A word of caution: In English, the word Americana is NOT an adjective that means American. It is in fact a noun that refers to any kind of imagery, folklore, music, or artifacts that evoke a sense of nostalgia for America’s roots. I’ll give you some examples of how to use this word in a sentence and I’ll also help you to better understand the concept of Americana.
Lista di vocaboli
- Turn of the century: il periodo compreso più o meno tra l’anno 1880 e la prima guerra mondiale.
- To till the fields: dissodare il terreno.
- To pit: snocciolare.
- To can (cherries): una tecnica di cottura in cui il cibo è cotto e poi imbottigliato in vasi di vetro per conservarlo per tanto tempo.
- To shuck corn: sgusciare il mais.
- 4-H competitions: una rete di associazioni che sprona i giovani a sviluppare le loro abilità nel campo dell’agricoltura, soprattutto l’allevamento.
- Rugged individualists: le persone individualiste, indipendenti, e forse un po’ selvagge.
- Stetson hat: una marca di cappello collegata ai cow-boy.
- Chaps: un tipo di pantaloni di cuoio indossati da cow-boy per proteggere la parte anteriore della gamba.
- To lasso steer: prendere al laccio i bovini.
- Car culture: una cultura che valorizza e mitizza le automobili.
- Appalachia: una regione geografica montuosa che si estende in certe parti dell’America dell’est, che è caratterizzata spesso dalla povertà e dalla cultura di quelli che lavorano nelle miniere di carbone.
- Hillbilly: (scortese) un bifolco; uno zotico.
- The Deep South: una regione geografica negli Stati Uniti del Sud che si estende attraverso la Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, e South Carolina, conosciuta per la sua storia di schiavismo e razzismo, e ideologie conservatrici.
Ascolta la Registrazione
Leggi il testo
How to use Americana in a sentence
Americana a noun that seems more like an adjective because it is often used to qualify other words, as seen in these examples:
The painting’s style is typical of Americana art.
Questo dipinto ha il tipico stile Americana.
The farmhouse was influenced by classic Americana design.
La cascina è stata influenzata dal design classico Americana.
However, the word Americana can absolutely stand alone. For example:
“That baseball stadium is a real slice of Americana. Being there is like stepping back in time.”
Quello stadio di baseball è proprio un pezzo di Americana. Essere là è come tornare indietro nel passato.
“Accessorize your porch with Americana: a vintage jug, an American flag, and rustic furniture.”
Addobba il portico con Americana: una brocca d’epoca, una bandiera americana, e dei mobili rustici.
Because the word can mean so many different things and is a fairly nuanced concept, I’ll break my explanation down into a few categories:
- The ideas and aesthetics of Americana
- Physical objects of Americana
- Americana foods
- Americana music
The ideas and aesthetics of americana
Agricultural life
The idea of the small family farm, especially around the turn of the century is very Americana. Close your eyes and picture a farmer tilling the fields, while his wife pits cherries in preparation to can them for the winter while the children shuck corn on the porch…very quaint and definitely Americana!
County fairs also encompass the idea. They were a big part of old fashioned agricultural life and they’re still popular today in rural communities. These fairs often have carnival games, rides, music and 4-H competitions. They also tend to have contests to see which farmer can grow the biggest fruit or vegetable.
The idea of the Wild West
Americans like to think of themselves as rugged individualists, so it makes sense that there’s a lot of nostalgia for the Wild West: Cowboys in Stetson hats, chaps, and bandanas ride their horses through the desert plains looking to lasso steer. Dirty lawless towns where men play poker in saloons and drink whiskey…real “manly” stuff like that. Very Americana 😛
The aesthetics of the 1950's
Some Americans nostalgically think of the 1950’s as “a simpler time,” while others link this decade to widespread racism, sexism, and homophobia. No matter what your opinion is, things that were popular in the 1950’s are often now considered Americana. Some examples include:
Baseball
In the mid-1850s, Americans became obsessed with baseball and this is when it earned its reputation as a “national pastime.” Today, the sport has become somewhat less popular than American football and basketball, but it still represents a certain time period in America that some people are still nostalgic for. Standing up during the “7th inning stretch” to sing the song “Take me out to the Ballgame” is the quintessential American experience.
Route 66 and the idea of the open road
Route 66 is arguably the most famous highway in a country that is known for its car culture. Built in 1926, it passed through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The famous song “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” sums up how this highway symbolizes the freedom and adventure of the open road.
Physical objects of Americana
Classic Americana Foods
Americana music
1. Bluegrass
Bluegrass music originated in the Appalachia region of the United States around the 1940s. It usually involves instruments like the banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and harmonica. It’s often fast-paced and upbeat.
2. Rockabilly
Rockabilly music is a sub-genre of rock and roll that was popularized in the 1950s by artists, such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, and Carl Perkins. The genre is a mix of rock and country music, as you can imagine by the name, which combines the words “rock” + “hillbilly.”
3. Country music
This one goes without saying. If you want a very Americana experience, just put on your cowboy hat, get in your pickup truck, and play some Toby Keith while you drive down a country road.
4. Blues
This genre started in the Deep South around the 1860s. Early blues music often had lyrics relating to hardship, melancholy, and the plight of African-American slaves. Blues musicians sing from the heart, with a lot of emotion. Some notable musicians are Ma Rainey, Muddy Waters, and Ray Charles.
(Left to right, per Getty Image crediting): Ed Pollack, Albert Wynn, Thomas A. Dorsey, Ma Rainey, Dave Nelson, and Gabriel Washington in 1923. Good Housekeeping, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sono Curiosa...
- Hai mai sentito la parola Americana in questo senso?
- Qual è il simbolo americano per eccellenza, nella tua opinione?
- Cosa ne pensi di questo testo? Troppo facile? Troppo difficile? Giusto? Quali sono le parole che non sapevi prima?
Fammi sapere nei commenti!
Feedback is always Welcome
Mi faccio in quattro per rendere questo sito d’aiuto. Per favore, se vuoi che io scriva su un tema particolare in inglese, fammelo sapere! Sentiti libero di darmi qualsiasi suggerimento e dammi il tuo feedback, cliccando qui.
Iscriviti alla newsletter!
Mi raccomando, iscriviti alla newsletter in modo da incoraggiarti a leggere i post per non perdertene neanche uno. Così l’apprendimento diventerà più facile e efficace. Ti prometto di non sommergerti di mail superflue.
