interpreter

[potet]

This might interest Philippines specialists.

During a recent visit, Dr. Antoon POSTMA, the Dutch Mangyan specialist, drew
my attention to the following facts.

1) Antonio DE MORGA used the term _naguatato_  [na-wa-ta:-to] "interpreter"
in his _Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas = Events in the Philippine Islands_
(Méjico, 1609).

2) In his 1890 Paris edition of MORGA, José RIZAL, added a footnote:
"(1) Naguatate, voz americana que significa intérprete. = Naguatate
[na-wa-ta:-te], an American term that means interpreter." (p. 205)

3) Rizal did not correct his mispelling in his _apendice_.

4) Neither _naguatato_ nor _naguatate_  are correct: there is a T missing.
The proper term is _nahuatlato_  "_dicese del que sabía hablar, en Méjico,
la lengua náhuatl y servía de intérprete_ = said of the one who, in Mexico,
can speak the nahuatl language, and serves as an interpreter" (Real Academia
Española (1992). _Diccionario de la lengua española_. 21st edition)

5) Another interesting point is that MORGA did not use the Tagalog term
_dulubása?_ (Noceda y Sanlucar 1860: 382) < Mal. _juru bahasa_.

Jean-Paul G. POTET. B. P. 46. 92114 CLICHY CEDEX. FRANCE.