Salvete,
In Familia Romana, Cap. XII, around line 25 is this sentence
Aemilius avunculus est, id est frater matris.
Doesn't the id refer back to Aemilius avunculus, so shouldn't it be the masculine 'is' instead of the neuter 'id'?
jowens wrote:Aemilius avunculus est, id est frater matris.
Doesn't the id refer back to Aemilius avunculus, so shouldn't it be the masculine 'is' instead of the neuter 'id'?
D. Q. Dauthier wrote:The sentence with is isn't likely to occur in authentic Latin because avunculus can only mean the mother’s brother. If Aemilius had been the father’s brother, he would have said “patruus” rather than “avunculus.” In short, the alternate version with is would be redundant.
joels341 wrote:You are thinking in English, where the word "uncle" is vague.
joels341 wrote:However, the explanation of relationship is possible when explaining to children. Both 'is' or 'id' could be used, if that's your point.
adrianus wrote:I think it's grammatical and proper to pose the question "Who is your uncle on your mother's side?" and to follow with "Aemilius is your uncle on your mother's side. He is your mother's brother."
"Aemilius is your uncle on your mother's side, that is, your mother's brother." answers the question "How exactly is Aemilius related to you?"
Non sequitur, D.Q. (Gratus obiter tuus adventus.) Ut opinor, rectè grammaticéque rogatur modo rhetorico "Quis est avunculus?", cum declamatione sequenti (quo "Is" vim habet), "Aemilius avunculus est. Is est frater matris."
"Aemilius avunculus est, id est, frater matris" quaestioni sequenti respondat: "Quo affinitatis gradu tibi est Aemilius?
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