{"id":2617,"date":"2013-09-25T15:05:23","date_gmt":"2013-09-25T15:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/?p=2617"},"modified":"2013-09-27T20:28:52","modified_gmt":"2013-09-27T20:28:52","slug":"how-one-latin-sentence-can-teach-you-so-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/how-one-latin-sentence-can-teach-you-so-much\/","title":{"rendered":"How One Latin Sentence Can Teach You SO Much"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Capitoline<\/a>

Capitoline Wolf suckles the infant twins Romulus and Remus.<\/p><\/div>\n

The foundation story of Rome can be found in Book I of Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita<\/strong><\/em> (From the Founding of the City<\/em>)\u00a0 (Literally: From the City having been founded<\/em>). <\/strong>Thus, Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita<\/em> begins with the founding of Rome and progress to his modern day. Let us attempt to translate one sentence from the work:<\/p>\n

\"Rome\"<\/a>

Rome<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sed debebatur, ut opinor, fatis tantae origo urbis maximique secundum deorum opes imperii principium.\u00a0<\/strong>(1.4)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

But\u00a0it was destined, as I believe, by the fates the origin of such a\u00a0great city and the beginning of the greatest power secondary\/next after the power of the gods.<\/p>\n

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BREAKDOWN:<\/p>\n

Sed debebatur<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Sed<\/strong>: “But”<\/p>\n

debebatur<\/strong> is from debeo,<\/strong> it is a 3rd singular verb(he, she, it) imperfect and passive\u00a0meaning “it was destined.” Latin verb forms can be learned here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ut opinor<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

ut:<\/strong> “as, how”<\/p>\n

opinor:<\/strong> 1st\u00a0singular meaning: “I believe, suppose or think.” (Opinor<\/strong> resembles English opinion.)<\/p>\n

\u00a0fatis tantae origo urbis<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

fatis:<\/strong> From the noun fatum<\/strong> which is neuter (as opposed to masculine or feminine). The form is neuter plural ablative. Ablative is a case in Latin that serves many functions (as seen here<\/a>); I would argue this is an ablative means. “By means of the fates” or “by the fates.” Although, it may also be a dative plural with debeo<\/strong>; meaning “it was owed to the fates.”<\/p>\n

origo:<\/strong> is nominative feminine singular. Origio<\/strong>\u00a0means\u00a0origin or beginning. The nominative case is equivalent to the subject in English (<\/em>Explanation\u00a0of Latin\u00a0cases may be found here<\/a>).<\/em> So, origo<\/strong> is actual the subject of debebatur:<\/strong> “But the origin was destined, as I believe, by the fates.”<\/p>\n

tantae urbis<\/strong>= tantae<\/strong> is an adjective that is from tantus meaning “so great\/such great.” Since it is an adjective it agrees with the form and case of the noun: urbis. Urbis<\/strong> is from urbs,<\/strong>\u00a0it’s singular, feminine, genitive (as is tantae)<\/strong> and it means “city.” The genitive case is mainly used for possession or description. For example: origo tantae urbis<\/strong> :”the origin of\u00a0such a\u00a0great city.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0maximique secundum deorum opes imperii principium<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Our clue that we are looking for a new subject is the “que.” Que<\/strong> is another way of saying “and” in Latin instead of using “et.”<\/strong> When one uses “que”<\/strong> for\u00a0“and” instead of\u00a0“et;”<\/strong> there are certain rules that must be remembered:<\/p>\n

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  1. Que<\/strong> is always affixed to the end of a word\u00a0and\u00a0will usually not stand alone.<\/li>\n
  2. The que<\/strong> is your\u00a0indicator that a new clause has begun in a sentence.<\/li>\n
  3. Most importantly, the\u00a0word that que<\/strong> is affixed to, although it comes before the que,<\/strong> it is part of the que<\/strong> clause.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For example “maximique”<\/strong> is actual maximi<\/strong>\u00a0+ que. Maximi<\/strong> come from the adjective maximus<\/strong> which somewhat resembles English:\u00a0maximum and thus it means “greatest.”<\/p>\n

    In regards to Rule 3:\u00a0Now, if maximi<\/strong> went with the clause\u00a0”\u00a0fatis tantae origo urbis<\/strong>“what\u00a0does it agree with ?<\/p>\n

    NOTHING! Of course it does not, because it doesn’t go with that clause! maximi<\/strong> goes with: “secundum deorum opes imperii principium<\/strong>.” Because the “que”<\/strong> attaches it to this clause! Now what does the maximi<\/strong> look like it goes with?<\/p>\n

    maximi and imperii<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong> are a match! However there are not our nominative\/subject, but they are genitive neuter singular. They come to mean\u00a0“of the greatest power.”<\/p>\n

    Principium<\/strong> is our nominative\/subject which is a neuter noun meaning: “beginning.” So far, the translations follows: “And (que)<\/strong> the beginning (principium)<\/strong> of the greatest power (maximi<\/strong> + imperii).”<\/strong> It is important to note that principium<\/strong> is nominative because it is also (along with origo)<\/strong> the subject of debebatur.<\/strong> THUS: “The origin of so great a city and the beginning of the greatest power was destined, as I believe, by the fates.”<\/p>\n

    \u00a0secundum deorum opes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Secundum<\/strong> is another adjective that is neuter nominative agreeing with principium.<\/strong> However this adjective should be taken as a verbal adjective. Thus it is: ” the beginning of the greatest power\u00a0that is secundum<\/strong> (second\/ next\/after)”.\u00a0 The reason this has to be a verbal adjective is because a normal adjective would be translated as the “secondary\/next beginning of the greatest power.” Contextually, this makes no sense.<\/p>\n

    Opes Deorum<\/strong>= opes<\/strong> is plural feminine accusative. The accusative case\u00a0is\u00a0the direct object in Latin. So, “the beginning of the greatest power\u00a0that is second to the opes<\/strong> (power).” Deorum<\/strong> is plural masculine genitive meaning “of the gods.” THUS: “And the beginning of the greatest power\u00a0second to the power of the gods.”<\/p>\n

    TRANSLATION COMPLETE FOR\u00a0ONE SENTENCE.<\/p>\n

    As one can see Latin is a very complex language that has various nuances that test and train the mind to look for patterns and logical sequences in putting sentences together.\u00a0It is a rewarding process that only can be achieved through practice and patience.<\/p>\n

    More on the Author: Livy:<\/p>\n

    http:\/\/youtu.be\/J645ko2ILgo<\/a><\/p>\n

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     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

    The foundation story of Rome can be found in Book I of Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita (From the Founding of the City)\u00a0 (Literally: From the City having been founded). Thus, Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita begins with the founding of Rome and progress to his modern day. Let us attempt to translate one sentence…<\/p>\n

    Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":2628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3691],"tags":[8530,914,60862,60861,3746,3750,235612,3753,3754],"class_list":["post-2617","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latin-language","tag-ablative","tag-accusative","tag-latin-grammar","tag-latin-language-2","tag-latin-literature","tag-latin-sentences","tag-latin-syntax","tag-latin-vocab","tag-latin-vocabulary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t