Look before you: you'll see the symbol of the Argentine Academy of Letters as in the image, a straight Ionic column, surrounded by the words 'Recta Sustenta,' a sign that here, language stands firm - or at least behaves itself!
Imagine yourself in Buenos Aires in 1931, a summer when the Spanish language decided to put on its finest attire. It was in this atmosphere of erudition and tango that the Argentine Academy of Letters was born, driven by a handful of enthusiasts ready to defend the subtleties of Castilian like others defend their football team, with arguments, sometimes in verse... and never short of debates! But beware, here, they don't just collect strange words like 'chamuyo' or 'quilombo'! No, the mission is serious: to advise on how Spanish is used with an Argentine flavor, but also to enrich the national literature - like a well-garnished milanesa, you can never have too much.
But, wait! Let's step back a bit. As early as the 19th century, Buenos Aires scholars realized they needed to capture the avalanche of new words emerging on the banks of the Río de la Plata. Attempts were made to create a local dictionary, lists of colorful words heard in the streets and on dusty roads were compiled... but the task proved titanic, and due to debates and small rivalries, the first attempt fell through. Thousands of collected words ended up in drawers - proof that bureaucracy isn't a new invention!
Finally, in 1931, under a president determined to leave his mark, the true Academy was born. But there was no question of being just a distant cousin of the prestigious Real Academia Española in Madrid! Here, the goal was for writers, poets, playwrights, and translators to make the Argentine soul shine, and also for each chair to bear the name of a great author of the country. I wonder if one could negotiate a 'Gardel' chair for beautifully sung phrases...
The library, let's talk about it! It proudly bears the name of Jorge Luis Borges and today overflows with over 130,000 volumes: from literature to linguistics, poetry, theater, not to mention treasures of Egyptology and incredible rare 19th-century editions. It's said that here, diving into the shelves is a bit like going on an Indiana Jones expedition... but with more grammar!
The Academy also acts as an arbiter: it ensures that advertisements, the press, or official speeches don't invent overly outlandish barbarisms. Writing 'zapato' with two 'p's is a no-go! But, they also reward! Each year, prizes are awarded to young graduates and brilliant authors from the Argentine literary world, in both prose and poetry.
Through the decades, despite political storms, the 1955 dictatorship that thinned its ranks, and then the return to calm, the Academy holds on. Its emblem? That straight column, haloed by its literary sun as you see it before you - a symbol of a language that doesn't let itself be jostled, but stands firm.
Remember, even the greatest argued about the best way to speak Argentine Spanish, but in the end, everyone agrees on one thing: language is cherished, debated, and sometimes... reinvented! So, tell me, do you say 'vos' or 'tú'?
Eager to learn more about the ENDS, the Prize, or the 'Jorge Luis Borges' Library? Simply drop your requests in the chat section, and I'll provide you with the details you need.
