Talk:Botánica

Errors?
I suspect botánica is a corruption of botanique, a French, not Spanish word. French is the language of Haiti and Haiti is the new-world home of voodoo. Botánicas should not be confused with boticas which are not voodoo related. Boticas are found throughout Latin America and they deal in a range of remedies as well as other, minor merchandise. The word botica is standard Spanish. 71.222.166.100 04:51, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Its not a "corruption" of botanique although it is cognate. If you please reference the source I relied upon primarily you will see that this source is more than sufficiently authoritative and that I used the term correctly. I don't doubt that these stores are called botanique in the French Caribbean. However, Latin America is a much huger place and its appropriate to discuss botánicas primarily in that context instead. If you note, the place in New Orleans that is referenced does use "botanica" (sans accent mark) in its name rather than botanique. A mention of the spelling botanique is only appropriate to this article if properly cited.House of Scandal 05:02, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

House,

Immediately after reading your response, I e-mailed Dr. Gómez-Beloz, seeking clarification. He has not responded. I've learned by Googleing that—although he was born in Chicago—he has roots in Mexico and has South American experience. I'm confident he speaks Spanish fluently.

Here is my difficulty: Botica is used throughout Latin America to mean the kind of store your article describes (except possibly in Puerto Rico, where botánica is heard). Ordinarily, botánica, in this context, would apply to the proprietress of a botica, not to the store itself.

Knowing my own fallibility, I have searched the web extensively in hope of finding support for using "botánica" with reference to a store. I found nothing useful.

Wugo 04:43, 9 January 2007 (UTC)


 * I don't understand why this point needs claification or why you e-mailed Gómez-Beloz. The name of my primary reference is The Botánica as a Culturally Appropriate Health Care Option for Latinos  and clearly says "...stores known as botánicas that are found throughout the United States."  Drive through any Spanish- speaking neighborhood in the USA and look at the signs.  I mentioned the alternative term "botica".  However, botánica is the prefered term in the United States and Mexico.  That is shown without a doubt by my references.  While your assertion that "botica" is in wider use elswhere is plausible, it is this assertion for which zero evidence has been presented.  You are  challenging a well-documented and cited fact on the basis of what?  Finally, although I don't know why in the world you are seeking more confirmation for the use of botánica to mean a store as described here, if you type the three words "botánica and store" into any search engine you'll get plenty.   House of Scandal 07:57, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for your response! I searched for botanica stores as you suggested and was rewarded by a host of hits. As I reviewed them the source of the difficulty I've been experiencing became apparent: Botánicas specialize in occult matters and materia. (I was but vaguely aware such stores existed and did not know what they were called.) Boticas, on the other hand, are essentially pharmacies or drugstores that may, or may not, sell herbal remedies along with more modern medications. (With those I am familiar.) They do not dabble in the occult although they may offer religious bric-a-brac and other merchandise as a sort of sideline. The terms "botánica" and "botica" are not synonymous. I hope you'll strike botica from your article.

Wugo 02:10, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

"Botánicas" and "boticas" are characterized by the presence of religious and/or alternative medical good. What you are thinking of is a farmacia .As Dr. Chavez and Dr. Gómez-Beloz's reports notes: Botánicas, less commonly known as hierberias or boticas(Trotter and Chavira, 1981), are stores that sell medicinal herbs, religious amulets, and other products (e.g., incense, perfume) used for healing remedies. Once again, you are asking to to overule a very credible published source in favor your murky understanding of the subject. House of Scandal 06:58, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

This link < http://www.revistatravesias.com/trave/traArticulo.php3?idNumero=11&seccionID=44&artd=119 > leads to a detailed description of Mexican barrios in large cities of the United States. Note the characterization of the botánicas in East Harlem: ''Otro tipo de local fascinante es el de las "botánicas", tiendas donde se exhiben hombro con hombro santos de madera, budas de plástico que más parecen premios de feria, elefantes hindúes, fotos de la selección o de Rafita Márquez solo, amuletos vudú, incienso del Congo y, por supuesto, jabones de tres dólares para hacer más dinero, para hacer más dinero pronto (por el mismo precio), para deshacerse de lo indeseable y el "sígueme-sígueme", para conquistar a su pareja. El encargado de los tes, brebajes y demás trabajos espirituales suele dar consultas particulares.''

As you can see, they are not boticas/farmacias. (Medicines are not even mentioned.)

Wugo 00:17, 12 January 2007 (UTC)


 * First you spent days trying to convince me that the type of store described in this article was not called a "botánica". Now you are proving that it is and making a new claim.  There is obviously variation among the subject matter.  Some are mostly occult stores.  Some are mostly drug stores.  House of Scandal 13:03, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

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