Fala dos arxinas (argot)

Fala dos arxinas is the name of an argot employed by stonecutters in Galicia, Spain, particularly in the area of Pontevedra, 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 from generation to generation.

Name

It is variously known is Verbo das/dos arginas/arxinas, Latín dos canteiros in Galician, falar dos pedreiros in Portuguese and Latín de los canteiros/canteros in Spanish.

Description

The fala dos arxinas contains a number of Basque loanwords.

Sample of text

Morrón: pra cubicar muriar xidavante da argina, xeres interbar o verbo das arginas xejorrumeando explicas es deeglase dadellastadaria e xeras enenvestar moxe xido. Cando anisques solóte polo deundo a murriar como artina. Xera jalrruar toi compinches, o nobis verbo si xeres te ormeando aprecio, os do gichoficienes e nente de xerian perreamente os lapingos e buxos. Xilón, nexo agiote; xilón, nexo chumar; xilón, nexo esqueirar; xilón, xido cabancar; xilón, xido entileger; xilón, xido vay, xilón xido murriar.

Translation: «Boy, if you want to practice the job as a stone breaker well, you have to know the language in which the laws of how to cut stone are explained. When you go out into the world alone to work as a stone breaker you will talk to your job comrades in our language, if you want to be esteemed by them and not be treated badly by the masters and misters. Boy, you will not be a thief, boy, you will not be a drinker, boy, you will not be a liar. Boy you will be well doing. Boy, you will be taught. Boy, you will be true. Boy, you will be a worker.»

Bibliography

• El Basilisco, número 3, julio-agosto 1978, Teatro Critico, sobre jergas de gremio e iniciación en el gran tronco Jacobeo, Fernando Sánches Drago, Madrid

See also

• Barallete
• Bron
• Cant
• Gacería