Abstract
Like everyone else, I knew since early childhood that some people were poorer, and others richer than us. But I took such inequalities for granted, and they played no role in the soccer field or at school, where social differences were hidden under the compulsory white smock. In addition, we all spoke the Buenos Aires dialect, some plagued with more Italianisms than others. We also spoke clearly instead of mumbling. Moreover, speech was not a crucial social class indicator, the way it still is in Britain: among us the quality of speech was only an education indicator. But speaking correct Castilian was very unusual and regarded as an affectation.