a translation question

Here you can discuss all things Latin. Use this board to ask questions about grammar, discuss learning strategies, get help with a difficult passage of Latin, and more.
Post Reply
inadequatepen
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun May 23, 2010 8:01 am

a translation question

Post by inadequatepen »

Up until now I have been sort of trying to teach myself, which is slow going and not guaranteed great results. So with that in mind, I have a question that may be silly. Is it necessary to include 'I' in a sentence. I've seen a couple translations that make me suspect that sometimes I is just sort of implied depending on how the verb is conjugated. For example, if someone said "I love you dad" does it come out ego diligo vos dad? Or is adding 'ego' unnecessary for a fluent speaker?

Assuming I've even got "I love you dad" translated correctly to begin with. I appreciate any help someone can give me on this. Thanks.

User avatar
ptolemyauletes
Textkit Fan
Posts: 202
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:26 am

Re: a translation question

Post by ptolemyauletes »

This is more of a composition question than a translation question, not that that makes any difference.
Your instinct here is exactly correct. ego is often left out in Latin, as are the other nominative pronouns. As a heavily inflected language, Latin has no need to include nominative pronouns. The subject is built in to the verb ending.
This is also true of Italian. Rather than saying 'Io sono Fred' an Italian will simply say 'Sono Fred.' (don't know too many Italians named Fred...)

Latin usually only uses first person pronouns for emphasis or some similar reason.

As for your sentence regarding your father, unless you have several fathers I would suggest using 'te' instead of 'vos'. Otherwise it seems fine.
te patrem diligo.
The only thing we can guarantee when communicating via the internet is that we will be almost completely misunderstood, and likely cause great offence in doing so. Throw in an attempt at humour and you insure a lifelong enemy will be made.

adrianus
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 3270
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:45 pm

Re: a translation question

Post by adrianus »

"I love you, dad" = "Te diligo, mi pater." or/vel "Te diligo, pater." or "Pater, te diligo".
"Te patrem diligo." is more/ magìs est "I love you as a/my father." or "I love your being a/my father" or "I love you, the father."

"Te diligo, mi pater, at non matrem." = "I love you, dad, but not [love] mum."
"Ego, pater, te diligo at non mater" ["I" emphasis] = "I love you, dad, but mum doesn't."

I think "pappa" or "papa" for "dad" is fine in Latin, 'though it can mean others things, too.
Licet latinè "papa" seu "pappa" pro "pater", ut opinor, etsi id et alia significare potest.
I'm writing in Latin hoping for correction, and not because I'm confident in how I express myself. Latinè scribo ut ab omnibus corrigar, non quod confidenter me exprimam.

Post Reply