Beware of Automated Online Latin Translators

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Consider model Danielle LLoyd. She wanted a tattoo in Latin to say:
"To diminish me will only make me stronger". Apparently she used one
of those automated online translators. Here's what she got:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/08/article-1168487-045A8358000005DC-86_468x496.jpg

A closer look:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/08/article-1168487-045A8358000005DC-35_468x286.jpg

Unfortunately, Quis attero mihi tantum planto mihi validus breaks down
like this.

Quis --> who? (interrogative pronoun)
attero --> I wear away
mihi --> to me (in the sense of an indirect object)
tantum --> only (hey, got one right!)
planto --> I set
mihi --> (see above)
validus --> strong (masc. nominative)

This poor girl paid good money to have gibberish inked into her skin.

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@George,

Based on her pix, I don't think anyone will be overly concerned or (for that matter) even notice. As the saying goes, Do you want good grammar or good taste?"

Incidentally, as aother interesting note, she vertically has tatooed Hebrew lettering up her spine.

1 Reply

@Ragman,

Good point.
I doubt anyone has said, "Wow! Did you see the left shoulder on that babe?"

1 Reply

@George,

I think her Hebrew tat says "This space for rent".

0 Replies

And if her Latin was correct?

(yes, it's me again.)

1 Reply

My hovercraft is full of eels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Hungarian_Phrasebook

Quote:

The phrase "my hovercraft is full of eels" is often mentioned[1] in relation to any translation system, in particular ones which translate poorly.

0 Replies

@McTag,

McTag wrote:

And if her Latin was correct?

(yes, it's me again.)

Say it, McT!!!
(You know you want to.)

1 Reply

@George,

Well, at least there seems to be a consensus here that she didn't improve herself in the process.
I agree.

1 Reply

I don't understand why people have Latin inscriptions rendered in unical or carolignan script--they ain't nothing remotely Latin about that.

1 Reply

@Setanta,

I suspect that the set of those who understand the relationship of
Latin to unical or carolignan script and the set of those who desire a
tattoo in a language they don't understand have a small intersect.

1 Reply

@McTag,

Yeah, I'm with you there.

0 Replies

@George,

Hehehehehehehehehehe . . .

People who want a tat in Latin hope it will be a conversation starter . . . so they can tell someone what they allege it means . . .

I'd like to have Dulce et decorum est on my shoulder . . . and pro patria mori on my butt . . .

2 Replies

NSFW (view)

@Setanta,

I've suggested to George he should offer in Latin as his next tattoo commission

"I've decided to disfigure my skin with indelible inks, so I look like a twat"

but so far, to my knowledge at least, he hasn't done it.

Wink

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@Setanta,

Setanta wrote:

I'd like to have pro patria mori on my butt . . .

I've just booked you an appointment with Jamie.

1 Reply

@ehBeth,

We are not requesting pictures of this event.

0 Replies

@George,

George wrote:

Consider model Danielle LLoyd. She wanted a tattoo in Latin to say:
"To diminish me will only make me stronger"....
This poor girl paid good money to have gibberish inked into her skin.

Beware of Automated Online Latin Translators

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