Languages ​​of North America. Indigenous peoples of South America

The first mention of the Spanish language dates back to the 2nd century BC and it appeared on the Iberian Peninsula and has now spread to several continents. It is spoken by more than 400 million people in different countries of the world. Such a phenomenon as Latin American Spanish appeared thanks to the arrival of the conquistadors in America. Then the conquered countries began to speak the language of the invaders, mixed with local dialects. This is the same Spanish language, it is not distinguished separately, but is called a dialect or “national variant of the language.”

About 300 million Spanish-speaking people live in 19 countries of Latin America, for half of them it is a second language, and there is also a local one. Among the population there are many Indians, there are Uruguayans, Guarani, their number ranges from 2% (in Argentina) to 95% in Paraguay. For them, Spanish has not become their native language; many do not even know it at all. In some countries, archaisms have been preserved - words, addresses and figures of speech that have not been used for a long time.

Today, in addition to Spain itself, Spanish is spoken in Mexico and the countries of Central America - Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua. There are 3 countries in the Antilles with the predominant use of the language - Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rico. On the mainland of South America there are also countries that use Spanish as their main or second language - Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia. The Rioplata region of the mainland is occupied by the states: Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay; a lot of Spanish-speaking people live on their territory (more than 90% of Argentines speak Spanish).

Reasons for differences in language in different Latin American countries

The territory of modern Peru was inhabited for a long time by colonizers, mainly of noble origin, so the Spanish language in this country is closest to the original one. At the same time, unskilled workers and peasants lived in Chile and Argentina, who spoke more without complex phrases and words, simply in a working manner. Therefore, the Spanish language in Chile, its Chilean version, is very different from the classical pure one.

In countries where mainly Guarani Indians lived, the original Spanish mixed heavily with the local language, borrowing from them the features of spoken language, pronunciation and vocabulary. This option is most evident in Paraguay. But on the territory of modern Argentina lived both Spanish colonialists and local residents, as well as immigrants, who made up up to 30% of the total population. So the pure language was diluted by the dialect of local residents and the peculiarities of the conversation of visitors, in particular Italians.

Lexical features

The vocabulary of the Spanish language has undergone changes since the beginning of its existence, borrowing words and meanings from different languages ​​and dialects. The conquest of the territory of modern Latin America was no exception. When the Spaniards came here, the bulk of the population were Indians and local tribes with their own linguistic characteristics. The colonizers, in turn, brought their families, black slaves, and their own speech patterns. Thus, all changes in vocabulary that occurred in Spanish in these countries can be divided into 2 main groups:

• Local words that have entered the Spanish vocabulary, denoting some features of the life and life of the indigenous inhabitants of the mainland, as well as Anglo-Saxon, Italian or American concepts;
• Spanish words that have undergone changes while living in Latin American countries.

A separate category of words – archaisms, or “Americanisms” – appeared due to the transition of some concepts into the vocabulary of local residents from the Spanish language. Their peculiarity lies in the fact that in Spain they have not been used for a long time or have been greatly modified, turning into a new word.

For example, the word “pollera”, used in Latin America, means “skirt”, but is not used at all in Spain. This also includes prieto (black color) and frazada (blanket), which in Spanish would sound like negro and manta, respectively.

Thanks to the Indians and other peoples living on the mainland, many words hitherto unknown to the Spaniards came into the Spanish language.

• Scientists call them indichenisms.
• For example, papa (potato), caucho (rubber), llama (llama), quina (hina) and tapir (tapir) were not known to the Spaniards at all before arriving in South America.

And from the territory of modern Mexico, from the language of the Aztecs, Nahuatl, came the concepts used by Mexicans today - cacahuete (groundnut), hule (rubber), petaea (snuffbox). Many words came from the need to denote objects and plants previously unknown to the Spaniards.

Phonetic differences between languages

In the pronunciation of some words and letters, you can also find differences between classic Spanish and its Latin American version. Their appearance is due to the same reasons as new concepts - some sounds simply did not exist in the language of the indigenous people, they did not hear them, and some were pronounced in their own way. In general, pronunciation in the American version is softer and more melodic, words are pronounced less sharply and more slowly.

Jorge Sánchez Mendez, a linguist and scientist, describes the general sound of the Spanish language in different countries of Latin America:

• Catalan (classical) – sounds sharp and authoritative, the words are pronounced heavily, firmly;
  In the Antilles on the contrary, all sounds are pronounced softly, speech is fluid, flowing;
  Andalusian variant– brighter, sonorous and lively;
  In Mexico speak softly and slowly, speech is unhurried and careful;
  In Chile and Ecuador– melodious, melodic, sounds soft and calm;
  and here is the conversation on the territory Rio de la Plata seems slow, calm and unhurried.

