Difference between revisions of "Omertà (Italy)"

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|style="font-size:1.1em;"|Omertà denotes a code of honour that requires a person to maintain silence about crimes or other illegal actions that they either witnessed or came to know about, whether directly or indirectly. The individual is obliged to protect the identity of the perpetrator and must not reveal any information that might draw the perpetrator to the attention of the authorities. This is the case even when the individual was themself the victim of the crime.

|style="font-size:1.1em;"|Omertà denotes a code of honour that requires a person to maintain silence about crimes or other illegal actions that they either witnessed or came to know about, whether directly or indirectly. The individual is obliged to protect the identity of the perpetrator and must not reveal any information that might draw the perpetrator to the attention of the authorities. This is the case even when the individual was themself the victim of the crime.

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The origin of the word omertà is contested. One of the earliest explanations was that proposed by Giuseppe Pitré, an ethnologist from Palermo who linked the term to the Italian word ''uomo'' (man), thereby associating it with ‘manhood’ or ‘virility’ (Lupo 2011<ref>Lupo S. 2011. History of the Mafia. New York: Columbia University Press.</ref>). In this sense, omertà is the attribute of a man who is essentially responsible for himself and who remains independent of the law and the state. This meaning has however been criticised morally as it might link the idea of manhood to disrespect for collective values. Indeed, it might condone behaviours outside the law, including vendettas and vigilantism. Another suggestion traces the origin of the word to the Italian word ''umiltà'', meaning ‘humbleness’ but, in certain areas of Southern Italy, denoting ‘discretion ‘ or ‘privacy.’ In the Sicilian dialect, the word is pronounced ''umirtà'', which might explain the derivation of omertà (Alongi 1977 [1886]<ref>Alongi G. 1977 (1886). La maffia nei suoi fattori e nelle sue manifestazioni: studio sulle classi pericolose della Sicilia. Turin: Bocca.</ref>). This explanation has also, however, been criticised on the grounds that it justifies silence and non-cooperation as acts of discretion rather than as attempts to pervert the course of justice (Deaglio 1993<ref>Deaglio E. 1993. Raccolto rosso: la mafia, l'Itali: e poi venne giù tutto. Milan: Feltrinelli.</ref>). As a result, the precise origin of the word remains unclear. As the word is used today, however, it appears to borrow from both etymologies. The idea that if someone minds their own businesses and does not get involved in things that do not directly pertain to them is seen, in many cultures prevalent in Southern Italy, as a sign of ‘manhood.’

The origin of the word omertà is contested. One of the earliest explanations was that proposed by Giuseppe Pitré, an ethnologist from Palermo who linked the term to the Italian word ''uomo'' (man), thereby associating it with ‘manhood’ or ‘virility’ (Lupo 2011<ref>Lupo S. 2011. History of the Mafia. New York: Columbia University Press.</ref>). In this sense, omertà is the attribute of a man who is essentially responsible for himself and who remains independent of the law and the state. This meaning has however been criticised morally as it might link the idea of manhood to disrespect for collective values. Indeed, it might condone behaviours outside the law, including vendettas and vigilantism. Another suggestion traces the origin of the word to the Italian word ''umiltà'', meaning ‘humbleness’ but, in certain areas of Southern Italy, denoting ‘discretion ‘ or ‘privacy.’ In the Sicilian dialect, the word is pronounced ''umirtà'', which might explain the derivation of omertà (Alongi 1977 [1886]<ref>Alongi G. 1977 (1886). La maffia nei suoi fattori e nelle sue manifestazioni: studio sulle classi pericolose della Sicilia. Turin: Bocca.</ref>). This explanation has also, however, been criticised on the grounds that it justifies silence and non-cooperation as acts of discretion rather than as attempts to pervert the course of justice (Deaglio 1993<ref>Deaglio E. 1993. Raccolto rosso: la mafia, l'Itali: e poi venne giù tutto. Milan: Feltrinelli.</ref>). As a result, the precise origin of the word remains unclear. As the word is used today, however, it appears to borrow from both etymologies. The idea that if someone minds their own businesses and does not get involved in things that do not directly pertain to them is seen, in many cultures prevalent in Southern Italy, as a sign of ‘manhood.’