Page 26 - WDT INTERACTIVE

Immigrant groups each adopted different roles in a Spanish dialect infused with Lunfardo, a slang that
their new homeland bringing their skills and expertise mixes in Italian that grew out of the city’s working-class
to Argentina. For instance, the Germans and Italians neighborhoods like Boca and San Telmo.
established vast farmlands, the Basque and Irish domi- We found most people in the cities, especially in
nated cattle and sheep ranches, and the British helped tourist industries, spoke English, although we were
develop much of the country’s first infrastructure. surprised how few young people understood or spoke it
Although the primary language is Spanish, it is – even in the McDonalds in Buenos Aires. One language
significantly mutated by the influence of its immigrants they all speak is Soccer, the national obsession.
especially Italian. Residents of Buenos Aires speak Argentina certainly has had its share of greatness

26 WDT MAGAZINE WINTER 2018