Argentina One - Text
Female, born Buenos Aries early 70's. First learned English from Scottish teachers. Lived all formative years in Argentina, later traveled extensively in Europe, living in Spain for some time. At time of recording by Paul Meier in 1999, subject had been studying at University of Kansas for three years. Very mild Spanish accent.
TRANSCRIPTION OF UNSCRIPTED SPEECH
I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and I lived there most of my life and went to school there and went to the university there. Most of my friends are there. I lived in other places. I’ve lived in southern Argentina for some time (em) close to the mountains, and the border to Chile-- and the border with Chile (um) which is a very, very beautiful la-- area, an’ I would like to live there if I could, but I think I’ll live in Buenos Aires, just because all my friends, my family are there. I learnt English in Buenos Aires, in a school that was founded by Scottish people, so mos’ of my teacher were Scots (uh) for a while. An’ then, like in high school, it was more mixed. Th’ were some people that studied in Canada, and some Scottish people, and one or two Brits, and some Argentinians that have learned English in different places. I came to the U.S. when I was 16 as a foreign exchange student, and I lived here for three months, in Baltimore, Maryland. Then, after I graduated from the university an’ I worked for like a year and a half or so, I took off for like three months and I traveled through Europe. So I spoke English with a lot of people from different places in the world (um), and I know my-- my accent changed then. I don’t know what happened to it, but it did change. An’ then, I went back home and I worked some more for like another year an’ a half or so, an’ then I took off again. An’ I travelled for like five months, through Europe again, so, probably my accent changed. And then I came to the U.S., to Lawrence, Kansas, and I’ve been here for almost three years. I lived in Galicia, Spain for a year. I hope I go back home soon.
UNSCRIPTED SPEECH TRANSCRIBED BY JACQUELINE BAKER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR TRANSCRIPTIONS, July 24, 2008