The main differences in pronunciation are recorded by the Institutes of Language Studies, have their own names and are as follows:

1. Same pronunciation of letters "r" and "l", if they are at the end of a syllable. This feature is typical for the population of the countries of Venezuela and Argentina, some regions of the state - Puerto Rico, Colombia, and on the shores of Ecuador. For example, calamares in transcription looks like this - soldado sounds like , and the word amor reads like .
2. Phonetic phenomenon Yeismo– the sound of the letters ll in combination, like “y”, or like “zh” - in Argentina. For example, the word “calle” is translated as “street” and is pronounced in Spain, in Latin American countries and in Argentina. Found in Mexico, Colombia and Peru, Chile and western Ecuador, as well as on the Caribbean coast.
3. Changing the pronunciation of the letter "s", if it is at the end of a syllable, this feature is called aspiration. As for example in the words: este (this) will sound like, mosca (fly) is pronounced. Sometimes the letter is simply lost and not pronounced - las botas (shoes) are made into .
4. Seseo – phonetic featureь, found in almost all countries of Latin America and consists in pronouncing the letters “s” and “z”, and sometimes “s”, as [s]. For example, pobreza sounds like , zapato - , and entices would be pronounced like - .
5. Shifting stress in some words to an adjacent vowel or another syllable: pais is read as in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries.

These are the most common differences; there are many more small ones that involve different pronunciations of the same word. Despite these differences, representatives of states in South America have no difficulty understanding the Spaniards and each other.

Word formation

Hispanics use suffixes in words more often than Spaniards, the main ones being –ico/ica and –ito/ita. For example, platita (money) comes from the word "plata", ranchito (ranch) from "rancho", ahorita (now) from "ahora", and prontito (soon) comes from "pronto". In addition, some nouns have a different gender than in classical Spanish. For example, the word actor in Spain is masculine and pronounced comediante, and in Latin America - comedianta is feminine, the call in Spain la lamada is feminine, in Latin American countries ell lamado is masculine.

The same applies to animals, for which the Catalan language uses one word and most often it is masculine. And in Latin America they also added feminine ones: tigre, male. – tigra, female (tiger), caiman, male – caimana, female (cayman), sapo, husband – sapa, female (toad).

Basically, new words are formed by taking a root of non-Spanish origin and adding suffixes and prefixes to it. The basis is taken on common American concepts, adapted to a specific situation and nationality. Word-forming particles or suffixes are added to them, which give them a completely different meaning: -ada, -ero, -ear, -menta.

They all have their own history, “nationality” and meaning. For example, the suffix –menta is actively used in word formation in the Venezuelan dialect; it has a general meaning: papelamnta – a pile of papers, perramenta – a pack of dogs. The suffix –io has the same meaning for the countries of Uruguay and Argentina – tablerio – a pile of stones.

In the words picada (path), sahleada (saber strike), nicada (company of children), “-ada” has a collective meaning or defining belonging to something. More examples: gauchada (an act characteristic of a gaucho), ponchada (a volume of things that can fit on a poncho) and so on.

But the suffix –ear creates new verbs or American nouns: tanguear - dance the tango, jinitear - ride a horse and other examples. The Spanish language in South America is more mobile, lively and developing than its European counterpart. Here there is a constant replenishment of the vocabulary, the formation of new concepts and phrases, due to the movement of the population across the mainland and the arrival of immigrants.

Grammatical differences

The grammar features characteristic of Latin America have their own system and are the result of many years of language evolution. The Spanish have a concept of "grammatical gender" applied to inanimate objects.

In the Latin American version there are words with the same meaning, but of strictly opposite gender. In Spain - el color (color), el fin (end), la bombilla (light bulb), la vuelta (surrender), and in South American countries - la color, la fin el bombillo, el vuelto.

The plural endings are also systematically different in different countries: café (1 cafe) - cafes (several cafes), te (tea) - tes (several types of tea), pie (leg) - pies (legs), and in Latin America they will be be called: cafeses, teses, pieses, respectively.

