Quite a spectacle

Objectively, compared to most other languages, Italian is very similar to English. We share many, many "cognates", and even though there are some "false friends" that are misleading, you can often figure out the general meaning of a written sentence once you learn how to pronounce Italian.

Today I saw a traffic sign advising drivers to observe (rispettate) the speed limit. I thought "observe, respect, that makes sense." Then I thought of several other English words based on the root "spect" (which www.etymology.com says comes from Latin spectaculum "a show, spectacle"). Respect, aspect, expect, suspect, introspection, retrospect, prospect, spectacular, inspect, respect, spectator, spectacle all come to mind, there are probably others.

Not all of these translate directly. For example, "aspettare" means "to wait", as well as "to expect."

I had never thought of the connection in English until making it in Italian.