Chocolate: Difference between revisions
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The word '''chocolate''' ("cacao-based drink" first attested ) comes from Nahuatl <''chocolatl''>, which in turn comes, by way of anticipatory vowel assimilation of i to o, from earlier ''/tʃikola:tl/'' a form still attested in some Nahuatl varieties. | The word '''chocolate''' ("cacao-based drink" first attested ) comes from Nahuatl <''chocolatl''> /tʃokola:tl/, which in turn comes, by way of anticipatory vowel assimilation of i to o, from earlier ''/tʃikola:tl/'' a form still attested in some Nahuatl varieties. | ||
The original form [[chikolatl]] was first suggested by [[Dakin, Karen and Wichmann, Søren, 2000. Cacao and chocolate: A Uto-Aztecan perspective. Ancient Mesoamerica, 11(1):55-75.|Dakin & Wichmann (2000)]] who argued the drink was named after a [[chicol]]-stick used to beat the chocolate drink until it becomes foamy. | The original form [[chikolatl]] was first suggested by [[Dakin, Karen and Wichmann, Søren, 2000. Cacao and chocolate: A Uto-Aztecan perspective. Ancient Mesoamerica, 11(1):55-75.|Dakin & Wichmann (2000)]] who argued the drink was named after a [[chicol]]-stick used to beat the chocolate drink until it becomes foamy. "''Chicol''" in turn comes from PCN *''[[tsikori]]'' "hook, elbow". | ||
In spite of the fact that Wixárika has the word ''tsíkurati'' "chocolate", this word cannot be reconstructed for PCN, as the Wixárika word is most likely a Nahuan loan. | In spite of the fact that Wixárika has the word ''tsíkurati'' "chocolate", this word cannot be reconstructed for PCN, as the Wixárika word is most likely a Nahuan loan (because of the presence of the -ti, which corresponds to the Nahuatl absolutive suffix). The form of the Wixárika word nevertheless strengthens the argument for an original form with the vowel /i/ in the first syllable. | ||
There is a persistent claim that the Nahuatl source of chocolate is a word ''xocolatl'' or ''xocoatl'' - this is false. ''Xocolatl'' is not attested in any original source, and ''xocoatl'' is attested by [[Molina, Alonso de. 1571. Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana|Molina]] but refers to a sour maize-based drink. | There is a persistent claim that the Nahuatl source of chocolate is a word ''xocolatl'' or ''xocoatl'' - this is false. ''Xocolatl'' is not attested in any original source, and ''xocoatl'' is attested by [[Molina, Alonso de. 1571. Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana|Molina]] but refers to a sour maize-based drink (cacao is not mentioned in the entry). | ||
[[Category:English entries]] | [[Category:English entries]] | ||
Latest revision as of 11:28, 9 June 2025
The word chocolate ("cacao-based drink" first attested ) comes from Nahuatl <chocolatl> /tʃokola:tl/, which in turn comes, by way of anticipatory vowel assimilation of i to o, from earlier /tʃikola:tl/ a form still attested in some Nahuatl varieties.
The original form chikolatl was first suggested by Dakin & Wichmann (2000) who argued the drink was named after a chicol-stick used to beat the chocolate drink until it becomes foamy. "Chicol" in turn comes from PCN *tsikori "hook, elbow".
In spite of the fact that Wixárika has the word tsíkurati "chocolate", this word cannot be reconstructed for PCN, as the Wixárika word is most likely a Nahuan loan (because of the presence of the -ti, which corresponds to the Nahuatl absolutive suffix). The form of the Wixárika word nevertheless strengthens the argument for an original form with the vowel /i/ in the first syllable.
There is a persistent claim that the Nahuatl source of chocolate is a word xocolatl or xocoatl - this is false. Xocolatl is not attested in any original source, and xocoatl is attested by Molina but refers to a sour maize-based drink (cacao is not mentioned in the entry).