He who has a tongue goes to the end of the world — the ability to communicate opens all doors. Language, the willingness to ask for directions, to engage, to explain — these take a person anywhere.
This cheerful Piedmontese proverb celebrates communication as the traveller's greatest tool. In the pre-GPS era, getting lost was the constant hazard of every journey, and the willingness to ask for directions — overcoming shyness, pride, or the language barrier — was what separated the traveller who arrived from the one who wandered. In the context of Piedmontese emigration, the proverb took on additional meaning: the emigrant who learned some Spanish in Argentina, some French in France, some German in Germany succeeded; the one who refused to learn the new language remained isolated. The proverb is also a gentle rebuke to the proud and reserved Piedmontese: the culture of restraint (a savie a-i parlo poc) has its limits — the traveller must speak.
Piedmontese proverb particularly resonant in a región of emigration. The ability to communicate across linguistic barriers was essential for Piedmontese emigrants to Argentina, France, and beyond.
A Piedmontese emigrant arriving in Argentina in 1905
Non sapevo una parola di spagnolo. Ma chi ha la lengua va fin al mund — in sei mesi parlavo abbastanza per lavorare.
No sabia ni una palabra de español. Pero quien tiene lengua llega al fin del mundo: en seis meses hablaba lo suficiente para trabajar.
A Torinese teacher advising students studying abroad
Parlate, fate errori, vergognatevi e poi parlate ancora. Chi ha la lengua va fin al mund — la lingua vi porta ovunque vogliate andare.
Hablad, cometad errores, avergonzaos y luego volved a hablar. Quien tiene lengua llega al fin del mundo: la lengua os lleva a donde querais.
A Piedmontese grandfather advising a shy grandchild
— Ho paura di chiedere in italiano. — Chi ha la lengua va fin al mund. Sbaglia, ridi, ricomincia.
— Me da miedo preguntar en italiano. — Quien tiene lengua llega al fin del mundo. Equivocate, rie, vuelve a empezar.
Two Torinesi tourists lost in Tokyo
— Nessuno parla inglese qui. — Chi ha la lengua va fin al mund. Guarda, mostro il telefono con la mappa e mimiamo. Funziona sempre.
— Aquí nadie habla ingles. — Quien tiene lengua llega al fin del mundo. Mira, ensenamos el telefono con el mapa y hacemos mimos. Siempre funciona.