The Taino people were a peaceful people with a complex society who lived on the Greater Antilles Islands of Hispaniola (modern day Dominican Republic and Haiti), Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. The Taino language was a soft sweet melodious language lacking harsh gutturals. It flowed rapidly and contained many vowel sounds. The Taino language is part of the Arawakan language family that was very widespread throughout South America, the Caribbean, and parts of Florida.
Other Arawakan languages are still spoken today, but most scholars agree that no one alive today is fluent in the Taino language. Therefore, it is considered an extinct language. However, there are those who are trying to resurrect it. At least one professor is teaching the "extinct" Taino language to his students! More power to him!
The Taino people, including their language and culture, were the first to be decimated by the Spaniards who arrived in the New World beginning in 1492. Their methods of conquest were often cruel. As such, they would not allow the Taino to speak their native language.
Well, you know how they say "a good thing never really dies!" This is certainly true of the Taino language. Many Taino words were adopted by the Spaniards and other Europeans. These adopted words are called "loan words" in linguistic circles and many are in very common usage in English, Spanish, and French. There are many English words, especially American English, that are anglicized versions of the Spanish or French versions of Taino words they incorporated phonetically into their own language as the Taino had no written language.
There are 7 indigenous Taino words that are so common in the English language now I bet you use them all the time. This post will have 7 follow up posts each highlighting one of the words. Check this blog in a few days for the first word.
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