Book Review: Dame Bola by Christopher Hylland
A Journey Through The Language of Argentinian Football
What’s It About?
Dame Bola is an exploration of Argentina's unique relationship with football, examining how the sport’s language has deeply influenced everyday communication and identity. Readers gain an insight into how the game reflects and shapes life in Argentina, as they understand the cultural, historical, and linguistic significance of football terminology.
Sounds Good. Tell Me More!
There is a part in Nick Hornby’s iconic book Fever Pitch where he he muses on how fans often measure time not by calendar months but by the football season. That reflection has always stuck with me because how often I catch myself thinking purely in terms of season.
Football shapes how we think and talk. We say that we’ve scored an own goal when we do something foolish that comes back to bite us. Or tell our children that they need to keep their eyes on the ball when exams come around and they don’t feel like studying.
There are many more such instances where the English language has been shaped by football. But, it turns out, not as much as the impact that football has had on Argentine society and how they talk.
That notion certainly struck Christopher Hylland during his time living in South America where he found that not only was it much easier to use football as a way to start conversations but also that football sayings were much more commonly used even among those with little interest in the game.
It was that experience which inspired him to write Dame Bola which, at its heart is a phrasebook of all the most popular football based sayings and idioms that find their way in everyday language in Argentina. For each one there is an explanation of its origin along with the context in which it can be used.
Peppered in along the way are a series of anecdotes from Argentine football and the author's own experiences of living in Argentina. These stories infuse Dame Bola with character, adding vibrant color and playful charm that keep it from veering into the territory of an academic text.
Hylland also provides a rich historical backdrop, tracing the evolution of football in Argentina and illustrating how it has become a unifying force amid national triumphs and challenges.
Combined together, along with some later chapters looking at the origins of players’ nicknames as well as games that remain etched in the collective memory, these elements result in a thoroughly enjoyable book that offers valuable insights into both Argentine football fans - or hinchas - and the broader fabric of Argentinian society.
Even So…
The ease with which you can drop in and out of this book will appeal to many; this is not a book that has to be read in the order that it is written. Yet that might be off-putting for those looking for a continuous narrative about the Argentinian game. These would be better off checking out Jonathan Wilson’s masterful Angels With Dirty Faces or Hylland’s own Tears at La Bombonera.
Final Score
Dame Bola stands out as a thoughtful examination of how football transcends being just a sport in Argentina; it is a vital part of the national identity. Through its exploration of language, culture, and history, the book offers valuable insights into the heart of Argentine society, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone interested in understanding the deeper meanings behind the beautiful game.
Dame Bola: A Journey Through the Language of Argentinian Football by Christopher Hylland is available from Pitch Publishing Ltd. A review copy was provided by the publisher.
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