Learning Spanish in Argentina

This is the first explanation of ‘vos’ I’ve ever heard. Generally when I ask about it, people shrug and say “that’s just the way it is.”

This makes great sense. Thanks!

A handy video tutorial on Argentine Spanish (Castellano)

Quote from Rice

And with the forced introduction of “todes,” will Presidente de todos los Argentinos become Presidente de todes los Argentinos? or even Presidente de todes les Argentines? (Crossing over to French)

How, exactly, will “todes” work? Is there any agreement with related words, or is the masculine form, todos, being changed to a genderless form while all the following words retain their gender? And if that’s the case, what’s the point?

This nowadays common phrase "todos y todas de los argentinos y argentinas" is the most ridiculous use of Castilian language. It serves to ensure that the womens are included. Since the beginnings of Castilian (XII century), the word "todos" included men and women. Another proof of demagogy this time absurd.

Some of this I noted also in English (he/she) in several progressive texts.

Quote from Rice

This is the first explanation of ‘vos’ I’ve ever heard. Generally when I ask about it, people shrug and say “that’s just the way it is.”

This makes great sense. Thanks!

"Vos" is used now as a familiar treatment, But surprisingly it comes from a way to address a higher class person:

"Vuestra merced", a r espectful manner to talk with a high cass person,

I noted that Spanish language will never grow in the United States,

Spanish is the language of the poor, recently inmigrant people.

A few months ago I was teaching in the USA and there was a Guatemalan lady (of course his mother language was Spanish) and to be sympathetic I tried to speak in Spanish, but she reteruned to English.

I suspect that she was ashamed to show that she was from Hispanic origin. The cruel issue is that his ethnical appearance was not caucasic at all, and this reluctance to speak Spanish would be useless.

To tell tne truth, all related to Spain has a low prestige in the world of today, dominated by the anglosphere. The black legend, (fueled by France, England and the Netherlands), the evident decadence of Spain from the Napoleonic wars until 1955, and the poor development of her former dominions contrubuted to this contempt.

John McWhorter is a noted linguist who enjoys exploring all aspects of languages. Here he asks if translation apps will supplant the actual learning of foreign languages. Quite interesting.

[article is unlocked and free as a benefit of my subscription. Enjoy!]

Opinion | Will Translation Apps Make Learning Foreign Languages Obsolete? (Gift Article)

And if so, is that really such a disaster?

www.nytimes.com

Quote from Rice

John McWhorter is a noted linguist who enjoys exploring all aspects of languages. Here he asks if translation apps will supplant the actual learning of foreign languages. Quite interesting.

[article is unlocked and free as a benefit of my subscription. Enjoy!]

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/0…fVoJojGwBA&smid=url-share

Translators don't help in learning the language per se. I use them for quoting an article written in Spanish because I'm too lazy to write the translation.

Here are some good examples of the nuances of Spanish as spoken here:

Translation troubles: eating stories - Buenos Aires Herald

The Herald’s weekly dive into the newsroom’s bilingual hurdles

buenosairesherald.com

My lack of Spanish drives the missus mad. I didn't learn it because I didn't plan on still being here in 2023.

Oh man! That BA Herald article illustrates PRECISELY why attempting language acquisition is so frustrating.

My own attempt was vigorous for the first year or two. Then I realized how easy it was to coast, and I let up for a few years. In about 2010 I realized I’d never be able to have any but superficial conversations unless I became serious about learning Spanish, and I hired a tutor for lessons twice a week. After a couple of months it became clear that I’d taken on a full time job, and I was spending long hours studying instead of enjoying being in this beautiful city.

Given the choice, I’m afraid I’m sticking with the decision to speak lamentable Castellano so I can have long, wonderful days exploring the fascinating nooks and crannies of BsAs.

Handy for future employees in Argieland.

Quote

Nota de una empresa de USA a su personal en Argentina

It has been brought to our attention by several officials visiting our office in Buenos Aires that offensive language is commonly used by our spanish speaking staff. Such behavior, in addition to violating our policy, is highly unprofessional and offensive to both visitors and staff. All personnel will immediatly adhere to the following rules:

1. Words like carajo, la puta madre o me da en el quinto forro del orto and other such expressions will not be tolerated or used for emphasis or dramatic effect, no matter how heated a discussion may become.

2. You will not say la cagó when someone makes a mistake, or lo están cagando a pedos if you see someone being reprimended, or qué cagada when a major mistake has been made. All forms and derivations of the verb cagar are utterly innapropiate and unacceptable in our environment.

3. No project manager, section head or administrator under any circumstances will be referred as hijo de mil puta, forro, sorete, es una mierda or es una bosta.

4. Lack of determination will not be referred to as falta de huevos nor will persons who lack initiative be referred to as cagón de mierda, pelotudo or boludo.

5. Unusual or creative ideas offered by management are not to be referred as pajas mentales or pelotudeces.

6. Do not say cómo hincha las pelotas nor qué denso de mierda if a person is persistent; do not add cagó fuego, if a colleague is going through a difficult situation. Furthermore, you must not say cagamos (refer to item #2) nor nos rompieron el orto when a matter becomes excessively complicated.

7. When asking someone to leave you alone, you must not say andate a la concha de tu hermana nor should you ever substitute "May I help you?" with ¿Qué mierda querés?

8. Under no circunstances should you ever call your elderly industrial partners viejos chotos.
9. Do not say me chupa un huevo when a relevant project is presented to you, nor should you ever answer sobame el nabo when your assistance is required.

10.You should never call partners as puto de mierda or vieja tortillera; the sexual behavior of our staff is not to be discussed in terms suchs as viejo trolo, la mira con cariño or mariquita.

11. Last but not least, after reading this note, please don´t say me la paso por el orto. Just keep it clean and dispose of it properly.

Thank you.

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… and a handy manual for all learning Spanish!