Author Archives: Ricardo Pires

Airplane

Subject: Folk Speech

Informant: Daniel is originally from Guayaquil, a city in the coast of Ecuador.  He is an only child and has just received a diploma in Business. He has lived in California for the past four years, but will be returning to Ecuador in the coming month.

Original Script: Avión/Airplane

Background information by informant: People that are always spontaneous and always “making moves” are called “avión”, which simply means airplane.

Thoughts: A single word used to describe a complex trait found in people with specific personalities.

Weon

Subject: Folk Speech

Informant: Sebastian was born in Santiago, Chile and has both a younger and older brother. He is currently finishing his studies in Cinema in California and plans to return to Santiago once he graduates. He spent all his childhood in Chile until coming abroad to the U.S. to study.
Original Script: Puta el weon weon weon / That guy is so dumb dude

Background information by informant: This is just one example of how the word “weon” can be used in Chile to mean three different things in one phrase. However, the term can be used in a variety of circumstances, even as a an insult or a term of endearment.

Thoughts: A piece of folklore speech such as this one demands immense depths of knowledge from a certain culture to be fully understood and utilized appropriately.

Cazuela

Subject: Culinary

Informant: Sebastian was born in Santiago, Chile and has both a younger and older brother. He is currently finishing his studies in Cinema in California and plans to return to Santiago once he graduates. He spent all his childhood in Chile until coming abroad to the U.S. to study.

 
Original Script: Cazuela is a typical dish in Chile that everyone eats. It’s a very tasty soup with a variety of natural and inexpensive ingredients. Because it tastes good and is very affordable, it is always a good option for a meal. That’s why it became so common in Chile.

Background information by informant: In certain areas of Chile, soup is an especially common dish for the colder climates call for a warmer meal.

Thoughts: Like many other places, Chile has a common dish that surpasses social or economic barriers and is enjoyed by all.

Bums

Subject: Game

Informant: Michael was born and raised in London. His father is British and his mother is American, hence he was exposed to both cultures growing up. He currently studies Health Promotion in Los Angeles and is the captain of the universities’ rugby team. Michael is also the president of his fraternity at the university.

Original Script: If you are playing the football game called World Cup (one goal, one keeper, six players), the aim is to avoid elimination. To do that, you must score a goal to move on to the next round. If you don’t succeed, you receive a punishment called “bums”. Basically it entails standing in the goal with your ass facing the other players while they all take one shot aimed at your but.

Background information by informant: World Cup is a typical game that football enthusiasts play with their friends, especially when there aren’t enough players to play a full field game.

Context of performance: The football game known as World Cup.

Thoughts: The idea of introducing bums as a punishment naturally increases the stakes of the game and consequently makes it more exiting, intense, and enjoyable. That is if you are able to survive through the next round.

The Cross of Saint George

Subject: Myth

Informant: Michael was born and raised in London. His father is British and his mother is American, hence he was exposed to both cultures growing up. He currently studies Health Promotion in Los Angeles and is the captain of the universities’ rugby team. Michael is also the president of his fraternity at the university.

Original Script: The red cross on the British flag comes from the cross of Saint George. Saint George was a crusader during the middle ages that slayed dragons and his main symbol was a white flag with a red cross on it. This red cross became so prominent in the U.K. that it eventually became incorporated into the countries flag.

Background information by informant: You learn the story of Saint George’s cross not only at home, but also in school when learning about the countries history.

Thoughts: It is interesting to see how folklore can even be embedded within the symbolic emblem of a country.