958  Defusing 'boludo', 'HDP', etc.

Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 14:45:39 -0600
From: "Frank G. Williams" <frankw@MAIL.AHC.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Defusing 'boludo', 'HDP', etc.

Friends,

I have seen that Argentines (the sub-set that one can find in milongas,
at least) can be very liberal in interpreting offensive language. It is
that personality, after all, that gave rise to the expressive richness
of Lunfardo (of which I know relatively little). Spoken in anger, names
like boludo/a and hijo de puta (SOB) are very offensive. They can also
be used in cameradery, or as a form of honor, or even to express
affection. When used frequently in conversation, they loose their
negative impact. Thus, my sources inform me that 'boludo' (which refers
to external genetalia) *often* means the same as 'dude' in the US. But
be careful, it is NOT diplomatic parlance.

Chau,

Frank - Mpls.

> Hola, me parece que no tienes razsn. El espanol es mi lengua nativa. Johann
>
> ps. aunque creo que algunos pueden ofenderse sin razon, pero eso siempre
> pasa.
>
> > Johann,
> >
> > If you were referring to this as funny and not offensive, you should know
> > that it is VERY OFFENSIVE to call someone a boludo/a in ARGENTINA.

--
Frank G. Williams, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
612-625-6441

Department of Neuroscience
6-145 Jackson Hall
321 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
205 Veterinary Science
1971 Commonwealth Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108