[Aztlan] Another Hitchiti/Itza Maya language connection

[Max Dashu]

This discussion reminds me of similarities i've noted in engraved 
marine shell art. I ran across an example labelled Huastec (though 
maybe it is Totonac?) that reminded me of Mississippian shell 
engravings -- not in the symbolism but in the style.

http://www.suppressedhistories.net/Gallery/shellart.html

I make no claims about this, but it's something to consider. Those 
Mississsippian marine shells would have come from the Gulf.  Can 
someone give us a picture of language family patterns near the Gulf, 
in SE US and Mexico. Maybe Coalhuitec, Totonac, and whether there are 
any US-side outliers of these languages?

Max

>It's strange enough that the word "chiki" is used in similar ways by the
>Totonac & Itza Maya of Gulf Coast Mexico and Hitchiti of Southeastern U.S.
>
>But I've also stumbled upon another connection:
>
>Chichen Itza means "mouth of the well of the Itza" in Itza Maya language.
>Chi = mouth
>Chen = well
>
>Something similar occurs in Hitchiti:
>
>Chi = mouth
>Chahni = well
>
>Thus in Hitchiti "chichahni" means mouth of the well.
>
>Also, in Itza Maya adding "-ha" to the end of a word denotes "water."
>Interestingly, there are quite a few rivers in Georgia with Hitchiti names
>that end with "-ha" (for instance, altamaha.) I haven't been able to find
>any information regarding what the "ha" suffix in Hitchiti means. Does it
>also denote water?


-- 
Max Dashu
Suppressed Histories Archives
http://www.suppressedhistories.net