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CultureGrams can help you broaden your students' understanding of the world and its peoples. The World Edition includes 200+ country profiles, written for junior high students and older. CultureGrams also has a Kids Edition, Provinces Edition, and a States Edition, geared for upper elementary students. These editions include kid-friendly profiles of 70+ countries, all 50 states (including Washington, D.C.), and 13 Canadian provinces and territories.
CultureGrams goes beyond mere facts and figures to deliver an insider's perspective on daily life and culture, including the history, customs, and lifestyles of the world's people.
Country: Argentina
- Capital: Buenos Aires
- Population: 40,301,927
- Area, sq. mi.: 1,068,296
- Area, sq. km.: 2,766,874
- Human Dev. Index rank: 38 of 177 countries
- Adjusted for women: 36 of 156 countries
- Real GDP per capita: $14,280
- Adult literacy rate: 97% (male); 97% (female)
- Infant mortality rate: 15 per 1,000 births
- Life expectancy: 71 (male); 79 (female)
Did You Know?
- Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world.
- An estimated 90 to 97 percent of the population descends from European immigrants.
- Argentines traditionally have eaten more beef per capita than any other people in the world.
Language
While Spanish is the official language of Argentina, accents vary by region. Perhaps the most distinctive is the porteno (Buenos Aires) accent, which has been influenced by Italian. The porteno pronunciation of y and ll as "sh" is particularly distinctive. For example, llamar (to call) is pronounced more like "shah-MAHR" than the typical "yah-MAHR."
Residents of Buenos Aires also use slang expressions collectively called lunfardo, an informal form of speech derived chiefly from Italian. People throughout Argentina commonly use vos rather than the tú or usted forms of address. Italian, German, French, and English are spoken by members of the older generation and by some of their descendants. Quechua, Guaraní, and Mapuche are languages spoken by indigenous peoples.
Gestures
Argentines often use hand gestures in daily conversation to supplement verbal communication. They may also use gestures to communicate with others from a distance. For example, to order a cup of coffee from a distant server, Argentines hold up an extended thumb and index finger separated slightly, with the other fingers folded in a fist.
During conversation, personal space tends to be limited, and individuals might touch each other or stand close. Passing between conversing individuals is considered rude; if it is necessary, one excuses the action by saying Con permiso, or just Permiso, (With your permission). Yawning without covering one's mouth is impolite, as is placing one's hands on the hips, which is seen as confrontational. Pointing with the index finger is considered rude. Men remove hats in buildings, elevators, and in the presence of women. Opening doors for and forfeiting seats to women and the elderly are common practices. Argentines generally do not consider it rude to comment on a person's physical characteristics. For example, negrito (little dark one) and gordita (little fat one) are typical terms of endearment.
Visiting
Argentines often visit friends and relatives without prior arrangement. People enjoy having guests in the home and usually offer them refreshments, such as espresso-style coffee. In some regions, friends and relatives commonly share a ritualistic round of mate (MAH-tay), an herbal tea drunk from a communal cup with a bombilla (metal straw). Sharing a round of mate is a sign of friendship and acceptance.
Invited guests are not expected to arrive on time, as the individual person is considered to be more important than punctuality. Guests may arrive 30 minutes late or later without offending the hosts.
Visitors greet each person in the group individually; a group greeting is inappropriate. Dinner guests often bring a small gift, such as flowers, candy, or pastries, to their hosts. Guests do not take a seat until the hosts direct them to do so. Compliments about the home, meal, or hosts' family are appreciated. When leaving, guests again address every person present, using such common parting phrases as Chau (Bye) or Hasta luego (Until later). The hosts usually open the door for guests when they leave.
Life Cycle
It is very common to name children after parents or grandparents. Most Argentines are Catholics who don't practice their religion. Nevertheless, they usually baptize their children a few months after their birth and name uncles, aunts, or close friends as godparents.
The rituals performed on death depend a good deal on family traditions. Usually, the deceased are taken to velatorios (death parlors), where they spend the night in an open or closed casket that relatives and friends can visit. From the mortuary room to the cemetery the casket is carried in a special vehicle, usually black or navy blue, and followed by a caravan of cars.
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