tango 的词源

切分舞，1913年（这一舞蹈在英国和美国掀起热潮的年份），源自阿根廷西班牙语的 tango，最初是指一种非洲与南美融合的鼓舞舞蹈，可能起源于尼日尔-刚果语系（可与伊比比奥语 tamgu "跳舞" 对比）。短语 it takes two to tango 最早出现在1952年的歌曲标题中。从1913年起，该词也被用作动词。相关词汇：Tangoed。

ON DANCING (NOTE.—Dancing is pronounced two ways,—Tahn-go, or Tan-go. depending on your social status.) [The Gargoyle, University of Michigan, November 1913]

关于舞蹈（注：舞蹈的发音有两种——Tahn-go 或 Tan-go，具体取决于你的社交地位。）[《石神》，密歇根大学，1913年11月]

It is hardly a year ago since the Tango reached this country from South America by way of Paris. It was at first no more than a music-hall freak. But some of those mysterious people who inspire new social fashions were attracted by its sinuous movements and the strange backward kick, and this year it made its way into private houses as well as public ball rooms. [The Living Age, Dec. 13, 1913]

还不到一年前，探戈舞便从南美洲经巴黎传入我国。起初它不过是音乐厅里的一个怪异表演。但一些神秘的人物，他们总能引领新的社交潮流，被其柔美的舞姿和奇特的后踢腿动作所吸引，今年它不仅进入了私人聚会，也在公共舞厅中流行开来。[《生活时代》，1913年12月13日]

"I need not describe the various horrors of American and South American negroid origin. I would only ask hostesses to let one know what houses to avoid by indicating in some way on their invitation cards whether the 'turkey-trot,' the 'Boston' (the beginner of the evil), and the 'tango' will be permitted." [quoted in Current Opinion, October 1913, as from a letter to the London Times] 

“我不需要描述那些源自美洲和南美的舞蹈怪异之处。我只想请女主人们通过某种方式在邀请函上标明哪些舞会应当避免，比如是否允许‘火鸡舞’、‘波士顿舞’（这一邪恶舞蹈的始作俑者）和‘探戈舞’。” [引自《时事评论》，1913年10月，摘自《伦敦时报》的信件]