Author Topic: A question for someone who knows latin (Read 3592 times)

Rosarium · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2013, 11:33:17 PM »

Just to add, the "arm" and "arm" in English have very different roots.

One is from Old English and the other from Old French. Although they sound the same, they are not related in any way which is meaningful.

It is like "bear arms" and "bare arms" and "bear arms" (as in "carry weapons, short sleeves, and the limbs of a bear)...all sound the same, but it is just coincidence as all the words have different origins.

Marlelar · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2013, 11:43:26 PM »

So the consensus is that "Fratres in armis" would be the correct Latin translation for the motto "Brothers In Arms" meaning that we are brothers who fight together against a common enemy?

Sorry for asking again but I'm a dummy when it comes to Latin and have no one else to ask. I just want to make sure it is correct before these young men have their t-shirts done up.

Marsha

poche · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2013, 12:03:40 AM »

Quote from: Rosarium

Just to add, the "arm" and "arm" in English have very different roots.

One is from Old English and the other from Old French. Although they sound the same, they are not related in any way which is meaningful.

It is like "bear arms" and "bare arms" and "bear arms" (as in "carry weapons, short sleeves, and the limbs of a bear)...all sound the same, but it is just coincidence as all the words have different origins.

Actually while they are not directly connected. Old English being a teutonic language and Old French being a Romance language. I heard that there is a theory that as both being indo-european languages, there is actually a connection between those words because arms (weapons) were generally carried in one's arms.

Iuvenalis · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2013, 01:49:42 AM »

I don't think this is a good idea.

First, if you/they don't know Latin enough to know how to say/write it, why use Latin?

Why not just use English?

Does Latin add some gravitas to it? Is it not enough they serve together?

Also, you're taking an *idiom* and translating it into Latin.

It is not how a Latin speaker would refer to a fellow soldier.

I've never been a Roman solider but I suppose they would understand what your were getting at with the 'brothers in arms' transliteration, but they would use a noun for their comrade/fellow soldier.

If they had some idiom for the concept, this isn't it.

Rosarium · « **Reply #9 on:** July 05, 2013, 03:06:33 AM »

Quote from: Iuvenalis

Why not just use English?

It is a tradition in English speaking nations to use Latin phrases and mottoes.

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Does Latin add some gravitas to it? Is it not enough they serve together?

Gravitas is a Latin word...

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It is not how a Latin speaker would refer to a fellow soldier.

This is not a case of Latin speaking soldiers, so wouldn't this translation be suitable then?

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I've never been a Roman solider but I suppose they would understand what your were getting at with the 'brothers in arms' transliteration, but they would use a noun for their comrade/fellow soldier.

"Commiles" is the noun.