With apologies to Cid

[Lightbender]

With apologies to Cid - Warning! Latin content

I know it is considered extremely bad form to correct someone's English spelling or grammar on an international list and I agree with the common sentiment that only arrogant insensitive self styled elitists deign to try, however, I am unsure of the protocol for correcting someone's Latin and hope this correction doesn't lose me any of my Gauge friends.

The pseudo Latin phrase "Nil bastardum carborundum" and the other well used
form "Illegitimi non carborundum" has been used to profess the 'translation' "Don't let the bastards grind you down?"

Neither are grammatically correct, nor Latin. Less Wrong - "Nil Carborundum
Illegitimis" 'illegitimi' is a dangling nominative. 'illegitimis' is the correct form. The word 'carborundum' is a modern Trade Name.

Better - "Ne Nothi Te Redigant" nothus = bastard (i.e., an illegitimate person); redigere = to grind to a powder

This would not have made sense to a Roman. The concept of bastard didn't mean
an unpleasant person in ancient Rome, and while redigere fits the intent of "Carborundum", it is nonsense and not idiomatic.

Best - "Ne Molesti Te Deprimant"
Authentically Roman colloquial form which means, "Don't let troublesome/annoying people press you down".

There now I've taken all the fun out of that phrase

 

[Dave Flinn]

Latin

Thanks for the Latin lesson. The only one I have ever run across is "IllegitimUS non carborundum est." Ya see, Yy learn sumpin' every day.

 

[cidchase]

Hey, it's a joke Tony! It's supposedly an old motto dreamed up
by the Harvard boys; somewhat along the same lines as:

Civile, si ergo! Fortibus es in ero.
O Nobile, deus trux! Vadis innem?
Causam dux.

Before you get too upset, my old Latin instructor
taught us that one. :thumb: :thumb:

After "panis et circences" got me started looking,
I just had to get my licks in.

I can't even get through Winnie Ille Pu, so don't worry
about insulting my Latin.

I'm just glad someone's lookin'; it's like when the only attention
a kid gets is his daily whippin'......:cry: :cry:

Yer still my friend, Tony. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[60103]

and I think "quando omni flunkus, moritati" needs a bit of work, too.
Have you seen the scene in "Life of Bryan" where Bryan has written "Vade domus, romani" (or similar) on a wall and John Cleese as a Roman centurion comes out, corrects his grammar, and makes him write it 500 times all over the walls?

 

[Woodie]

The ultimate in Latin lessons.

Centurion: What is this then? Romanes eunt domus, "People called Romanes they go the house"?
Brian It-it says, "Romans, go home"!
Centurion: No, it doesn't! What's Latin for "Roman"? [grabs Brian's ear] Come on, come on!
Brian: Romanus!
Centurion: Goes like?
Brian: Annus!
Centurion: Vocative plural of annus is...?
Brian: Anni?
Centurion: [writes] Romani. And eunt? What is eunt?
Brian: "Go"! Let-
Centurion: Conjugate the verb "to go".
Brian: Ire; eo, is, it, imus, itis, eunt!
Centurion: So eunt is...?
Brian: Third person plural, present indicative. "They go!"
Centurion: But "Romans, go home" is an order, so you must use the...?
Brian: The... imperative!
Centurion: Which is...?
Brian: I!
Centurion: [twisting Brian's ear] How many Romans?
Brian: [yelling] I.. Plural, plural! Ite, ite!
Centurion: [writing] Ite. Domus? Nominative? But "go home", it is motion towards, isn't it, boy?
Brian: Dative, sir!
[The centurion promptly draws his swords and presses it against Brian's throat. Brian yells:]
No, not dative! Not the dative, sir! No! The... accusative, accusative! Domum, sir, ad domum!
Centurion: Except that domus takes the...?
Brian: The locative, sir!
Centurion: Which is?
Brian: Domum!
Centurion: [writing] Domum... -um [sheathing his sword] Understand?
[Brian nods eagerly]
Now, write it out a hundred times!
Brian: Yes, sir, thank you, sir! Hail Caesar!
Centurion: Hail Caesar. If it's not done by sunrise, I'll cut your balls off!
Brian: Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Hail Caesar and everything, sir!


:thumb:

 

[Woodie]

.... and which one are you?? Recognise anybody??

Internet Flame Warriors

 

[cidchase]

ROFL Woodie, yer killin' me! :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Fred_M]

The only latin I ever learned was at the beginning of roadrunner cartoons

 

[RailRon]

Oh, finally a thread with some culture!

This is really essential for the health of our minds! Or, like the Romans say:

"Mens sana in Campari Soda!"

Ron (Cheers - hicks! )

 

[cidchase]

Hey Tony,
"Don't be cruel"
At least let me know the source of my new sig!!

I sure liked the ring of "Non illegitimi carborundum" a lot better....

Culture???!! We don't need no stinkin' culture!!ops: ops: ops:

 

[Lightbender]

Hello Cid,

Yikes! I didn't mean to have you change stuff. Yup, I know it is a joke and I also agree it has a nice 'ring' to it and is definitely more amusing. I prefer the "Nil Carborundum Illegitimis" but please feel free to dangle your nominative, if you wear a big grin when doing so.

I hope my comments are taken in the spirit I was hoping for and just in case you ever get accosted by the Latin Police you now have the ability to make a snappy comeback such as;
"Yes I happen to know it isn't proper Latin....(followed by my little explanation) but it isn't funny the right way"

Thankyou thankyou thankyou Woodie,

That was a howl, it had me on the floor the first time I saw it. Of course my Latin master was nothing like that, he was much shorter and quite bald. Thankyou Pythons for finally giving some use to those mind numbing hours. Oh of course, and thankyou guys for putting up with this if you weren't one of the lucky ones that suffered hundred of hours of Latin abuse as a child. Don't worry this thread will die soon, just like the language.

One more thing, just to assure you that I aint got no culture;

semper ubi sub ubi
because I like bad puns.

idem faeces, alius dies
so I can talk dirty and get away with it.

Wow! I have found my Latin education useful twice in one lifetime, this must be a record.