Interesting point, how would you translate "Knowing is half the battle"? Perhaps write it out a bit first, as "Since we know this fact, the battle is almost won.", to make the meaning clear.
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Interesting point, how would you translate "Knowing is half the battle"? Perhaps write it out a bit first, as "Since we know this fact, the battle is almost won.", to make the meaning clear.
Heh heh, yeah, dealing with translations for colloquial phrases can be a pain in the arse, since many of them seem to rely on a knowledge of history, a certain system of values, and implied or alternate meanings.
In this case, I would probably just pick something simpler, like "Knowledge is Power", which gets you 80% of the same intention, I think.
Hmmm…the “half the battle” proverb doesn’t seem to be all that old—I can’t find it before the Eighteenth Century, even in English, in which it refers to “a good beginning.” There is a Latin form of that proverb in a quotation from Horace, Dimidium facti qui cœpit habet, “Whoever begins has half of the deed,” itself apparently derived from the Greek of Hesiod. I suppose one could say, Dimidium pugnæ qui ____ habet. I suppose one could say, qui scit, though I tend to think that would have prompted a Roman to ask, “Knows what?” I would be more inclined to say, qui sapit, though that seems a bit off the meaning: “He who is wise has half the battle.” You could possibly say, Dimidium pugnæ gnarus habet, “The knowledgeable man has half the battle,” but I don’t quite get that G.I. Joe feeling from that. I think my own inclination would be to say, Dimidium pugnæ scientia habeas, “Thou shalt have half of the battle by knowledge,” or better yet, Dimidium pugnæ sciendo habeas, “Thou shalt have half of the battle by knowing” (or “by what you ought to know”).
some people take things too far..
If anybody is still up for translation, I could use a translated for "(created) from nothing."
Well, the (created) will depend on what's created - whether singular or plural, first, second, or third person. Your construction screams passive, too, which is a consideration. Assuming third singular - (Factum est) ex nihilo.
I'm in the process of learning, so I could be wrong here, but that's where I'm pegging it right now.
The "est" makes the phrase a full sentence - "it has been created out of nothing". Drop the "est" to make the verb into a participle - Factum ex nihilo, "having been created out of nothing".
EDIT: Also, on the "knowing is half the battle", why can't it just be "dimidium pugnae scire est"? To know is half the battle. There might be some reason why that can't work, but my (fairly untrained) Latin brain can't see it.
I have an idea for a large project in Latin, but unfortunately my Latin is limited mostly to what I've picked up at church.
My idea: Tobuscus' Dramatic Song, IN LATIN! What better language for a song that sounds so dramatic?
Youtube link to the English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WteF0j5gYGk
Spoilered lyrics:
SpoilerThis song sounds dramatic
but I'm bad at writing words.
If you don't speak English,
this probably sounds pretty good.
You'd probably think I'm singing
bout some pretty serious stuff.
But in reality, I'm singing 'bout
the lack of stuff i'm singing 'bout.
This part's intense.
And emotional.
As long as you don't understand it.
Your foreign grandma
would love this song.
Please send it to her,
and she'll probably tell her
foreign friends about the song her
grandson or daughter sent her today.
This song might hit the charts in her country
if parts sounded like Coldplay.
If the chorus sounds like Coldplay.
Then I put some 'La-La-La's in there.
La la la la la,
la la la la la la la (Coldplay)
Hopefully your foreign grandma
listens to this song everyday.
And if she asks you to
translate the lyrics, here's what you say:
"A perfect translation does not exist.
Well, at least, not in your language.
But if you must know, well, picture this:
Fifty billion rainbows,
and the sun is setting,
and the moon is setting, also,
and you're there in a gazebo.
And then God descends from heaven
and He gives you a million dollars.
Take that feeling,
and put it into a song.
I could translate word by word,
but that'd take too long.
And I've got stuff to do grandma.
I don't have time for this.
You've gotta trust me grandma,
this freakin' song is brilliant."
Can you translate "Don't forget to fly" into Latin for me?
I ate a fart.
