Name of the ABC

The name is the "American Barbecue Conjecture".

American

The conjecture is called "American" for three specific reasons.

First, many contemporary cuisines sue the word "barbecue" (e.g. Mongolian and Korean), so this differentiates and clarifies the claim. 

Second, because the conjecture is being researched and analyzed by professors with expertise in pre-Columbian history who teach in many countries, including Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and around the world, the word "American" helps clarify the limit of the scope of the research.  For example, a Spanish professor may be conducting research on the ABC, and the word "American" helps to clarify the scope of that research.

Third, many in the barbecue colleagues equate barbecue with the United States.  For example, many claim that the only authentic barbecue is that which was developed originally in Eastern North Carolina or environs.  However, the ABC posits that the origin was in the Caribbean, which is "American" but not "U.S."

Barbecue

Here, the "barbecue" in the ABC refers to both the word barbecue and the barbecue cooking method.

Conjecture

The ABC is called a conjecture and not a "fact", "theory", "hypothesis", "assertion", "claim", "conclusion", or any similar term.  The word conjecture means a plausible explanation or guess, which is intended to be studied and subjected to critical scholarly research and analysis.

A conjecture in this sense is much less than a fact or theory and a little less than a hypothesis.

Terminology used here

The distinction in the terminology between an historical fact, theory, hypothesis and conjecture, as those terms are used here, can be explained as follows.

A fact is supported with overwhelming historical evidence from primary and secondary sources, such that a fact is universally accepted by scholars.  In addition, there is no credible historical evidence from primary and secondary sources in opposition to the fact.  

For example, it is a fact that Columbus first arrived ashore in America on October 12, 1492.  There is no credible evidence to the contrary.

A theory is supported with strong but not overwhelming historical evidence from primary and secondary sources, such that a theory is widely but perhaps not universally accepted by scholars.  However, there may be some other credible historical evidence from primary and secondary sources in opposition to the theory.

For example, it is a theory but not a fact that Columbus was the first European to sail to America.  However, there is credible evidence that the Vikings arrived in North America centuries before Columbus.

A hypothesis is supported with some but not overwhelming or even strong historical evidence from primary and secondary sources, such that a hypothesis may not be widely, much less universally, accepted by scholars.  In addition, there may be other, credible historical evidence from primary and secondary sources in opposition to the hypothesis.

For example, it is a hypothesis but neither a fact nor a theory that Columbus met Carib Native Americans on the Islands of Guadeloupe.  However, there is credible historical evidence that Columbus never met any Caribs in Guadeloupe.

A conjecture is supported with little or no historical evidence, either in support or in opposition, from primary or secondary sources, such that a conjecture can be neither accepted nor opposed by scholars.  The historical records simply lacks sufficient credible historical evidence in support or in opposition to the conjecture.  However, the conjecture seems plausible and thus may be described as a plausible explanation.

For example, it is a conjecture (but thus far not a fact, theory, or hypothesis) that the Spaniards learned the barbecue cooking method from the Taino Native Americans.  At the present time, there is no known, credible historical evidence in support or in opposition to this conjecture.

Note that there may be many different but related conjectures, such as that the Spaniards taught the barbecue cooking method to the Taino, or both the Spaniards and the Taino independently knew the barbecue cooking method, or that the Taino never knew the barbecue cooking method (i.e. that they did not have it independently and did not learn it from the Spaniards).  These and other "plausible guesses" can be posited.

A conjecture is particularly useful in scholarly research because it focuses the research efforts along specific lines.  For example, it is difficult to develop and implement a research plan to "determine the origin of the word barbecue", because the scope is so vague and wide.  However, the research burden is much clearer and easier by framing the scope along the specific lines of a conjecture.  For example, it is easier to develop and implement a research plan to "determine if Columbus ever used the word barbecue".  

The null hypothesis

Scientists often refer to the methodology of "proving a null hypothesis".  Under this methodology, the researcher frames the question as a negative and then proves or disproves the question.  By disproving a null hypothesis, the researcher has proven the hypothesis.

The ABC is a conjecture, rather than a hypothesis, but the principle is the same.  By either providing or disproving the ABC, the origin of barbecue will be identified with historical evidence.