Italians are quite used to feeling "lo stress", looking forward to "il weekend" or trying to look "cool".

But now an influential cultural institute has asked Italians to protect the language and reject "Anglitaliano".

The Dante Alighieri Society asked people for examples of over-used foreign words and "il weekend" emerged as the worst offender.

The society said the results showed that Italians want their language to receive more respect.

For four months, the society asked visitors to its website, 70% of whom were Italians, for inappropriate examples of foreign words being used in everyday Italian, either written or spoken.

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"Who would have thought it - Italians protesting against 'il weekend'," said the institute, the Italian version of the French language protection body the Academie Francaise

The least popular word was found to be "weekend", receiving 11% of the votes.

"Too short? No, just not Italian enough," the society adds.

They said it was pointless to use an English word, however elegant, when the Italian expression "fine settimana" means exactly the same thing.

'More respect'

The second least popular word was "OK", which respondents to the survey thought was too informal and unprofessional.

Several unpopular terms came from business and politics, with "briefing" gaining 5% of the vote, "mission" 4% and "devolution" 3%.

"It is clear that the Italians are asking for more respect and more protection for their language," says the society.

Italians, however, are divided on whether they want to throw out English terms in favour of flawless Italian.

Alessandra, a secretary at a travel agency in Rome, said she thought the change was a product of globalisation.

"I don't think it matters if we use English words," she told the UK's Telegraph newspaper.

"Often it's faster, like using 'il weekend' instead of 'fine settimana'."

However her boss Maria disagreed, saying she would prefer to speak either Italian or English, not a mixture.

"People think it's chic to use English words, but I don't like it at all. It's important to keep language clean," she said.

The society conducted the survey as part of its campaign to ensure Italian remains a key language in the workings of the EU.

(BBC)

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