Re: English into Latin
2Linda wrote:Hey, George! I can't thankyou enough for your help in mid-June with translations for mottos for family t-shirts. They were a terrific hit. Your (BTW) gave me pause, but upon reflection I realized that the connotation "pluck" worked even better than "Seize"--less obsessive.
I did get some questions about word endings. Using my "Latin for Idiots" book I was able to work out the reasons for all the endings except Sorbitionem gelidam. Can you help me out with a defense that will satisfy brothers who took three years of high school Latin 40+ years ago. Why doesn't gelidam match the -em ending of sorbitionem?
The mottos created a family fad. Can you help me feed it by translating
Seize the Coffee (accusative plurals I tried are coffeum? cafia?)
Seize the Remote (as in TV remote control-obviously singular.)
Thanks again. This is a great forum. A dead language is so much fun when it's lively!
"Sorbitio" is a feminine noun of the
third declension.
The accusative singular of "sorbitio" is "sorbitionem."
"Gelidus" is and adjective of the
first and second declensions.
The feminine, accusative singular of "gelidus" is therefore "gelidam."
The different declensions have dfifferent endings.
I can relate to your brothers -- my high school Latin is 40+ years in the
past as well. Scary thought.
I've seen the following new-Latin words used for coffee:
caffea
cafea
caffeum
coffeum
calda Arabica
potio Arabica
So it's wide open to choice. My personal favorite is "caffea."
In this situation, I would use it in the singular, "Carpe caffeam."
I may get that on a t shirt myself.
As for "remote," I haven't come across any translations for that.
My proposal: "moderator disiunctus."
Carpe moderatorem disiunctum.
Have fun!
