In celebration of the 26th edition of the Week of the Italian Language in the World, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto hosts a presentation by Dr. Luca Cottini exploring the spirit of Italian creativity and innovation through 10 iconic words that reveal the connections between language, culture, entrepreneurship, and storytelling.
WEEK OF THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD 2026
Italy in 10 Words.
A Linguistic Exploration of the Italian Mind
Dr. Luca Cottini
Tuesday, October 13 | 6:30PM
ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA TORONTO
496 Huron St | Toronto ON
FREE EVENT | REGISTRATION REQUIRED
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE
Many Italian words have become part of the global imagination, in the realms of cuisine, design, fashion, and music. Italian objects and brands have also become daily references in many parts of the world. What do words reveal of the Italian mindset? And which words better reflect Italy’s approach to innovation and creativity? In this lecture, celebrating the Week of the Italian Language in the World, Dr. Luca Cottini (Professor of Italian Studies at Villanova and creator of the YouTube channel Italian Innovators) presents the pillars of Italian culture and entrepreneurship through 10 exemplary words, investigating the relationship between language, business, storytelling, and knowledge.
Presented by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto.
ABOUT DR. LUCA COTTINI
Dr. Luca Cottini is a professor, author, and content creator. He teaches Italian literature and design at Villanova University and is the host & creator of Italian Innovators, a YouTube show exploring Italy’s model of entrepreneurship and innovation through cultural profiles, interviews, and lessons across different disciplines. He has published four books: a critical essay on Italian writer Italo Calvino (I passaggi obbligati di Italo Calvino, 2017), a biography of chocolate tycoon Michele Ferrero (Il fabbricante di cioccolato, 2023), a cultural history of the origins of Italian design (The Art of Objects, 2018), and a study on the American soft power in Italy at the turn of the 20th century (The Rise of Americanism in Italy, 2025). He is regularly featured as speaker in academic and corporate venues on such issues as storytelling and entrepreneurship, Italy’s approach to innovation, design thinking, or Italian cultural history. He holds a PhD from Harvard, an MA from Notre Dame, and BA in classics from the University of Milan.
ABOUT THE WEEK OF THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD
The Week of the Italian Language in the World, established in 2001 and promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is an annual celebration of Italian as a language of both classical and contemporary culture. Held each October under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, the program features conferences, exhibitions, performances, and meetings with writers and cultural figures, engaging Embassies, Consulates and Italian Cultural Institutes around the world.