• Peculiarities.
• Words that have only a plural form (scissors, trousers, pliers) in the South American version are also used in the singular: tijeraz - tiera (scissors), bombachas - bombacha (trousers) and tenazas - tenaza (pliers). If a noun ends with the letters –ey, then according to the rules of the Spanish language their plural is formed by adding the ending “-es”, while in Latin America the ending is simplified: buey (bull) - bueyes/bueys, or rey (king) - reyes /reys.

When addressing people, Spaniards use the pronoun “you” - vosotros; in Latin America they address strangers - ustedes. And the pronoun “you” sounds like “vos” in South America and like “tu” in Europe.

As a conclusion

The result of the comparison is the understanding that Spanish is a living and spoken language, therefore it develops, breathes and absorbs new words, concepts and phrases. It depends on the national, territorial, cultural characteristics of the people speaking it. All differences are the result of a natural process of evolution and in no way affect the understanding of the Spanish dialect by representatives of different countries.

If you decide to learn a language, then you do not necessarily need to know these features and memorize them in order to travel to any country in Latin America. The classic version of Spanish is enough, you will be able to communicate with the locals, and the presence of “own” words is characteristic of each language, Russian is no exception. In each region of our country, there are several dozen phrases and concepts used only within a small territory, but this does not at all prevent us from understanding each other, even living in different regions of the Russian Federation.

Languages ​​of Middle America

Indian languages ​​of Mesoamerica(Indian languages ​​of Middle America, Mesoamerican/Mesoamerican languages) - languages ​​of the indigenous population of Mesoamerica before the arrival of Europeans. Unlike most indigenous languages ​​of the Americas, many of the languages ​​of Mesoamerica have largely survived to the present day.

1. Arawakan languages ​​(also common in South America)
2. Quitlatec tongue (isolate) † (1)
3. Mayan (Mayan) family (many)
4. Mihe-soke (mihe-soke) family (many)
5. Oto-manga family (many)
6. Tarasco (purépecha) language (isolate) (1)
7. Uave language (isolate) (1)
8. Juto-Astec family (also distributed north of Mesoamerica)
9. Unclassified languages ​​of Middle America: † Alagvilak, † Amotomanco, † Guasave, † Tolimeco, † Chumbia, etc.

Literature

• American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. - New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. - ISBN 0-19-509427-1
• Classical Quiche // Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 5: Linguistics / Norman A. McQuown (Volume ed.). - Austin: University of Texas Press, 1968. - pp. 249–268. - ISBN 0-292-73665-7
• Inventory of Classificatory Materials // Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 5: Linguistics / Norman A. McQuown (Volume ed.). - Austin: University of Texas Press, 1968. - pp. 63–78. - ISBN 0-292-73665-7
• Ethnologue: Languages ​​of the World, Fifteenth edition. - online version. - Dallas, TX: SIL International, 2005. - ISBN 1-55671-159-X
• The Mesoamerican Indian Languages. - Cambridge University Press, 1983. - ISBN 0-521-22834-4
• The Relationship Among the Mixed-Zoquean Languages ​​of Mexico. - Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1995. - ISBN 0-87480-487-6

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Lesson 6. Latin America. Practical work No. 1.

The purpose of the lesson:study the characteristics of the GGP and EGP, the population and economy of Latin America; characterize the population; show which industries determine Latin America’s place in international specialization; contribute to the development of international feelings, interest in learning about the lives of other peoples and countries; develop responsibility, organization, and independence.

Lesson type: combined.

Equipment: textbook, illustrations, atlas.

During the classes

I. Org moment.

Announcing the topic and objectives of the lesson

II. Updating knowledge.

This topic is the first in the section of lessons dedicated to Latin America. You will get to know the diverse and interesting countries of the region, which play a significant role in the modern world. The teacher will tell you in detail about the composition, borders, and uniqueness of the countries of Latin America. As additional material, the lesson covers three topics: “Island of Freedom”, “Junta”, “Capture of Grenada”. The lesson will help you develop knowledge about the population of the region and identify patterns in the formation of the population of Latin America. The teacher will tell you about the main characteristics of the region's population, giving examples of the largest nations, cities, and countries.

III. Studying a new topic.

Latin America is the name given to the region of the Western Hemisphere located between the United States and Antarctica. Latin America is divided into several subregions. These are Middle America (Mexico, countries of Central America and the West Indies), Andean countries (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile), countries of the La Plata basin (Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina), Brazil. The name “Latin America” comes from the historical predominant influence of the language, culture and customs of the Romance (Latin) peoples of the Iberian Peninsula in this part of the world.

