PRESENTATION BY: AMANDA, SERENA, TIFFANY, JOHN, AND VALENCIA

ARGENTINA CULTURE AT A GLANCEThis presentation of Argentina is going to give

you a glance at Argentina’s culture. It will provide you an overview on the religion, etiquette,

money, safety, gender roles, clothing, holidays, and communication verbal and non verbal. It

should give you a glimpse into the life Argentina people.

Non verbal communication-Tiffany Ross

Money, Safety, Etiquette- Valencia Jones

Religion, Holidays, Lunfardo

communication-Serena Rohrbeck

Communication/Interview-John Schuler

Gender Roles- Amanda Reeves

Clothing-Nikita Riedel

Non Verbal CommunicationBy: Tiffany Ross

Dance Food

Music

• “Although it has come to epitomize the glamour and elegance of high society, with women in sleek glittering evening gowns and men in tuxedos, the Argentine Tango originated in society's underbelly, the brothels. As immigrants from Europe, Africa, and ports unknown streamed into the outskirts of Buenos Aires during the 1880's, many came toward the houses of ill repute. The tango dance originated as an "acting out" of the relationship between the prostitute and her pimp.”

“With the appearance of a square accordion, the ‘bandoneon’ is actually closer to the concertina (using all buttons rather than a traditional piano keyboard as the mechanism to sound the notes). Each end of the bandoneon is a square wooden box containing a small reed organ operated by several rows of buttons. These boxes are connected by a folding bellows. Expanding and contracting the bellows provides air to the reed organs producing the sounds, and depressing the buttons directs air to the appropriate reed.”

“In Argentina, Eduardo Arolas is credited as being the main early pioneer of the instrument and having forever intertwined the fates of the bandoneon and the tango artform. Eduardo said that the bandoneon was made to play the tango, with its deep melancholy feeling that the immigrants enjoyed as a sentimental tingle in their hard working lives.”

Maté is a green leaf tea drink that is shared among Argentineans. It is the most strongest nonverbal communication in the country. It is considered to be the unified language of Argentina. One reason that maté is considered to be so important is because it means to trust your inner circle. For example, when a man wants to ask for a women's hand in marriage he will go to her home. There he will be surrounded by her entire family, at that point he will be offered maté. If the man takes a drink then he is granted permission and becomes a part of the family.

It is very common in a Argentinean home that at the end of a work day, when everyone gets home they stop what they are doing and sit down to share maté. For people who are not familiar with maté, coming to visit or work in Argentina, can be a cultural shock. For example, for business professional it is a must that you drink maté. No maté no work. Maté is offered to you where ever you go. It is a very deep tradition in the country. When the president of the country addresses his people, he will sip on a cup of maté.

“The flavor of brewed yerba mate is strongly vegetal, herbal, and grassy, reminiscent of some varieties of green tea. Some consider the flavor to be very agreeable, but it is generally bitter if steeped in boiling water. (Using boiling water is not recommended; traditionally the water temperature is between 160–180 °F (71–82 °C) when steeping the leaves. The water should be steaming hot yet not quite boiling.) One can also purchase flavored mate, in which the yerba is blended with an herb (such as peppermint) or citrus rind.”

“The infusion called mate is prepared by steeping dry leaves (and twigs) of yerba mate in hot water, rather than in boiling water like black tea. Drinking mate with friends from a shared hollow gourd with a metal straw is a common social practice in Argentina among people of all ages.”

Money Safety $

Eti quett e

Etiquette in ArgentinaMeeting EtiquetteIn general, Argentines prefer for your hostess to introduce you first at a gatheringInitial greetings are formal and follow a set protocol of greeting the eldest or most important first

*Note that maintaining eye contact indicates interestDining Etiquette If you are invited to an Argentine home: Dress well

Men should wear a jacket and a tie, and women should wear a dress or a skirt, and a blouseArrive 30-45 minutes later than invited for a dinner partyThe next day, give your hosts a call to thank them

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/argentina.html

Both men and women greet each other by kissing on the cheek. In very formal encounters men and women shake hands. People address each other with the colloquial form vos (singular "you," equivalent to tu in other Spanish speaking countries). To convey social distance, people employ the more formal usted (to talk to superiors or to elders). Social physical distance in everyday encounters is much closer than in the United States. Argentines might touch each other when talking and might feel awkward when North Americans reject physical proximity and contact. Women and men gaze at each other, and it is still quite common that men use piropos (flirtateous remarks) when a woman walks by.

