Fala dos arxiñas


Fala dos arginhas 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/Fala das/dos arginas/arginhas, Latín dos canteiros in Galician, Falar dos pedreiros in Portuguese and Latín de los canteiros/canteros in Spanish.

Description

The fala dos arginhas contains a number of Basque loanwords.

Sample of text

The fragments will be marked in parallel to match them with their translation:
  1. Morrom: pra cubicar muriar gidavante da argina,
  2. geres interbar o verbo das arginas gehorrumeando explicas es deeglase dadellastadaria e geras enenvestar moxe gido.
  3. Cando anisques solóte polo deundo a murriar como artina,
  4. gera halrruar toi compinches o nobis verbo
  5. si geres te ormeando aprecio os do gichoficienes
  6. e nente de xerian perreamente os lapingos e buxos.
  7. Xilom, nejo agiote;
  8. xilom, nejo chumar;
  9. xilom, nexo esqueirar;
  10. xilom, gido cabancar;
  11. xilom, gido entileger;
  12. xilom, gido vay;
  13. xilom, gido murriar.
Translation:
  1. "Boy, if you want to practise the job as a stone breaker well,
  2. you have to know the language in which the laws of how to cut stone are explained .
  3. When you go out into the world alone to work as a stone breaker,
  4. you will talk to your job comrades in our language,
  5. if you want to be esteemed by them
  6. and not be treated badly by the masters and misters.
  7. Boy, you will not be a thief,
  8. boy, you will not be a drinker,
  9. boy, you will not be a liar;
  10. boy, you will be well doing;
  11. boy, you will be taught;
  12. boy, you will be true.
  13. boy, you will be a worker."