Quomodo dicitur 'taco' Latine?

Latin after CDLXXVI
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inmanis
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Quomodo dicitur 'taco' Latine?

Post by inmanis »

Salvete comites!

In some of my classes we like to chat about our daily lives a bit in Latin. We're in Austin and tacos are a staple food item.

How do you think 'taco' should be latinized?

I've searched some of the neo-Latin lexica, like the Silva, Morgan, Latinitas Recens, Vicipaedia, and Traupman's 'Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency,' as well as my notes from the Conventiculum Lexintoniense and don't have a simple answer.

Is it attested elsewhere?

Should it be an indeclinable noun? Is it 3rd declension (e.g.: taco tacotis)? 2nd declension (i.e.: tacus)? Should some translation for the putative etymology of 'plug' be used?

What do y'all think the best solution would be?

This is maybe the most trivial question I've ever had, but I'd love to be able to talk taco with my students.

Gratias maximas vobis ago!

P.S.
On a related note, any thoughts on "smoothie"? I've done much less investigation into an appropriate rendering of this word in Latin

doloresvariationer
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Re: Quomodo dicitur 'taco' Latine?

Post by doloresvariationer »

Salve!

I don't think it is attested anywhere. I think the best thing to do is either use it as an indeclinable noun, or latinise it with the common third declension pattern for words ending in -o in the nominitive; that being either taco, tacinis or taco, tacōnis. The first retains the stress of the first syllable, but the second retains the o. It's up to you.

As for smoothie, you could use a diminutive of lēvis (lēvulus? lēvulis?) or just something like smūthius/m, -ī or smūthis, -is. With neolatinisations, it's mostly up to you, and it's much more difficult to get something "wrong," so just go with whatever sounds best to you. You're just as credible as any other source.

inmanis
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Re: Quomodo dicitur 'taco' Latine?

Post by inmanis »

SVBEEV

I really like 'tacō tacinis'! As a class maybe we can discuss and see if the students have any feelings about it or the other proposals.

The diminutive of 'lēvis' is also pretty fun!

Very grateful for the thoughtful and quick feedback!

Maximās agō tibi grātiās!

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bedwere
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Re: Quomodo dicitur 'taco' Latine?

Post by bedwere »

crustulae fartae

inmanis
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Re: Quomodo dicitur 'taco' Latine?

Post by inmanis »

Salvē bedwere,

I'm always happy to put farcere to use! Love it!

Tibi maximās agō grātiās!

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bedwere
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Re: Quomodo dicitur 'taco' Latine?

Post by bedwere »

Welcome!

And here my two sēstertiī for smoothie:

pōtiō pōmāria

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persequor
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Re: Quomodo dicitur 'taco' Latine?

Post by persequor »

Not sure if "taco" is included, but this title has neolatinisms for typical modern foods: What Will I Eat?: Quid Edam?, available at https://www.bolchazy.com/What-Will-I-Ea ... P3340.aspx. It does include french fries and pancakes. I've used it a little for myself and it's fun, with line drawing illustrations.
Dewayne Dulaney
Devenius Dulenius
Carpe diem!-Poēta Rōmānus Horātius, Carmina (Odes), a.C. XXIII/DCCXXXI A.U.C.
Blogus meus: https://letancientvoicesspeak.wordpress.com/

inmanis
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Re: Quomodo dicitur 'taco' Latine?

Post by inmanis »

Hahahae! I forgot that I even have that book! Let me take a look . . .

Alas, no tacos, but I think there have been some great suggestions in the thread so far!

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