Re: [CH] datil preservation
Brent Thompson (brent@hplbct.hpl.hp.com)
Fri, 20 Nov 1998 13:55:26 -0800
> would appreciate an explanation of "pungency" and "heat".
Same thing. We use both the terms "pungent" and "hot" to refer to the
exact same characteristic of chiles. It just depends on your preference.
I personally prefer using pungent. It has a formal "official" set of
meanings of course, but the fact is this word is not used much in English
(in America, anyway), so has no particular connotation besides relating to
chiles and the effects of capsaicin, and therefore we could say its primary
meaning is related to chiles. "Hot", on the other hand, is primarily used
to refer to something entirely unrelated to chiles (namely temperature) and
its use to refer to capsaicin effects is definitely secondary, and
therefore confusing.
Of course, probably the best term for us to use would be "picante", if my
understanding is correct that this Spanish word refers unambigously only to
chiles and the effects of capsaicin. I think I was once told that "picoso"
is another such term, but I have some vague recollection like it is a more
general term and therefore more similar to our "pungent".
--- Brent