Translate it!:smallwink::smalltongue:
Can you please translate this for me, it's a common saying in my house:
"You know where the door is"
Could you please translate something for me. My favorite teacher passed away and it has been too many years since I translated Latin...
Teacher, Mentor, Friend,
Thank you for all you gave us. Thank you for all you taught us. You will live on through us and you will never be forgotten. Rest in peace.
Love,
all of your Latin students
Thanks..
I'd like a certain incantation translated. It belongs to a rather grim magical girl who I play in a game on another forum, who dedicates herself to fighting demons and those who summon them.
I command thee under the contract:
Let the light be my eyes;
Let the dark be my cloak;
Let wrath be my weapon,
And vengeance my oath.
It's meant to be used when she transforms into her mahou shoujo form, though she only speaks the words aloud when she's feeling particularly dramatic, as one does not need to speak incantations aloud in the verse I play in. The final part of the incantation (Dark Transfiguration...COMMENCE!) is one that I'll be leaving untranslated.
If you're still around, I have a request for you.
"I stood among the ashes of a thousand dead men and asked them if honor mattered. The silence was my answer."
If any here would be willing, I have a motto that I would like to see translated.
"From Iron, Peace. From Flesh, Wisdom. From Thought, Power."
Can you translate "Imagination is life's greatest adventure" for me? Thank you!
Hi there. First of all, thanks a lot for your effort and generosity. Now, to my query, I'd like to translate yet another famous H. P. Lovecraft quote:
"In his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming"
Thanks for the help!
Hey, can you help me?
How will be "never again" in Latin?
a few quotes from Futurama if you don't mid translating please:
Bite my shiny, metal ass!
I wish I was stupid and violent! Then we'd see what's what! I'd pound them tight!
All right environment - you've met your match!
If you please:
For the Order. For the Crown. For glory and honor.
I'm doing a PbP here, all the characters are part of a knightly order and this is what I think their motto will be. Thanks!
Can you verify the translation of "why so serious?" as "cur sic gravis?"
Big oof, how about you translate "English is a stupid language" so I can snark at my english teacher, maybe?
My latin is a bit rusty, but I can't let that go unanswered.
Let's see...
"In domo sua R'liehae, mortuus Cthulhu somnians exspectat."
I assumed R'lyeh was a first declination feminine (as if it was "R'lieha") and that "Cthulhu" was Cthulhu's nominative (sounds reasonnable).
That's probably a little awkward, but I am confident it is correct.
EDIT 1: I changed the "y" in R'lyeh to a "i" to keep the pronunciation alike. "y" in latin sounds like a french "u". I don't think there is that sound in english.
EDIT 2: Another one because why not?
What is a PbP?
"Ordini. Coronae. Gloriae honorique."
This is assuming you mean "honor" as a synonym of "glory", if you mean more as "virtous behaviour", "honestoque" would be more fitting.
Would it be possible to get the Attack Helicopter copypasta translated, except with Cato the Elder instead? For reference, the original is
and I'd like a version such asQuote:
I sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter. Ever since I was a boy I dreamed of soaring over the oilfields dropping hot sticky loads on {Scrubbed}. People say to me that a person being a helicopter is Impossible and I'm ****ing Scrubbedbut I don't care, I'm beautiful. I'm having a plastic surgeon install rotary blades, 30 mm cannons and AMG-114 Hellfire missiles on my body. From now on I want you guys to call me "Apache" and respect my right to kill from above and kill needlessly. If you can't accept me you're a heliphobe and need to check your vehicle privilege. Thank you for being so understanding.
Apologies in advance.Quote:
I sexually Identify as Cato the Elder. Ever since I was a boy I dreamed of campaigning through Africa dropping hot sticky loads on {Scrubbed}. People say to me that a person being Cato the Elder is Impossible and I'm ****ing Scrubbed but I don't care, I'm beautiful. I'm buying a villa, a toga, and thirty slaves to work on my farm. From now on I want you guys to call me "Cato" and respect my right to defend Rome from Hellenic influences. If you can't accept me you're a catophobe and need to check your Roman privilege. Furthermore, Carthage must be destroyed.