Culture of Argentina - traditional, history, people, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Argentina.html#ixzz1FOuuincM

•Argentine Constitution guarantees religious freedom•Roman Catholicism acts as official state religion•Islamic religion is also active in this country, numbers increasing within the last 10 to 15 years

We all know that crime is unfortunately apart of our society, so each culture has its precautions to take to protect individuals.

These are Argentina’s tips:• Do not leave any valuables visible in your

car, while your car is unattended• While driving, ensure that all car doors

remain locked• Do not walk around the city with your

money and passport visible• Do not show large amounts of cash when

making purchases• Do not walk alone in deserted areas, or at

night• Do not leave your belongings unattended

while checking into a hotel• Beware of pickpockets!• http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Argentina/Culture-and-Customs-in

Argentina/28

Currency in Argentina are pesosBills are available in 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesosIf you are a non-native visiting, it is highly recommended that you do several things to ensure the value of your money:• Bring your own local currency (American

dollars)

• Change it into pesos when necessary

• Use an official Cambio (exchange rate system) to get better exchange rates

• Most importantly, check any money that is handed to you as change-counterfeiting is a current issue in Argentina

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/argentina.html

Let’s Talk About Money

Safety First

Argentine ReligionTraditional Holidays

Buenos Aires Slangby Serena Rohrbeck

• Historically, the Catholic religion played a very important part in politics and law. Before changes were made to the Constitution in 1994, the two top leaders of Argentina had to be Roman Catholic.

• Although the Constitution states that the federal government is Roman Catholic, it also guarantees freedom of religion for all.

• Officially, 90% of Argentinians are Roman Catholic. The remaining 10% are Jews, Muslims, and members of Russian, Greek and Syrian Orthodox churches and Protestant denominations.

• Buenos Aires has the second largest Jewish population (300,000) in the Americas after New York.http://www.argentour.com/en/argentina/

argentina_religion.php

http://www.the-allure-of-argentina.com/argentinatraditions.htmlBeebe, Beebe, and Ivy

Easter, Las Pascuas, is celebrated over a two week period. Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday, is known as Semana Santa, or Holy Week. This involves the complete reenactment of the Passion of Christ in many villages in the country.

January 1st -- Ano Nuevo or New Year's Day is celebrated by a late dinner with family and fireworks at midnight.

April 2nd -- Dia de las Malvinas or Malvinas Day commemorates the day in 1982 that the Argentine military invaded the Falkland Islands with the commitment of reclaiming them from the British.

May 1st -- Dia de los Trabajadores or Labor Day. Since the turn of the century, labor movements have used this day to raise social awareness of the struggle of the worker.

“Identifying what a given group of people values, or appreciates can give us insight into he behavior of an individual raised within that culture.” Beebe, Beebe, and Ivy.Argentina’s culture is reflected in its holidays and customs. It becomes evident that, though the population originates from different parts of Europe, they are a homogenous and patriotic people. Holidays are a welcome opportunity to spend time with family, close and extended and eat.

July 9th -- Dia de la Independencia or Independence Day. This day celebrates the signing of the declaration that gave Argentina independence from Spain.

May 25th -- Revolucion de Mayo or the May Revolution of 1810. Also known as National Day as it is the anniversary of the first national government in Argentina upon obtaining their independence from Spain. December 25th -- NavidadAfter church services, the Christmas feast is celebrated late in the evening of December 24th. At midnight a toast of champagne, cider or clerico, a mixture of wine, fruit and ice, is made and gifts are exchanged. Fireworks are then enjoyed in the balmy early morning. Many residents of Buenos Aires flood the beaches of Mar del Plata on Christmas Day.

http://argentinastravel.com/1831/lunfardo-a-survivors-guide-to-slang-in-buenos-aires/http://www.fontanatango.com/Lunfardo.html

Beebe, Beebe, and Ivy

According to Beebe, Beebe, and Ivy, “Co-cultures develop unique languages of their own as a way of

forging connections and enhancing solidarity.” Thus, language helps define a country’s cultural

identity. There is no other country in the Spanish-speaking world with the colloquialisms found in

Argentina, the Lunfardo.

