Muscat – Italian writer and Strega Prize laureate Emanuele Trevi opened the Italian Language Week at the residence of H E Pierluigi D’Elia,  Italian Ambassador to Oman, on Wednesday with a reflection on how storytelling continues to bridge cultures and shape human connections.

The annual initiative, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, celebrates the richness of the Italian language and its role in fostering intercultural dialogue. This year’s theme, ‘Italophony: Language beyond Borders’, explores how language connects communities through creativity and shared imagination.

In a talk titled ‘Once Upon a Language: The Journey of the Italian Fairy Tale’, Trevi delved into the enduring power of fairy tales and the ability of these to reveal the emotional depth of human experience. “It is emotions that rule the world and fairy tales help us with that,” he said. “They are the binding factor of mankind. Storytelling is not a relic of the past but a living force – it wields language not only as a vessel, but as an instrument of transformation.”

Drawing parallels with Arab storytelling traditions such as One Thousand and One Nights, Trevi said the act of sharing stories continues to unite cultures across time and geography. “Even in their simplicity, fairy tales reach the hidden layers of our consciousness, guiding both reader and writer through a journey of meaning.”

Addressing the impact of artificial intelligence on creative work, Trevi said technology would not replace human creativity. “AI will not replace writers because people love to meet and see real people. Whenever I travel, people want to connect – that bond will always exist,” he said. He also expressed reservations about adapting books into films, saying, “In the process of making a film, often the rhythm and emotion get lost.”

As part of the celebration, the Italian Embassy has partnered with Creative Minds School to host a children’s workshop introducing young students to the Italian language through storytelling and games. Inspired by La Pimpa, a beloved Italian children’s character, the activity aims to nurture curiosity and cultural appreciation among students by showing that learning a language can be both creative and fun.