Roots & Connections

Tap a card to read the description

• Farma

  Farm

  Tap to read more

  Farma

  /FAR-mah/

  Noun[Era 1 & 2]

  The farm: the green dream of every immigrant who left a Sicilian field, with an acre of tomatoes, a goat and a very loud rooster. Hard work, fresh bread. Remember it?

  "Me nannu avia na farma in Pensilvania."

  "My grandfather had a farm in Pennsylvania."

  ← Tap to flip back

• Talafuni

  Telephone

  Tap to read more

  Talafuni

  /tah-lah-FOO-nee/

  Noun[Era 1 & 2]

  The telephone: the black machine in the hallway, with a long cord and a longer conversation. The line between Brooklyn and Sicily. Waiting for a call?

  "Sona u talafuni, è me mamma!"

  "The phone is ringing, it’s my mother!"

  ← Tap to flip back

• Fonasti

  To phone

  Tap to read more

  Fonasti

  /foh-NAH-stee/

  Verb[Era 1 & 2]

  To phone: you called, they answered and suddenly forty minutes passed, always after I’ll be quick. Did you call?

  "Mi fonasti aieri sira?"

  "Did you call me last night?"

  ← Tap to flip back

• Mappa

  Map

  Tap to read more

  Mappa

  /MAHP-pah/

  Noun[Era 1 & 2]

  The map: the paper map of Sicily with a pen mark on the town every relative swears is the best. Folded wrong, treasured anyway. Finding something?

  "Talìa ntâ mappa unni è u paisi."

  "Look on the map for where the town is."

  ← Tap to flip back

• Buccu

  Book

  Tap to read more

  Buccu

  /BOOK-koo/

  Noun[Era 1 & 2]

  The book: the object on the shelf bought by the pound and rarely opened. Wisdom, or at least a good doorstop. Reading?

  "Pigghia nu buccu e leggi."

  "Take a book and read."

  ← Tap to flip back