There are 24 replies in this Thread which was already clicked 223 times. The last Post () by Rice.

Early bird or night owl?

    I find the linguistical heritage side of Argentina's history very interesting. So for example I know that in the case of British immigrants and how their use of English has held up over the past 150 years or so in the household, it depleted to close to zero by the end of the 1970s.


    So I wonder serafina if the the use of Italian amongst the immigrant Italian community became more deeply embedded by sheer numbers of immigrants and social influence in Argentina and has survived better through the generations than English did?

    Bombonera , dont forget about the Welsh speakers in Chubut.


    If you are in the top social classes, many will speak to each other in Welsh - It apparently is a sign that you have arrived in top society.


    I understand the only place that publishes publications in Welsh ( apart from Wales) Is Chubut. There is still a magazine that is published in Welsh apparently

    Quote from Bombonera

    I find the linguistical heritage side of Argentina's history very interesting. So for example I know that in the case of British immigrants and how their use of English has held up over the past 150 years or so in the household, it depleted to close to zero by the end of the 1970s.


    So I wonder serafina if the the use of Italian amongst the immigrant Italian community became more deeply embedded by sheer numbers of immigrants and social influence in Argentina and has survived better through the generations than English did?

    Not at all. Perhaps the likeliness between Spanish and Italian and the unfanciness or lack of prestige being associated with speaking Italian have lead to its demise.

    Many locals will say "I understand it all, but I can't speak it". However, as soon as you start to speak in Italian, they can't understand a thing.


    There are exceptions, but it is because those people actually studied the language like they'd do with any foreign language, regardless of their family heritage. Let's not forget that Italian as spoke today was widely know only until after WWII, and most immigrants left Italy sooner than that. They brought their local dialect with them, not standard Italian.