The region covers an area of ​​21 million square meters. km with a population of more than 570 million people.

The countries of Latin America vary in area: the largest country in the region is Brazil, the smallest are in the Caribbean.

The borders between countries pass mainly along rivers, ridges and other orographic features.

Economic and geographical position of Latin America:

1. Proximity to the USA.

2. Distance from other regions of the world.

3. Availability of the Panama Canal.

4. Almost all countries (except Bolivia and Paraguay) have access to the sea.

According to the form of government, all countries in the region are republics. Latin America includes more than 33 countries. Some countries are members of the Commonwealth (for example, Guyana, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago). Guiana belongs to France. Cuba is a socialist state.

In terms of the form of administrative-territorial structure, unitary states predominate; the following countries have a federal structure: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Stages of formation of the political map of Latin America:

1. Stage of pre-European colonization.

2. Colonial stage.

3. Post-colonial stage.

4. Stage after the Second World War.

The civilizations of the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas were located in Latin America.

The territory of Latin America was developed mainly by Spain and Portugal.

Puerto Rico has a special status. Puerto Rico is a territory dependent on the United States and has the status of an “unincorporated organized territory,” which means that this territory is under the administration of the United States (and is not an integral part of it), and is limited in scope by the US Constitution; The supreme power belongs to the US Congress, but the territory has its own system of self-government.

Currently, many issues regarding borders and ownership of territories have not been resolved. A striking example is the disputed Falkland Islands (Malvinas) between Great Britain and Argentina.

. Cuba.

The official name is the Republic of Cuba, the unofficial name since 1959 is Liberty Island - an island state in the northern part of the Caribbean Sea. The capital is Havana. Cuba is the largest island state in the region, stretching for 1250 km. It is located at the junction of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, forming the “American Mediterranean”. The key depicted on the country's coat of arms is a symbol of the fact that the island, discovered by Columbus in 1492, was for centuries a kind of key to the New World. Cuba is a socialist state; for a long time it was an ally of the USSR.

Population of Latin America

The region's population exceeds 570 million people. The ethnic composition of Latin America is quite complex, which is caused by the peculiarities of the historical development of the region. The largest country in terms of population in the region is Brazil (almost 200 million people).

The main racial and ethnic groups of modern Latin America:

1. Emigrants from Europe

2. Indigenous people

3. Blacks

Indian tribes and nationalities inhabited the region before the arrival of Europeans. Among them were such creators of high agricultural civilizations as the Aztecs and Mayans in Mexico, and the Incas in the Central Andes. Today, the indigenous Indian population in the region is approximately 15%. Many place names in Latin America, as in North America, are of Indian origin. The arriving Europeans almost completely destroyed the culture and achievements of the Indians, in addition, the Indian population itself was exterminated.

The second group was formed by European settlers, primarily from Spain and Portugal, whose descendants are called Creoles. Until the beginning of the 19th century. European immigration was relatively small, but then it acquired a large scale.

The third group was formed by Africans, who, starting from the 16th century, were brought by colonialists to Brazil, the West Indies and some other countries to work on plantations. Three centuries of the slave trade have led to the fact that in Latin America today blacks make up 1/10 of all inhabitants. The distribution center of the slave trade was the island of Jamaica.

More than half of the region's population are descendants of mixed marriages:

1. Mestizos (descendants from marriages of Caucasians and Indians).

Mestizos are present in almost all countries of the Western Hemisphere, including making up the majority of the population of countries such as Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Paraguay, Chile, Panama.

2. Mulattoes (descendants from mixed marriages of representatives of the Caucasian and Negroid races).

Mulattoes make up a significant part of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean (Dominican Republic - 73%, Cuba - 51%, Brazil - 38%).

In some Latin American countries, other words are used to designate the descendants of Negro-Indian marriages: in Brazil “cafuzu”, in Mexico “lobo”, in Haiti “marabou”, in Honduras, Belize, Guatemala - “garifuna”.

Therefore, almost all Latin American nations have a complex ethnic background. In Mexico and the countries of Central America, mestizos predominate; in Haiti, Jamaica, and the Lesser Antilles, blacks predominate. In most Andean countries, Indians or mestizos predominate, in Argentina, Uruguay and Costa Rica - Spanish-speaking creoles, and in Brazil there are only slightly fewer mulattoes and blacks than whites. In general, Creoles (descendants of the Spaniards and Portuguese) predominate.

The most complex ethnic composition is typical for Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.

