(ANSA)- Opinions may be divided on the importance of Premier Silvio Berlusconi's political achievements but his impact on the Italian language now appears undeniable.
The tongue of Dante and Petrarch now boasts new 14 words based on his surname.
The words, which are political terms rather than everyday expressions, are all listed in a just-published dictionary of new Italian words, 2006 Parole Nuove (Sperling & Kupfer).
There are nouns, verbs, adjectives all of which have come into being thanks to journalists and other politicians talking about Berlusconi's activity since coming to power in 2001.
Some are fairly simple to grasp. 'Berluschese', for instance, means the sort of language used by the former business tycoon and his political followers. The dictionary does not give examples.
Then there are the 'Berlusconi Boys', a generic term meaning followers, associates and supporters of the man. Other new alternatives include 'Berluschista' and the English-inspired Berlusconite.
There is even an epic-sounding word for Berlusconi's progression from being a successful entrepreneur to being the country's political leader. Anyone else who does this in future can be said to have completed a 'Berlusconeide'.
Naturally, many of the words simply refer to the premier and his policies.
'Berlusconismo', meaning his political philosophy, has existed since his dramatic entry into politics in 1994, when he immediately won elections and headed a short-lived government.
But now there is also 'Neoberlusconismo', apparently a new sort of the same thing.
The verb 'Berlusconizzare' means to bring something or someone into line with the premier's thinking and policies. Of course, you also can do this to yourself, so there is a reflexive verb too, 'Berlusconizzarsi'.
The process of coming into line with Berlusconi's vision, when seen as a common phenomena, can be described as 'Berlusconizzazione', which in English could be roughly translated as Berlusconisation.
Once this concept is accepted as linguistically possible, then a host of derivatives also become possible. So, for example, a person who once thought like Berlusconi and no longer does can be said to have been 'deberlusconizzato' (de-Berlusconi-ised).
The new dictionary also offers new words based on the names of other politicians, but no one comes out as strongly as the current premier. Opposition leader Romano Prodi, who hopes to beat Berlusconi in general elections next year, only managed to
spawn four new terms since the last edition. An election victory could be what he needs to boost his tally.
