Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
or may not be reflected in written materials you
find as you research your trip. However, we
have added the 4 to the numbers we provide.
Language
The language of Argentina is Spanish or
“Castellaño,” as the Argentineans call it. How-
ever, they've flavored it with a cadence and
intonation all their own. The musicality and
variations in pronunciation of the Spanish spo-
ken in Argentina, especially in Buenos Aires,
set it apart from all others. Most notable is the
pronunciation of the “ll,” commonly pronounced
“ya” as in “llama” (“yama”). In Argentina, how-
ever, the “y” becomes a combination of “z” and
“sh” (“zshama”).
For example,
123-4567 is now
4123-4567.
Lunfardo
In some districts of Buenos Aires you're
bound to hear people speaking something
which sounds like Spanish but isn't. That
language, or actually a dialect, is
Lunfardo.
As you know, Buenos Aires is a city of immi-
grants. Lunfardo arose from the need for
mutual understanding among the different
peoples who came to Argentina to start a
new life. It is a recognized dialect; you can
even buy a phrase topic entitled,
Aprender
Lunfardo
(
Learn Lunfardo
).
If you speak Spanish, you'll also pick up on
friends calling one another “che,” and that the
2nd person “tú” has been replaced by “vos,” the
