Getting to Know Latin America...
I have to confess to being quite ignorant of Latin American geography, history and culture. However, when learning another language it's important not only to learn the language itself, but also the context in which it's used, thus I'm trying to improve my knowledge.
If you're from a Latin American country, or if you've ever lived in one or visited one, or even if you would simply like to visit one, please add to this thread to say something about the area or one or more of its countries.
5 Answers
Estoy trantando de mejorar mi conocimineto de América Latina, así que he hecho una tabla para mostrar los países (y territorios) allí con sus populaciones y capitales. No soy fuerte en geografía. Cuando oigo el nombre de un país tengo una idea que está en Centro América o en Sur América, pero a menudo no sé exactamente donde queda, su tamaño, populación, capital y todo eso. Para calificar como país (o territorio) de América Latina hay que hablarse allí una lengua romance, pero también he puesto en mi tabla algunos otros países (y territorios) donde no se habla tal idioma. Por lo que respecta América Latina verdadera, hay 26 países y territorios de que 19 tienen español como idioma oficial, 6 tienen francés y uno tiene portugués, pero por supuesto que eso es el más grande, siendo Brasil.
Hay dos gigantes en América Latina: en Centro América hay Méjico (o ‘los Estados Unidos de Méjico’ utilisando su nombre oficial) con 118,000,000 de populación, y en Sur América hay Brasil con 201,000,000. Luego hay algunos países de tamaño parecido a los grandes países europeos: Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela y Perú tienen populaciones entre 30-47,000,000. Luego hay un grupo de países importantes como Chile, Cuba y Bolivia con entre 10-18,000,000. Los otros tienen nombres conocidos pero son más pequeños.
Aunque francés se habla en 6 países y territorios, solo uno queda en la tierra continental, siendo Guayana Francesa, mientras que los demás son islas bastante pequeñas excepto Haití que tiene 10,000,000 de populación.
Por lo que respecta los otros países y territorios donde no se habla ninguna lengua romance (o al menos no como lengua official), inglés se habla en 4, pero todos estos lugares son muy pequeños. Holandés se habla también en Surinam.
I’m trying to improve my knowledge of Latin America, so have made a table showing the countries (and territories) there with their populations and capitals. I'm not good at geography. When I hear the name of a country I have an idea that it’s in Central or South America, but often don’t know exactly where it’s located, its size, population, capital and all that. In order to count as a Latin American country (or territory) it’s necessary that a Romance Language be spoken there, but I’ve also put some other countries (and territories) in my table where they don’t speak such a language. With regard to Latin America proper, there are 26 countries and territories of which 19 have Spanish as their official language, 6 have French, and one has Portuguese, although of course it’s the largest, being Brazil.
There are two giants in Latin America: in Central America there’s Mexico (or ‘the United States of Mexico’ to give it its official name) with a population of 118,000,000, and in South America there’s Brazil with 201,000,000. Then there are a few countries of similar size to the big European countries: Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela and Peru have populations between 30-47,000,000. Then there’s a club of important countries like Chile, Cuba and Bolivia with between 10-18,000,000. The others have famous names but are smaller.
Although French is spoken in 6 countries and territories, only one of these is on the continent, being French Guyana, while the others are islands and quite small except Haiti which has a population of 10,000,000.
Insofar as the other countries and territories are concerned where they don’t speak a Romance language (or at least not officially), English is spoken in 4, although all of these are very small. Dutch is also spoken in Suriname.
As you probably know Falda I lived in Bolivia for a while.
It took me a while to "tune into" the country. I did eventually and felt at home.
Most Bolivians are either Mestizos or European or native Andeans.
With a population of about 10 million it is amazing that their are about 30 indigenous languages. The most common being Quechua, Aymara and Guarani.
There are 9 states some more prosperous than others that have geographical autonomy.
Practically all indigenous people are at least bi-lingual.
Until 2006 Bolivia had never had an indigenous president until Evo Morales was elected with a massive majority.
He passed a law giving all Bolivians a modest state pension and nationalised the petrochemical industry - much to the benefit of Bolivia.
But he also decided to give each of the indigenous "nations" their own autonomy. An odd concept in my opinion.
This tended to result in a less homogenous country because each "nation" could claim to be governed by laws and customs different to the national identity.
The indigenous people of course can live in any of the 9 states so the result is neighbours being governed by different local and national legal practices and customs.
Bolivia is an amazing place - a very rich poor country.
Rich in culture, geography and natural resources and poor because of centuries of being dominated by external forces and its natural resources being plundered - initially of course by the conquistadores. At one point in history 9 times as much silver was taken from Bolivia as was mined in the whole of Europe for example.
Los europeos descubrieron América en 1492 cuando Cristobal Colón quería encontrar una nueva ruta a las Indias viajando hacia el occidente para entrar en el lucrativo comercio de especias. La corona española financió la expedición. En vez de arribar a Japón, Colón arribó a las Antillas.
En total, Colón realizó cuatro viajes, en los cuales descubrió las islas de las Antillas, como Cuba, Puerto Rico, la República Dominicana, y parte de México y Centroamérica, donde actualmente se encuentran Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica y Panamá.
El Papa Alejandro VI dio a España derechos sobre los territorios recién descubiertos que pasaron a formar parte del imperio español, gobernado entonces por los Reyes Católicos, Isabel I de Castilla y Fernando II de Aragón.
Europeans discovered America in 1492 when Cristopher Columbus was looking for a new westward route to Asia to enter into the lucrative spice market. The Spanish crown financed the expedition. Instead of arriving to Japan, Columbus landed in the Antillas.
Columbus did four voyages, in which he discovered the Antillas islands, such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and part of Mexico and Central America, where nowadays form the republics of Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama.
Pope Alexandre VI granted rights to Spain with respect to the newly found territories in the Americas, which then became part of the Spanish empire, then ruled by the Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon.
Gracias a Isabel Allende puedo informarte que no sería buena idea desmayarte en un supermercado en Chile porque la gente no llamarían a la ambuláncia, no, a los chilenos les gustan curarte ellos mismos, y te darían todas las medecinas y drogas que tengan en sus bolsos con mucho consejo inútil y discusiónes entre ellos sobre si se trata de un attaque de corazon o un dolor de estómago o una inflamación del celebro o quizás de la sangre.. ( Isabel Allende: Mi país inventado)
Thanks to Isabel Allende I'm able to tell you that it wouldn't be a good idea to faint in a Chilean supermarket because the people would not call for an ambulance. No, the Chileans prefer to fix people up themselves and they would give you all the medications and drugs that they might have in their handbags , with lots of useless advice and quarrels between themselves as to whether you are suffering from a heart-attack or stomach pain or an inflammation of the brain or maybe blood-poisoning.. ( thanks to Isabel Allende, Mi país inventado)
Worth another turn of the wheel .
