Monday, January 29, 2007

"Come and discover the mistery"

Last night V asked me to check out Guatemalaenvivo.com. Not sure why yet, but I did.

It has a few good pics and this excellent little glossary of chapinismos. I only picked up amishado myself this winter.

Ladinos, we are told, are "a race product of the biologic and cultural crossing between Indians and Europeans," Gringo "a term frequently used to name the US citizens" and Baboso, a "dummy".

Meanwhile Ala!, is an "expression of astonishment or surprise," and not something you'd want to exclaim mid-tunnel on the London Underground these days, unless you want burly off-duty firemen throwing themselves on top of you.

Later this week I reckon will blog about my favourite Guatemaltequismos missing from this list.

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