"Hey man... a que hora vemos pizarra": el mundo del trabajo y el lenguaje del "mueyero"

Abstract

Mueyeros” are the dock workers who are responsible for loading and unloading goods that are exported and imported through the ports of Costa Rican Caribbean. They sell their labour to cargo handling companies that have concessions granted by JAPDEVA for such purposes.

“Mueyeros” are an important player in the everyday life of Limon and play an important role in the national economy, by passing their hands over 80% of export and import takes place in Costa Rica. This article aims to help lift them out of anonymity and raise awareness as a way of valuing their contribution. Particularly, it is an effort to address some aspects of their everyday life as well as the language used in carrying out their work. Words that are derived from Spanish and English. It is important to clarify that the document is not considered a sociolinguistic analysis of the same effort that will undoubtedly be of great value in future investigations related to consider the issue. The document was structured in three sections, in the first addresses some of the social history of Puerto Limon, the second defines who the MUELLER, in the third addresses some elements associa- ted with the collective identity of these. For its part the fourth, describes the world of work and the words used in this motion. In the fifth and last, we conclude with some final considerations.