Anu Garg cited today that the Taino people and its language is extinct. Well, I am a Taino indigenous person residing in NYC and often meet with my fellow tribal sisters and brothers. We are still here and have a right to exist. I ask that Anu Garg revise the column. In addition, the word Cacike is still being used and practiced.

It is still found in some text books that after
Columbus the Taino died off due to disease.
The question, of course, is your native tongue
still spoken in any form by your kin? Anu
says that is what is extinct.

It is being spoken. Due to the oppression by the Spanish Crown and later governments, the indigenous fled to remote places in the islands and there the language was safeguarded. Presently, there are many dictionaries published and being published re: Taino language, which Columbus described as the most beautiful of languages. There are many villages in the Greater/lesser Antilles and South America that the language thrives.
This is what I thought was offensive:
ETYMOLOGY:
Via Spanish from Taino cacike (chief). Earliest documented use: 1555. Taino is an extinct member of the Arawakan language family spoken in the West Indies.
Thank you for comments.

So it is being preserved in its current form,
and spoken in various places. I understand
your objection, at least from your point of
view, and appreciate your comments.
Thank you.

Is it being spoken as a native language? Ethnologue says no; but there still exists a "Spanish-Taino mixed language" - a creole I guess.

There are many who are speaking it and are trying to teach others. Many of the taino words were adopted into the Spanish and English languages, ie canoe, tobacco.

I'm surprised to hear that Taino is still spoken. According to this article in published by Caribbean Amerindian Centrelink, the last speakers probably died in the mid to late nineteenth century. You should contact this organization.

There's an article about the Taíno in the October Smithsonian magazine. The words hammock, barbecue and hurricane are also mentioned. I haven't read the article yet but it's next on my list.

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