Chapter 2Author: Martha MacriTitle: Tempest in a Chocolate Pot. Origin of the Word Cacao.The origin of the word cacao is highly debated. One group of linguists argues that the word originated in the Mixe-Zoquean language family, believed to be related to the language spoken by the ancient Olmec. A second group suggests that the etymology is Uto-Aztecan and related to contemporary Nahuatl. Chocolate was unknown to Europeans before contact with the Americas, therefore, chocolate and chocolate-related words originated in the languages of the Americas, and entered European languages by way of Nahuatl. But which language invented the word cacao? This is complicated given that cacao initially was grown and first consumed in South America and was foreign as a cultigen to all Mesoamerican peoples, given that the earliest date for the transmission of cacao plants from South America to Guatemala and Mexico is uncertain. Could a word for cacao in South American languages have accompanied the introduction of its use in the north? This essay examines cacao-and chocolate-related words and examines the debate whether or not Nahuatl-speakers invented the words, or borrowed them from another language or languages. The evidence presented, while theoretical, challenges the assumption by some paleo-linguists that Uto-Aztecan cold not have been the origin of the word, cacao. Understanding the words related to cacao and chocolate preparation has the potential for providing unique insights into the history of trade and cultural relationships among the diverse peoples of Mesoamerica. |
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