Lunfardo is frequently found in the lyrics of tangos, supplying nuances and double-entendres with

overtones of sex, drugs, and the criminal underworld.

Most sources believe that Lunfardo originated in jails, as a prisoner-only argot. Circa 1900, the

word lunfardo itself (originally a deformation of lombardo in several Italian dialects) was used to

mean "outlaw". Other words arrived from the pampa by means of the gauchos; a small number

originated in Argentina's black population.

A characteristic of lunfardo is its use of wordplay, notably vesre (reversing the

syllables). Thus, tango becomes gotán and café con leche becomes feca con

chele.

By John Schuler

“Argentines also love generic nicknames – the type that’s usually based on a person’s most distinctive feature. Anyone who’s overweight is ‘gordo’ (fat) or

‘gordito’ (little fatty), anyone with darker skin is ‘negro,”

“ There is no such thing as politically correct in Argentina.” Names that would be extremely offensive in the United States are names of

endearment, friendship.iguide.travel/Argentina/Language

www.gringobuenosaires-masters-nicknames

“To be mindful a mindful communicator, you should constantly remind yourself that other people are not like you.”

“other people do not use different communication strategies to offend or to be rude”

The Blue Book of Communication Studies. S,Beebe.2010 pg. 164

“ To cultivate the skill to be mindful we can use self talk. Self talk consists of messages you tell yourself to help you manage your discomfort, emotions, or negative thoughts about situations. For example, acknowledging cultural differences through self talk, rather than emotionally and mindlessly becoming offended, can help you maintain your composure and communicate in a manner appropriate to the circumstances.”

The Blue Book of Communication Studies. S. Beebe 2010 pg. 164

Interview with Argentinean; Karina Bauza SchulerFebruary 21, 2011

Interviewer: Do you agree with these websites ,that Argentineans use these terms that in the United States would be considered an insult?

Argentinean: “I agree, we use these terms for people that you know; friends, classmates, co-workers, wife and children.”

Interviewer: Would they use a word like big-nose?Argentinean: “Yes” Interviewer: These names based on peoples looks

are a sign of love and affection?Argentinean: “Yes”

Gender Roles

By Amanda Reeves

Machismo and Gender Relations• Machismo, loosely defined as "an exaggerated masculinity" by the Merriam-

Webster dictionary, is a strong cultural influence in Latin American countries.• If you are a women in Argentina you may receive cat calls from Argentine

men and be exposed to machista comments and attitudes.

•It's inevitable. Some expressions are worse than others, all are annoying, and you're going to hear them.

•It's part of the culture, so men don't necessarily think that what they're doing is offensive.

•If you get whistled or called out on the street, keep walking and don't respond. If the person is persistent, say "Déjeme en paz" or something similar. Forget your manners: you don't have to smile and respond to strange men yelling at you on the street.

Things to remember when it comes to machismo:

http://www.spanishstudies.org/GenderAndDiversityInArgentina-id-464.html

That machismo is often measured by the number of sexual conquests a man can notch up…Yet Argentine women are supposed to be as virtuous as their mothers, to emulate the Virgin Mary.

BBC NEWS-Daniel Schweimler

• • The nuclear family is the most common household unit. Small families of one or two children are the norm.

Partly for economic reasons and partly because of tradition, sons and daughters often stay with their parents until they are well into their twenties or until they marry. Newlyweds find a new home in which to live, distant from all of their kin. Couples share household responsibilities, although women generally perform more household activities than men.

• Marriage is freely decided by men and women. Only minors (younger than age 18) need parental consent to marry. Argentina is one of the countries with the largest number of consensual unions. The government only recognizes civil marriage. The Catholic Church is very influential in Argentina and has strongly opposed divorce. However, divorce was legalized in the 1980s.

Although there are no legal impediments to women performing most roles, their access to some positions of power is limited. Very few women are elected as senators, and there are fewer female than male deputies. The same applies to other governmental positions such as ministers and secretaries of state. There are some professions in which women outnumber men such as architecture.

Argentine law used to grant men special authority over the children ( patria potestas ). Current legislation states that parents share authority over their children. Children may not leave the country with one parent unless they have the written authorization of the other.

