Latín dos canteiros
Latín dos canteiros ("Latin of the stonecutters") or verbo dos arginas[1] is an argot employed by stonecutters in Galicia, Spain, particularly in the area of Pontevedra,[2] based on the Galician language. They handed down their knowledge in the art of how to split and cut stone by means of this secret language to the next generation.
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Stone monument from Beariz with a poem by Xesús Antonio Gulías Lamas in the cant.
Sample of text
In latín dos canteiros[3] | English translation |
---|---|
Morrón: pra cubicar muriar xidavante da argina, | Boy, if you want to practise the job as a stone breaker well, |
xeres interbar o verbo das arginas xejorrumeando explicas es deeglase dadellastadaria e xeras enenvestar moxe xido. | you have to know the language in which the laws of how to cut stone are explained [...]. |
Cando anisques solóte polo deundo a murriar como artina, | When you go out into the world alone to work as a stone breaker, |
xera jalrruar toi compinches o nobis verbo | you will talk to your job comrades in our language, |
si xeres te ormeando aprecio os do gichoficienes | if you want to be esteemed by them |
e nente de xerian perreamente os lapingos e buxos. | and not be treated badly by the masters and misters. |
Xilón, nexo agiote; | Boy, you will not be a thief, |
xilón, nexo chumar; | boy, you will not be a drinker, |
xilón, nexo esqueirar; | boy, you will not be a liar; |
xilón, xido cabancar; | boy, you will be well doing; |
xilón, xido entileger; | boy, you will be taught; |
xilón, xido vay; | boy, you will be true. |
xilón, xido murriar. | boy, you will be a worker." |
References
- Varela Pose, F.J. (2004) O latín dos canteiros en Cabana de Bergantiños Archived 3 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine. (pdf) Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
- El Basilisco, número 3, julio-agosto 1978, Teatro Critico, sobre jergas de gremio e iniciación en el gran tronco Jacobeo, Fernando Sánchez Dragó, Madrid
- Ballesteros, Curial Julio Verbo das arginas. Jerga-latín de los canteros Pontevedra (1919)
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