COMMUNICATING 

English is widely spoken in tourist areas (and they can usually identify you as North American before you even open your mouth).  If you don’t know any Italian, don’t worry too much, but do CONDUCT YOURSELF IN A POLITE FASHION.  Pushiness and rudeness will not serve you well.  Italy is a country that still uses a formal way of speaking when you don’t know someone; if you observe this you should be treated politely in return. 

It's bad form to walk up to an Italian and ask, “Do you speak English?”  Try:

Signora/Signorina/Signore, mi scuzi, parla inglese?
See-NYO-ra/SEE-nyo-REE-na/See-NYO-ray, mee SKOO-zee, PAR-lah in-GLAY-zay?
Madam/Miss/Sir, excuse me, do you speak English?

Do use a polite greeting (Buon giorno “Bwon-JOR-no” or Buona sera “BWON-a SEH-ra” after about 3pm) and say thank you (Grazie “GRAH-tsee-yeh”).

An Italian phrase book or minidictionary is handy, especially if you intend to get out of the tourist areas.  If you choose to visit smaller places (and you should), English may not be widely spoken.

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