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Signs in Spanish: Arte Popular de Ayacucho

Joseph
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Joined: December 19th, 2007 1:24 am

Signs in Spanish: Arte Popular de Ayacucho

Postby Joseph » December 31st, 2007 3:24 pm

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This is a sign at the entrance to a small museum in Barranco, Lima (Peru). "Museo - Galería" (Museum - Gallery); "Arte popular de Ayacucho" (Popular Art of Ayacucho); "Toque el timbre" (Ring the doorbell). The word "Ayacucho" comes from Quechua "Ayakuchu". If we break it down, we get "aya" (soul, the dead) and "kuchu" (corner, outback). The name refers to the numerous Inkan rebellions that took place after Pizarro established it as a Spanish colonial city. By Royal decree, it was given the name "La Muy Noble y Leal Ciudad de Huamanga" (The Very Noble and Loyal City of Huamanga), which in 1825 was changed to "Ayacucho" by Simón Bolivar. At the bottom of the sign, we read "Toque el timbre" (Ring the doorbell). The word "toque" here is in the third person singular of the imperative mood. It is the formal command of the verb "tocar". In Lima, there are usually two front entrances to a building: the outer entrance, and the inner. The outer entrance is usually locked, which is why the signs asks you to ring the doorbell. Often, there is a guard or watchman to let you in; but as this is a very humble museum, there is none.
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