[Aztlan] Cancun

[john.pastore]

David Hixson wrote:
> As Barb noted (copied again below), the "can" in
> Cancun was likely correctly transcribed as using the
> non-glottalized consonant "c" (not k) [or k, not k']. 
> However, the Spanish orthography (and even the ancient
> Maya glyphs) are not as good at indicating length and
> tone of vowels, which would also affect meaning.  And
> this is one element that supports Barb's assertion
> that "sky" is as likely as "snake" - since they use
> the same consonants, but different length/tones.

Long before most anyone ever heard of Cancun and the majority
of tourists, as few as they were, were coming from New Orleans
and Texas, the Maya of the region, many of whom had never met
a Mexican much less a tourist, pronounced Cancun like
khan-cooOOON.

The second sylable was not only triply stressed but slightly
prolonged and exceptionally rising. They would actually
protrude their lower lip upwards, as when reaching to a cup
held high, for the full effect.

It is probably why the Spanish scribes placed an accent mark
on the u of the second sylable.

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