Latin Americans – a generalized name for the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking peoples inhabiting the territory of modern Latin America and also widely represented in the USA, Spain, Canada, etc.

The most common languages ​​in Latin America are:

1. Spanish (this language is spoken by most residents).

2. Portuguese (Brazil).

3. English (Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, etc.).

4. French (Haiti, Guiana, etc.).

5. Dutch (Suriname, Antilles).

In Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, along with Spanish, Indian languages ​​(Quechua, Aztec, etc.) are considered official.

The vast majority of Latin Americans profess Catholicism, which was promoted as the only official religion; other religions were persecuted by the Inquisition.

Latin America is characterized by a kind of dualism of cultures. Here, especially among the Indians and mestizos, the original culture of the indigenous population, dating back to pre-Columbian times, is preserved. This includes mythological and historical epics, music and dance, such famous historical and architectural monuments as the pyramids and palaces of the Aztecs, Toltecs and Mayans in Mexico, the Incan fortress city of Machu Picchu in Peru, included in the World Heritage List. This is also a newer culture, oriented towards European values, which is also manifested in literature, art, music, theater, and architecture. In addition to religious holidays, various carnivals, bullfights, and rodeos became widespread. Football is very popular. The distribution of the population of Latin America is characterized by three main features. Firstly, this is one of the least populated regions of the world with an average density of only 28 people per 1 sq. km. The islands have a very high population density. Secondly, the unevenness of its distribution is more pronounced than in most other large regions. Thirdly, in no other region of the world has the population mastered vast plateaus to such an extent and does not rise so high into the mountains.

Latin America is characterized by a traditional type of population reproduction. And although the peak of the demographic explosion here was passed in the middle of the 20th century, in some countries of Central America and in the poorer countries of South America (Bolivia, Paraguay) population growth is still 2-2.5% per year. This affects not only the number, but also the age structure, increasing the “burden” of children on the working population.

The countries have high crime rates, stratified society, and many live below the poverty line.

In terms of urbanization indicators, Latin America is more reminiscent of economically developed than developing countries: its average level in the region is very high (80%), and the pace is now slow. At the same time, there is an increasing concentration of the population in large cities, the number of which has exceeded 300, and in millionaire cities (there are more than 40 of them). The region has developed a special Latin American type of city. Colonial cities were created according to a single plan that Spain and Portugal developed for their possessions. The core of the city was usually the central square, on which the town hall, cathedral, and administrative buildings were located. From this square the streets diverged at right angles, forming a clear “chessboard” grid. In recent decades, modern development has superimposed on it.

Largest cities in Latin America:

1. Mexico City.

2. Buenos Aires.

3. Sao Paulo.

4. Rio de Janeiro.

In Latin America, one feature is particularly pronounced, which is also characteristic of other regions of the developing world and is usually called “false urbanization.” “False urbanization” is a type of urbanization in which the share of the urban population far exceeds the share of the economically active urban population employed in production and non-production sectors. The main reason for “false urbanization” is the constant influx of poor rural population into the cities, which the authorities are unable to provide with housing and work.

The city is the capital of Mexico. Mexico City was founded in 1325 by the Aztec Indians. The founders of the city - the ancient Aztecs - initially led a nomadic lifestyle and were engaged in hunting and fishing. Their tribes appeared in the vicinity of modern Mexico City around 1200. Nowadays, Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world, and the population of the agglomeration exceeds 21 million people. Mexico City accounts for almost 25% of the country's total GDP and is the main economic, political, and cultural center.

The city is located in the southeast of Brazil, it is the capital of the state of the same name. The largest city in the Southern Hemisphere. Located in the valley of the Tiete River, 70 km from the Atlantic coast.

Favelas are slums in Brazilian cities, often located on mountain slopes. Favelas lack developed infrastructure and have high crime rates. Many modern favelas emerged in the 1970s as a result of accelerated urbanization in Brazil.

Latin America is provided with almost all known types of mineral raw materials, and in many of them it stands out among other regions of the world. Here you can find the most unusual combinations of minerals in relatively small areas.

Latin America has large reserves of niobium, lithium, beryllium, molybdenum, copper, sulfur, antimony, silver, bauxite, oil, etc.

The richness and diversity of Latin America's mineral resources is explained by the peculiarities of the geological and tectonic structure of its vast territory. Associated with the crystalline basement of the South American platform and the folded belt of the Cordillera and Andes are basins and deposits of ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, especially iron ore, lithium, molybdenum, copper, nickel, tin, as well as gold and silver, which primarily attracted the Spanish conquistadors . And large deposits of oil and natural gas formed in the marginal and intermountain troughs of this belt.

