tlahtlacolli pilcintzi

[idiez at MAC.COM]

You know how sometimes you read interesting theory, but then when you 
run into it in real life, it's twice as good. Well this has to do with 
indians' respect for nature and what it gives us to eat. Today I was 
conversing with my friend, Delfina, about diminutive constructions in 
nahuatl, and she throws this at me:
In her town, Tepecxitla, if you see some kernals of corn, or beans, or 
tortillas, or even water, that someone has dropped on the ground (or 
kitchen floor), you say (with respect and a caring attitude):
Nahuatl: "tlahtlacolli pilcintzi (piletzi, pilatzi, piltlaxcaltzi), 
¿quenque axcana inquipehpenah?"
Spanish: "pobre maicito (o frijolito, o aguita, o tortillita), ¿por qué 
no lo recogen Uds?
English: "poor little corn (or beans, or water, or tortilla), why don't 
you all pick it up?"
And if there is some food that has spoiled, you say:
Nahuatl: "tlahtlacolli piltlacualtzi, nictoyahuaz."
Spanish: "pobre comidita, [desgraciadamente] la voy a tirar."
English: "poor little food, [unfortunately] I'm going to throw it away."

John Sullivan, Ph.D.
Profesor
Centro de Estudios Prospectivos
Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas
Director
Instituto de Docencia e Investigación Etnológica de Zacatecas, A.C.
Francisco García Salinas 604
Colonia CNOP
Zacatecas, Zac. 98053
México
+52 (492) 768-6048
idiez at mac.com
www.idiez.org.mx