. The narcissus is a symbol of rebirth and renewal because it is one of the earliest bulbs to sprout and signals that spring is soon upon us. The bulbs are easy to grow and can be “forced” to grow indoors.

The flower gets its name from Greco-Roman myths, one of which concerns a man named Narcissus. This man was so in love with himself he spent all day gazing at his reflection in a pond. One day he fell in the pond and drowned and the gods turned him into a flower so he would never have to lose his reflection.

The narcissus is the Bluffton Town flower which I asked then Mayor George Heyward to proclaim many years ago. You can buy the bulbs now at the Garden Gate or any nearby nursery and enjoy their beauty for yourself. Plant the bulbs in soil or pebbles about four inches deep and place them in a cool room. The blossoms will appear in about four weeks. Children love watching this transformation so let them help.

Handmade for the holidays

The Society of Bluffton Artists will present “A Holiday Boutique,” a collection of handmade gifts of all sorts.

The treasures will be on display and offered for sale November 19-23. For that extra special gift, visit the SOBA Gallery at the corner of Calhoun Street and Church Streets.

Planting the seeds of spring

The 2017 Burpee Catalog will offer local farmers 25 new vegetable seeds to try in their gardens next year. Wait until you see the beautiful selection. The names are fabulous, too.

The catalog is a great little read in the dead of Winter. And it lets me dream that one day, I will sprout a green thumb. Hope springs eternal.

This story was originally published November 9, 2016 at 9:52 AM with the headline "Why some people talk with both their mouths - and their hands."