The largest oil and gas basins in the region are located in Venezuela and Mexico, as well as in Ecuador and Colombia. In Venezuela, this is the Maracaibo basin, located in an intermountain depression overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Oil here lies both on land and within the waters of Lake Maracaibo. According to some reports, Venezuela ranks 2nd in the world in terms of oil reserves, second only to Saudi Arabia. In Mexico, it also occurs both on land and on the shelf of the Gulf of Mexico.

Latin America is also rich in bauxite, the formation of which is associated with lateritic weathering crust, as well as many non-metallic minerals, especially saltpeter and sulfur. The largest reserves of bauxite are found in Brazil, Jamaica, Suriname, and Venezuela.

The Andes are especially rich in ore minerals. A unique tin belt stretches across the Andes of Bolivia, Peru and surrounding areas of Brazil. Tin deposits are adjacent to antimony deposits (Bolivia). The largest resources of lead-zinc ores are located in Peru and Mexico. In these so-called mesothermal depths, mainly copper and base metal ores were deposited. These deposits are characterized by very rich ore accumulations. A striking example of this type is the famous Serre de Pasco deposit in Peru. In addition, the Andes have large reserves of silver, copper and other metals.

Ore minerals of the Andes:

1. Copper.

2. Tin.

3. Iron.

4. Lead-zinc.

5. Tungsten.

6. Antimony.

7. Molybdenum.

8. Noble metals.

The copper belt stretches across Latin America (Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia). 2/3 of all copper reserves are in Chile. In this country, copper export is one of the main sources of income.

Large reserves of saltpeter are found in the Atacama Desert.

Precious stones are mined in Colombia (emeralds), Peru, and Brazil.

Large coal deposits are located in Brazil and Colombia.

Latin America is very rich in high quality iron ores. The most important deposits are confined to metamorphosed rocks of the Precambrian continental shield of South America. In non-competitive first place is Brazil. One of the world's largest iron ore deposits - 18 billion tons - is Carajas in the state of Pará, which, according to preliminary estimates, is twice the entire ore potential of the state of Minas Gerais, where almost all other exploited deposits are currently located. In addition, Bolivia and Mexico have large reserves of iron ore.

The wealth and diversity of the region's renewable natural resources is primarily due to its location primarily in the equatorial, tropical and subtropical climatic zones.

Agroclimatic resources are favorable, but in some years the penetration of cold air masses from the south has a detrimental effect on agriculture. In addition, the annual distribution of precipitation adds its own important adjustments to this picture, and along with zones of excess moisture (Amazonia), there are areas in Mexico, Chile, and Argentina where artificial irrigation is necessary. In addition, it is Latin America that is characterized by the periodic repetition of such a natural disaster as the El Niño phenomenon, which is associated with anomalous warming of the usually rather cool coastal surface waters of the Pacific Ocean.

In terms of water resources, Latin America ranks first among large regions of the world, and in terms of economic hydropower potential it is second only to Asia.

The enormous wealth of Latin America is its forests, which occupy more than 1/2 of the entire territory of the region. It is no coincidence that Latin America from space appears to be a green continent. In terms of forest resources per capita, Latin America ranks first in the world. The largest forest resources are found in Brazil (second only to Russia), Venezuela, and Colombia. The fauna of the region is also very rich and diverse.

IV. Practical work

Identify the characteristics of the population and economy of Latin American countries using the example of leading countries belonging to different regions.

1 option: Compile an economic and geographical profile of Brazil.

Option 2: Compile an economic and geographical profile of Chile.

Option 3: Compile an economic and geographical profile of Cuba.

Option 4: Compile an economic and geographical profile of Argentina.

CHARACTERISTICS PLAN.

1.Territory, borders, position, political system.

2. Natural resources and conditions: richness and diversity.

3. Population: size, reproduction, ethnic composition, location, features of urbanization.

4. Economy: leading industries, contradictions in development.

5. Foreign economic relations.

V. Consolidation of the studied material.

What regions (subregions) are distinguished in Latin America?

What are the features of the EGP of Latin America?

Name the largest ethnic groups in Latin America.

Give examples of the largest cities in Latin America.

What are the features of the distribution of mineral resources in Latin America?

Give examples of Latin American countries and their characteristic resources.

VI. Homework.