polite farewell forms

[r. joe campbell]

David,
   I'll let Citlalin and Citlalyani speak for themselves, but I can shed
some light on what sometimes follows my own signature.  To really
appreciate it, you'd have to 1) see me from the back when I'm not facing
you and not wearing a coat; 2) see me when I raise the cuff of my jeans.
   Several years ago, two good friends of mine (one a native speaker of
Nahuatl and the other an acquired speaker of Nahuatl) sent me a gift: a
beautifully white-stitched belt which said "Cencah Xochichil".  Since
then, I have been accosted frequently in public by people who want to know
what my belt says.  When I reply, "Always red-footed".  I let their
puzzled look last for a few seconds before I pull up the cuff of my jeans
and let the glow of my red socks hit them and say, "I haven't worn
anything but red socks for more than thirty years."

Best regards,

Joe
 (Cencah Xochichil)



On Fri, 10 Jan 2003, David Sanchez wrote:

> I have read in your posts some different ways of finishing politely
> communications in náwatl:
>
> (1) Cencah Xochichil    'For ever, the redness of flowers' (???)
> (2) Citlalin Xochimeh    'The star and the flowers' / 'flowers from/to stars' (???)
> (3) Citlalyani                '[we are] going to the star(s)' (???)
>
> All these forms seem very obscure to me, and I am not sure of the
> explanations I provide to them. Can someone to help me in clarify the
> meaning and interpretation of these expresions?
>
> David Sanchez
>