PIROPOS 1 AS METAPHORS FOR GENDER ROLES IN SPANISH SPEAKING CULTURES

Abstract

1 Piropos are compliments with an amorous or sexual expressive tone, usually said by men to women. The setting is usually the street where the participants do not know each other and can remain anonymous. Participants are anonymous to their interlocutors but they usually perform for an audience of peers. 2 I would like to thank Maria Manoent on following this topic and for her useful comments. 3 The dictionary of the Real Academia EspaZola defines piropo as a "lisonja o requiebro" [1068] [form of compliment]. According to the etymological dictionary of Cornominas the meaning of piropo as a form of compliment comes from the use of the word in the sense of a precious stone addressed to a woman.(564) This dictionary also suggests that the word used with this meaning could have appeared in some of Quevedo's verses from the XVII century. PIROPOS AS METAPHORS FOR GENDER ROLES IN SPANISH SPEAKING CULTURES Mariana Achugar 2 Abstract This paper analyzes the piropo in Spanish discourse as a speech event and as cognitive metaphor. This form of indirect speech act represents a Spanish discourse tradition that is still present in today's discourse practices of Spanish-speaking cultures. These piropos are seen as reflections in language of the traditional roles of men and women in Spanish speaking cultures. The roles of men and women as depicted in the analysis of piropos shows a very defined place for each sex in these societies. Women are constructed as passive recipients and reactive, men as active producers and initiators