Author Topic: Anyone Have Any Degree of Latin Proficiency? (Read 2024 times)

Noemon · « **on:** July 14, 2006, 12:12:56 PM »

If so, I could use a hand. I've been asked to translate the phrase "Every Airman, Every Aircraft" into Classical Latin. The fact that concepts like "airman" and "aircraft" didn't *exist* in the Roman world throws a hitch into this assignment (as does my near total ignorance of Latin). I posted about this on Hatrack, but thought that I'd do so here as well.

Note that "pilot" won't work as a synonym for "airman", since the term has to involve anyone in any way associated with planes, including mechanics, ground crews, etc.

Porter · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:13:54 PM »

A) I don't know Latin

From what you've said, it really seems an impossible task.

Jonathon · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:18:17 PM »

Impossible to translate into existing Latin words, anyway, but not impossible to create some new compounds.

Porter · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:21:45 PM »

But if they are new compounds, it's no longer classical latin.

Jonathon · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:26:24 PM »

Yeah, but there are no classical Romans alive to complain about it.

Porter · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:30:17 PM »

But that's precisely why I said it was an impossible task. They are going to have to give a little on either the classical part or the meaning part, or give up completely.

Jonathon · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:34:36 PM »

Dude, you're so literal.

Porter · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:35:30 PM »

Yup, especially in situations, like this, where I think it's warranted.

Jonathon · « **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:40:29 PM »

Okay then, Mr. Literal, here's a riddle for you: if you translate the word air into Classical Latin and translate the word man into Classical Latin and then join those two words into a compound, what language is it?

Porter · « **Reply #9 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:45:26 PM »

Modern Latin? JonBoy Latin? Elvish?

BTW, I was flipping through the channels earlier today, and it is John-Boy on the Waltons.

Jonathon · « **Reply #10 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:50:05 PM »

Quote

Modern Latin? JonBoy Latin? Elvish?

Actually, come to think of it, I have seen "Modern Latin" in etymologies in the OED.

Porteiro: 1
Jon Boy: 0

Quote

BTW, I was flipping through the channels earlier today, and it is John-Boy on the Waltons.

Isn't that what I've always said?

Porter · « **Reply #11 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:51:30 PM »

You said that you thought it was John-Boy.

And now I'm letting you know that you were correct.

Jonathon · « **Reply #12 on:** July 14, 2006, 01:52:47 PM »

Gotcha.

pooka · « **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2006, 07:58:50 AM »

I had 4 years of high school Latin. I'll see what I can dig up.

Is there any missing subtext such as "every airman [for] every aircraft?"

I also wonder if we need to have aircraft the same way we have airman. There is a word for a swift vessel "actuarius". Every is getting me into some trouble. I sort of have an idea how it should go together, but not quite. I got to do some stuff today, but in a phrase where both are nominative...

Cuius Vir Aerius, Cuius Actuarius.

pooka · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2006, 05:16:43 PM »

What, you never check back? Well, I guess this had been up for a few days, and there were several Latin Lovers on Hatrack (and I don't mean Eddie).