Andrew Taylor wrote:
This would be a convincing explanation if Markgraf saw "jacana"
written in Portuguese and copied it not knowing the pronunciation.
But he would have likely heard Portuguese speakers and Tupi speakers say
"jacana".
But he didn't hear it pronounced that way - the word is jaçanã!
The cedilha (ç) is an S sound, not a c/k sound. It's not
pronounced jakaarna in its land of origin.
And where would he have seen the word written in Portuguese?
The Jesuits did write in Portuguese & Tupi but Latin seems to be used
for scientific writing.
One presumes if he collected the word "in the field" it would not have
been in Latin.
I did discover Markgraf's notebooks were apparently coded to protect
the contents. After his death (at 33 in Angola) Johannes de Laet
decoded them allowing publication - which might have changed the text.
I also noticed Markgraf also brought the words "anhinga" and "caracara"
to Aurope. Not sure about "ani" and "aracari".
In Angola!!! - more Portuguese speakers :-) Perhaps Markgraf
spoke/wrote Portuguese from working in Brazil and Angola?
L.
--
Lawrie Conole
28 Reid St
Northcote, Victoria 3070
Australia
0419 588 993
lconole[at]gmail.com
