1953  ?OT? Lunfardo, language and tango

Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 06:15:43 -0800
From: Catrina Imports <catrinaimports@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: ?OT? Lunfardo, language and tango

It has been suggested by one person that talking about
Lunfardo and Argentinean Spanish has no place in the
tango list.

I disagree.

First of all, many old tango songs are in Lunfardo.
Most contain slang and regionalisms. Understanding the
language is key to understanding the songs and the
culture.

Second of all, many of the people in the list travel
to Argentina or want to travel to Argentina, yet they
speak only a little Spanish. Most of those from the US
have learned a mix of Mexican Spanish and "generic
Latin American Spanish"; a few, Peninuslar Spanish. It
would be hard for them to understand many porten~os
and knowing how Argentinean Spanish varies from what
they may have learned in the US should be helpful to
most.

However, if the language of Argentina is too OT for
the list, fine. Just let the moderator(s) say so. I'm
sure everyone in the list will be happy to comply.

saludos,
Kate