Roto
901520
224901837
2008-07-10T22:33:56Z
200.83.2.4
{{for|the character Roto in the [[Dragon Quest]] series|Erdrick}}
:''For the slang term for Rotisserie Baseball, see [[Fantasy baseball|Fantasy Baseball]].
[[Image:Roto chileno.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Monument to the Chilean '''''roto'''''. Yungay Plaza, Santiago.]]
'''''Roto''''' or '''''rota''''' (literally "broken") is a [[Chile]]an term, considered derogatory, which refers to a person of poverty and vulgar habits of urban origin. It is also used contemptuously to refer to inhabitants of [[Chile]], especially in [[Peru]] and [[Bolivia]]. In Chile from the start of the 20th century it was used with a negative [[classism|classist]] connotation in reference to poor city-dwellers.
The historical origin of the use of the term could be, as much in Chile as in Peru and Bolivia, in the war fought by Chile against the [[Peru-Bolivian Confederation]]. Chilean troops defeated the confederation at the [[Battle of Yungay]] on [[20 January]] [[1839]]. As most of the victors (as recruits of the Chilean army) were poor, the defeated troops called the Chileans ''rotos''. In Chile tributes were paid to the victors of Yungay and in a gesture of recognition, 20th January was instituted as the ''[[Día del Roto Chileno]]'' (Day of the Chilean ''Roto''). In addition, it is indirectly commemorated in the [[Hymn of Yungay]], since in its era national identity was perceived as being consolidated.
The [[United Kingdom|British]] equivalent is a [[yobbo]].
==Historical Usage==
The term '''roto''' has been used in [[Peru]] since the times of the [[Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire|Spanish conquest]], when [[Diego de Almagro]]'s disappointed troops returned to [[Cusco|Cuzco]] (after a failed gold-seeking expedition in Chile) with their torn clothes, due to the extensive and laborious passage on foot through the [[Atacama desert]]. This term became more used after the Chilean campaigns against the [[Peru-Bolivian Confederacy]] in 1839 and the [[War of the Pacific]] (1879-84).
[[Category:Chilean culture]]
[[es:roto]]