Talk:Bacalao

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Which spelling is the most common? Should this page be at Bacalhau (island), with Bacalhau a disambiguation page? -- ALoan (Talk) 18:24, 16 Dec 2004 (UTC)

I agree. Bacalhau is more common than Bacalao. --TintininLisbon 21:55, 16 Dec 2004 (UTC)

"Bacalhau" is the modern name for an island off the coast of Newfoundland. The name is derived from the Portuguese. "Bacalao" and other cognates is a sixteenth century name for Newfoundland. It was a common word in Portugal, Spain, France, etc., for the dried cod and was appropriately applied to Newfoundland by these early fishermen (including the Basques). ALL references to precolumbian visits to Bacalao, e.g., Joao Vaz Corte Real, are from post-columbian sources and suspect.

[edit] 15th century?

This is from the article:

Bacalao literally means "cod", which is often used for "stockfish". Spanish fisherman fished for cod at the Grand Banks of Newfoundland in the 15th century, so this is a possible origin of the name.

Um, really? The 15th century, as in 1401-1500? Unless there were enterprising fishermen who crossed the Atlantic right after Columbus got back to Spain, I doubt there were Spanish fisherman in the Grand Banks in any quantity during the 15th century. They really only had 7-8 years left to do it.

Now, they might have been there, but that again supposes a pre-Columbian Spanish presence in the Grand Banks. This assumes the claim which for which it is trying to be evidence. --Saforrest 23:14, 15 November 2007 (UTC)