Culture of Argentina - traditional, history, people, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Argentina.html#ixz

The Relative Status of Women and Men

Domestic Unit

Marriage.

Division of Labor by Gender.

ClothingBy Nikita Riedel

Formal ClothingArgentina is influenced by many neighboring and distant cultures. This means there are a variety of dress styles. The easiest way to separate the styles is relating dress codes to cities and villages. “The people in the cities put on dress that resembles very closely to that of Australians. It consists of formal dress of shirts, trousers, and coat.” (2011, para 2).Wearing this type of clothing is a nonverbal way of stating social status.

An invasion of blue jeans that took place in Argentina in 1975 was the start of its Americanization that is still apparent today. The blue jean stood for a cowboy and was identified with the American culture. The change resulted in a new lifestyle for youth and removed a distinction between men and women. (Continued on next slide)

The blue jean represented a youth identity and was the first piece of clothing that was worn by men and women. They also served for a way of recognizing class distinctions because of name brands. The author mentioned the blue jean helped young people to cementing a sense of generational belonging. The way people dress can serve as a visual metaphor for identity.

During the introduction of the blue jean, the country was lead by Gen. Juan Carlos Ongan. He was very authoritative and was against women wearing the jeans. This lead to many political debates mainly because of what the youth's generation represented. "They actively engaged in radical politics and committed themselves to political militancy in party, student, and neighborhood organizations they contributed to create.“ (Manzano, 2009).

The jeans served as a form of nonverbal communication through informal clothing. Anyone dressed in blue jeans was assumed to be involved in radical politics and were seen as a threat to society and their culture. Putting on a pair of jeans was their way of effectively using and interpreting nonverbal messages.

Argentine National FlowerCeibo

Conclusion

Argentine society incorporates verbal and nonverbal communication through it’s music, Tango, clothing and language. Argentine’s customs, patriotic holidays and religion reflect the intricate nature of its culture.  Visiting a foreign country means experiencing a different way of life. Every culture has its own etiquette, protocol and customs which if not understood may result in social faux pas, embarrassment, or cause others to take offense.

Questions• 1. What are the three things to remember when it comes to machismo in Argentina?

• 2. Argentina is influenced by fashion from other cultures. Why do you think it is important to keep traditional clothing relevant?

• 3. The cowboy look is a more informal way of dress in Argentina and is linked to America. How do you think this style is viewed today compared to when it was first introduced to the country in 1975?

• 4. If someone calls you "Gordo" (fatso), or "Negro"(black) in Argentina should you take offence.

• 5. Argentina's early settlers originated from different parts of Europe and Africa. How did they manage to overcome their language barriers?

References• Argentina Religion (2010). Retrieved from http://www.argentour.com/en/argentina/ argentina_religion.php

• Argentina Traditions: The Festivals, Observances and Celebrations Surrounding National Holidays (2011). Retrieved from http://www.the-allure-of-argentina.com/argentinatraditions.html

• BBC NEWSSaturday, 18 November, 2000, 15:53 GMT ,Daniel Schweimlerin Buenos Aires

• Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J. & Ivy, D. K. (2010). The Blue Communication Studies (Tacoma Community College Custom Edition). New York: Pearson

• Berrios, M. (2008). Lunfardo, a Survivor’s guide to Slang in Buenos Aires. Retrieved from http:// argentinastravel.com/1831/lunfardo-a-survivors-guide-to-slang-in-buenos-aires

• Culture of Argentina - traditional, history, people, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Argentina.html#ixzz1FOvIMiLF

• Fontana, P. (n.d.). Lunfardo. Retrieved from http://www.fontanatango.com/Lunfardo.html

• iguide.travel/Argentina/Language www.gringobuenosaires-masters-nicknames

• http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Argentina/Culture-and-Customs-inArgentina/28

• http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/argentina.html

• Manzano, Valeria. (2009). The Blue Jean Generation: Youth, Gender, and Sexuality in Buenos Aires, 1958-1975. Journal of Social History. (3), 657. Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com

• Photo source http://argentina-travel.org/argentina-flag.php

• http://www.spanishstudies.org/GenderAndDiversityInArgentina-id-464.html

• The Blue Book of Communication Studies. S,Beebe.2010 pg. 164

• Traditional Argentina Clothing. Retrieved from http://ushouldvisit.com (2011).