You read Salinger in Italian? Molto chic’ ‘I was told a…
““You read Salinger in Italian? Molto chic’ ‘I was told a good way to learn a language was to read translations of books you know by heart’ ‘That’s interesting.’ But Isabelle wasn’t at all interested. She had just discovered a new expression. She savoured it amorously. From now on everything that once has been "sublime" – a film, a Worth gown, a Coromandel screen – would be "molto chic". Like those devotees of the increase-your-word-power column in the Reader’s Digest who stake their conversational reputation on the number of times in a single day they find room for "plethora" and "infelicity" and "quintessential", dropping these words the way other people drop names, she hated to let any amusing phrase go once it had caught her fancy.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage highlights a character’s delight in adopting a newly discovered, fashionable phrase, illustrating how language can become a personal status symbol and a source of aesthetic pleasure.
In simple terms: She loves using a new, fancy phrase as a status symbol.
Key Takeaway
Embrace fresh expressions that excite you.
Themes
language
status
aesthetic
playfulness
Mood
playful
reflective
Type
literary
observational
When to use this quote
- social gatherings
- writing
- learning languages
- personal branding
Key Concepts
semantic enrichment
identity signaling
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you use new words to impress or to express?
- How does language shape your self‑image?
A Different Perspective
Overuse can make language feel pretentious rather than authentic.