I have this love story with words. / myLot

Chile

April 1, 2023 1:34pm CST

So that every time I learn another word I want to know where did it come from. Today I discovered thanks to the web that a word I had been using all my life came from the nahuatl, the tongue of the ancient Mayas. The Mayas had (and have) a rich and incredible language. And before the Spaniards came and started to burn their books, they also had a rich written language. I learned a poem translated from the Nahuatl about the pain that the coming of the Spaniards had caused to their culture. It was heartbreaking. But still, even now that they are segregated and ill paid in their own land, they have managed to give the world some of their language. Chocolate comes from the nahuatl chocolatl. Avocado comes from the nahuatl aguacatl. There are lots. But today I discovered that the dark solid molasses (panela) that I call chancaca (I thought in Spanish or maybe Aimara) comes from the nahuatl chiancaca, dark sugar. I was looking for a recipe and I found yet another diamond. I´m so glad!

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8 responses

No One

@Chellezhere (5360)

• United States

1 Apr 23

I majored in English language and literature and love finding out the origins of words. I have Cherokee ancestry and am even more excited when I lean a new (to me) indigenous word, instead of one that's European.

3 people like this

James Higgins

@JamesHxstatic (29420)

• Eugene, Oregon

1 Apr 23

Oh, another English major! Is there a novel underway?

2 people like this

No One

@Chellezhere (5360)

• United States

1 Apr 23

@JamesHxstatic A few, actually.

3 people like this

marguicha

@marguicha (216950)

• Chile

1 Apr 23

I can imagine. I know that the Spanish I speak has a lot of Aymara and Quechua words. But I did not know that the Maya tongue had gone down south to Chile. I do know that all those car models we knew about (Impala, Cadillac and the like) were words that Native Americans used for the fastest animals.

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James Higgins

@JamesHxstatic (29420)

• Eugene, Oregon

1 Apr 23

Good for you. I look up many words as well. A strange word in English is "bespoke." Even after looking it up, it is strange to see in writing. Means custom-made or spoken for.

2 people like this

marguicha

@marguicha (216950)

• Chile

1 Apr 23

Another word I learned today. I confess that what has enriched my English have been my readings.

1 person likes this

marguicha

@marguicha (216950)

• Chile

1 Apr 23

@JamesHxstatic Classics have been a source of language for me.