Language of the Voiceless: Traces of Taino Language, Food, and Culture in the Americas From 1492 to the Present

P a g e | 115
CHAPTER 4 | THE TIERRA FIRME: PENUMBRAS OF TAINO CULTURE AND
PHOENETICS
Thus far in this research, we have mostly concentrated in the etymology and the
primary source context of Taino words in order to establish their pre-mainland
existence. However, what comes next in the analysis of the text, are words and cultural
customs that, although used in the mainland framework by Diaz del Castillo, were part
of the Taino religion, social structure, culinary culture and cosmovison. It is astonishing
that, apart from the word cacique, these elements did not come about until this section
of the sequence of the text. Prior to this moment, the words and expressions used by
BDC were mostly toponymies or general descriptions of utensils, plants, foods and
general artifacts.
Therefore, as we come across these cultural elements, instead of approaching
them from the purely linguistic point of view, these elements are going to be analyzed
from their historical and anthropological relation to primary sources. The linguistic
analysis is only going to be employed if necessary or if there is no other way to establish
the Taino connection to the term or custom. The disadvantage of this approach is its
highly speculative essence. Whether the Taino connection or lack of it could be
established or not, would depend on the supporting evidence.
1.1 Cúes.
Our first observation is the variance and connotation found in the lexicalization
of the word cúe or cu by Bernal Diaz del Castillo. It is important to note that the way
this word is lexicalized by BDC has a very strong phonetic influence from the Spanish of