from the English “factory”, recorded in Australia
English words that became Italian: factory became fattoria, ticket became tichetta, backyard became becchiarda.The English words Italian migrants made Italian in Australia, recorded with who wrote them down and, where the source says, where they were heard. The record from New Zealand, Canada, Britain and the United States sits alongside it.
This dictionary doesn't have a name yet. The Greek one is To Booko, from the English “book”. The Italian one will be named by the people whose words are in it. Here is the shortlist to start from, each built on a word from the record. Pick one, or put forward your own.
Tell us a word your family used. The editors check every word before it goes in, and publish it with your name and the place you heard it. Your email stays private.
To Booko had years of collecting behind it before it went online. The Italian dictionary doesn't have that yet. So it opens in beta: published, searchable and open about being unfinished, so the community whose words these are can shape it before it is called done. The same goes for its name.
The editor of this project is Greek Australian, not Italian. That's why the dictionary needs Italian Australians to run it with him: one or two advisers, a community elder or a linguist or both, to read the dictionary before the beta closes and put their name to it. Clubs, parishes, radio programs and regional associations that want to host a word night are welcome too.
Write to hello@ethnolects.org, or join the consultation as an editor, adviser or host.