Criteria for understanding tainisms in the chronicles of the Indies

Abstract

The Chronicles of the Indies are texts with a medieval pattern which isrenewed in America. One of their most outstanding features is how the chroniclersuse the Indian lexicon. Knowing and using properly Taino loans show significantlythat the chronicler had a great deal of experience in American matters. Atainismina chronicle may be an element that gives it authenticity. In previous studies, theparameters that determine the presence of such words are the following: the author’sCaribbean experience, the time spent in America, when and where the work iswritten, and job. Our research analyzes and relates these parameters in twenty-twowriters (1492–1648) in order to know which factor is determining the use of Tainowords.