Argentina the country most like Italy outside of Italy

3/4 of the 13,356,715 people of Buenos Aires, Argentina are of Italian origin. The over all population of Argentina has
a higher percentage of Italians than anyother country outside of Italy. Argentina has more than 3,500,000 Italian
speakers; this tongue is the second most spoken language in the nation. Italian immigration from the beginning of
the 20th century made a lasting and significant impact on the pronunciation and vernacular of the nation's spoken
Spanish, giving it an Italian flair. In fact, Italian has contributed so much to Rioplatense
that many foreigners mistake it for Italian.

Dos argentinos llegan a Italia.
Dice uno:
- Che, ¿habrá argentinos acá en Roma?
- Y, no se... mirá en la guía telefónica.
Y el otro lee:
- Baldini, Corranti, Dominici, Ferrutti... ¡Che, Roma está llena de apellidos argentinos!

Haha that last joke is a good one!

This fact does surprise me though... I would not have expected there to be so many Italians in Argentina. I have never been to Argentina, but I wonder if the culture is at all influenced by this? Or if this has affected anything?

You're joking right!?

Among Spanish speakers people from Argentina have a reputation of speaking Spanish with an Italian accent.

Argentina: The Italian Way - TIME "These people's" children are indeed running Argentina, and the Italian imprint is everywhere—shaping Argentine culture and character and giving ... Nowhere is the Italian influence more spectacular than in commerce and industry. ...
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...873172,00.html - Similar

Growing up. I had a neighbor who was from Argentina who claimed Italian ancestry and spoke fluent Italian. I have always known that Argentina is a country that is heavily populated by Italian Immigrants. Is there a reason for this? Why did so many Italians decide to go there?

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Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei.