[Aztlan] Chilam etymology

[Gary Daniels]

I guess the next question I have is, is there any evidence that "chilam" was
ever used in a colloquial or slang way to mean "to write." I know in English
we will often take a proper noun and turn it into a verb that's associated
with the function of that proper noun. For instance, Xerox is a proper noun
but we also use it as a verb when we want to photocopy something. Example:
"Can you xerox this for me?"

Is there any evidence in the Mayan language that they did anything similar
wherein the title of "Chilam" gets turned into a verb meaning "to write"
since writing was part of the function of the Chilam just as photocopying is
part of the function of a Xerox machine?

(Yes, I know the Mayans had a separate word meaning "to write." I'm just
looking for evidence if they ever used "chilam" in that sense as well.)

-Gary C. Daniels
http://www.LostWorlds.org




On 11/10/09 11:03 PM, "Karen Bassie" <rick.bassie at nucleus.com> wrote:

> In 2005, John Sosa (who is a Maya speaker and an exceptional
> anthropologist) gave a persuasive presentation at the Chac Mool
> conference in which he presented evidence that the "chilam balam" title
>  should actually be pronounced c(íila'an báalam. In modern Maya, this
> would translate as c(íila'an "lying down," and báalam "guardian
> grandfather".  In other words, the "lying down guardian grandfather".
> The various descriptions of the "chilam balam" indicate that he made his
> prophesy by lying face up in a room in his house and entering a trance.
> The true god, the 13 gods, and 400 gods then came to the ridgepole of
> his roof and spoke to him. John also explained why this position of the
> shaman/guardian grandfather was important.
> 
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