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Difference between revisions of "Chorizo (Latin America)"
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''‘Chorizo’'' is a frequently used expression in conversation and political discourse, but less commonly found in written Spanish. It is however sometimes used in the media, especially in the front-page headlines of popular newspapers. For example the headline, ‘The Real Culprits of Chorizo of the Border Trail ''La Trocha'' are Exposed’, referred to a major new road running along the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, initiated under an emergency executive decree. Because of its emergency status, the project was allowed to proceed via fast track procurement, without the usual accountability agencies’ oversight, which resulted in massively inflated prices. Another headline, ‘13 Million Colones Chorizo in Nineteen Hospitals,’ detailed the purchase of 13 million clones of non-existent medical supplies for state-owned hospitals. | ''‘Chorizo’'' is a frequently used expression in conversation and political discourse, but less commonly found in written Spanish. It is however sometimes used in the media, especially in the front-page headlines of popular newspapers. For example the headline, ‘The Real Culprits of Chorizo of the Border Trail ''La Trocha'' are Exposed’, referred to a major new road running along the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, initiated under an emergency executive decree. Because of its emergency status, the project was allowed to proceed via fast track procurement, without the usual accountability agencies’ oversight, which resulted in massively inflated prices. Another headline, ‘13 Million Colones Chorizo in Nineteen Hospitals,’ detailed the purchase of 13 million clones of non-existent medical supplies for state-owned hospitals. | ||
There are two possible origins of the word ''‘chorizo’'' for corrupt acts. The first explanation points to a nineteenth century Spanish use of the term to describe corrupt politicians (‘ | There are two possible origins of the word ''‘chorizo’'' for corrupt acts. The first explanation points to a nineteenth century Spanish use of the term to describe corrupt politicians (‘''chorizos’''). In recent time, this meaning has been extended to refer to any kind of thief and enjoyed popular usage in Spain, but in Latin America, it retains only its original meaning. The etymology of chorizo, according to this version, is that it came to Spanish from the Caló language, which was influential in the early development of the Spanish language. In Caló, the word for thief was ‘''chori,''’ hence ''chorizo.'' | ||
A second, explanation for the origin of the word chorizo is its association with the sausages making process: meat is forced into a membrane, and periodically the membrane is tied with a cord, forming a long chain of sausages. In this instance each tie (''un amarre'') symbolically represents the closing of an irregular transaction. The sausage links signify the interconnectedness of the separate events. Corruption is possible only if a number of people are involved in a business and each of them keeps a part of the proceeds. Participants may include the main authority, medium level officials, and the secretary, the driver, and others who are all linked to other private individuals outside the business. | A second, explanation for the origin of the word chorizo is its association with the sausages making process: meat is forced into a membrane, and periodically the membrane is tied with a cord, forming a long chain of sausages. In this instance each tie (''un amarre'') symbolically represents the closing of an irregular transaction. The sausage links signify the interconnectedness of the separate events. Corruption is possible only if a number of people are involved in a business and each of them keeps a part of the proceeds. Participants may include the main authority, medium level officials, and the secretary, the driver, and others who are all linked to other private individuals outside the business. | ||