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
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.
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-Eat-Quid-Edam-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.