# Again with the Bad Latin **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 20, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359 "2012-03-20T23:35:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/21 "2018-04-10T11:58:49Z")
> [@purple\_cow](#): > > I remember once in the Economist, a writer turned the latin phrase “E pluribus unum” (out of many, one) into the opposite (out of one, many; sorry i dont remember the latin). The next week the magazine published five messages in the letters section. Each letter had a long list of the person’s latin language credentials, followed by their corrected version of the proper latin phrase for out of one, many. All five came up with different phrases. My favorite part was that the magazine didn’t comment in any way. Just printed five letters of people saying they knew better than the writer, and letting the reader notice that at least four of them were wrong. Not necessarily wrong. Consider that in English there’s usually more than one way to say the same thing. I expect this is also true in other languages. > [@Clothahump](#): > > Illegitimi non carborundum! Fabricati diem, pvnc > [@](#): > > (yes, I know) ditto. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/22 "2018-04-10T16:14:44Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Not necessarily wrong. Consider that in English there’s usually more than one way to say the same thing. I expect this is also true in other languages. Indeed. How much snark is expended in this world on native speakers of English who speak the language “wrong”? (Prescriptivists, feel free to swoon now.) Latin was a living, even colloquial, language for centuries. The standards of “good Latin” are so academic that they probably have no bearing on how the language was actually used at any point in its life. But yes, it’s fun to point out that one person’s translation doesn’t follow another person’s Latin learning. Latin is not hard to get wrong, just like most languages. Personally, I like Engrish better. More amusing, and easier to identify with (since I’m Japanese-American). ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/23 "2018-04-11T14:52:51Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Ooooh! A Latin war! That the thread is five years old means nothing when talking Latin. I have no cites, but I assume some arguments have been going on for two thousand years. That’s the classiest “zombie thread alert!” I’ve ever seen! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/24 "2018-04-11T18:48:02Z")
That is the first time ever that I was connected positively with classy. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/25 "2018-04-12T23:33:00Z")
The _Dresden Files_ books actually have a good explanation for why Harry Dresden’s spells are all in bad Latin. A spell needs to be in a language that you know, so that you can associate it with what it’s supposed to do. But it also needs to be in a language that you don’t know very well, because if you put your spells in a language you’re fluent in, you’ll end up casting them accidentally. It’s actually something of an embarrassment that Harry uses Latin, because all wizards are supposed to be fluent in it, as the lingua franca of the international wizard community (the more established wizards generally use Old Assyrian or Babylonian). And his apprentice uses Japanese, which she apparently picked up from anime conventions. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/26 "2018-04-13T01:01:54Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Also, the episode “Elvish language” that Steve helps Stan decipher is really just Japanese. IIRC Hiragana to be precise. It’s a wonder Toshi didn’t pick up on that. > > But this kind of thing is rather common. See also [Dog Latin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Latin). For a twist, see [this clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbI-fDzUJXI) from _Life of Brian_. (answering old post). I have to imagine the Japanese thing was on purpose. They obviously have a Japanese fluent person on staff and it’s easier than finding a Sindar fluent person. Not any different than Mel Brooks’ Indians speaking Yiddish in Blazing Saddles. My Name is Earl used to pull a trick like that, where any time a character spoke Spanish, they actually addressed the audience congratulating them on understanding Spanish or some other joke. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/27 "2018-04-13T08:31:22Z")
Well I assume it’s an intentional joke, not out of laziness. Though in some cases it might be a little bit of both, like when Trey Parker and Matt Stone hired Japanese guys they knew to play “Indians.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Cw_3wyVJbEI/hqdefault.jpg "cannibal the musical - indians") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw_3wyVJbEI) ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/28 "2018-04-13T20:23:36Z")
Bad Latin? I thought he was taken out by phoca protelum XI… ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/29 "2018-04-13T21:00:21Z")
At least they weren’t quoting Lorem Ipsum > [@Chronos](#): > > The _Dresden Files_ books actually have a good explanation for why Harry Dresden’s spells are all in bad Latin. I don’t think “Flickus Bicus” even qualifies as bad Latin… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/30 "2018-04-13T22:48:49Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Well I assume it’s an intentional joke, not out of laziness. Though in some cases it might be a little bit of both, like when Trey Parker and Matt Stone hired Japanese guys they knew to play “Indians.” > > [https://youtu.be/Cw\_3wyVJbEI](https://youtu.be/Cw_3wyVJbEI) Nearly forgot about that one. One of my favorite jokes in the movie. “We are…Indians.” ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/31 "2018-04-14T01:54:58Z")
Ubi o ubi est mea sububi? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/32 "2018-04-20T07:50:38Z")
I use only one Latin spell: Coffea gloria mundi est! And a few minutes later I have nice hot coffee. The fact that I load the percolator and plug it in is a side issue. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/33 "2018-04-20T08:14:50Z")
Sanctum Peter Cottium Deus in re unium hippitus hoppitus Reus Domine In suus via torreum Lepus in re sanctum hippitus hoppitus Reus Domine ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/34 "2018-05-31T04:32:25Z")
Bumped. Recently saw this on a 1914 plaque in memory of Maj. Gen. Jacob Cox, a hero of the American Civil War and later Governor of Ohio: _Integervitae scelerisqve pvrvs_. Google just comes up with nonsense phrases (including one with the word “chocolate”). A little help…? ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/35 "2018-05-31T05:17:05Z")
Integer vitae = the number (positive or negative, no fractions) of life. Obviously means the number 42. Scelerisque = celery-ish pvrvs = pervs 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/36 "2018-05-31T05:42:28Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Bumped. > > Recently saw this on a 1914 plaque in memory of Maj. Gen. Jacob Cox, a hero of the American Civil War and later Governor of Ohio: _Integervitae scelerisqve pvrvs_. Google just comes up with nonsense phrases (including one with the word “chocolate”). A little help…? integer vitae scelerisque purus - “upright of life and free from vice” Just a plaque somewhere? A pic of his grave appears to just say the first part: > **[\#28 Jacob D. Cox](http://ohiogovernorgravesites.blogspot.com/2012/01/28-jacob-d-cox.html?m=0)** > > Jacob D. Cox Born: October 27, 18... ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/37 "2018-05-31T06:33:25Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Bumped. > > Recently saw this on a 1914 plaque in memory of Maj. Gen. Jacob Cox, a hero of the American Civil War and later Governor of Ohio: _Integervitae scelerisqve pvrvs_. Google just comes up with nonsense phrases (including one with the word “chocolate”). A little help…? It’s the opening line of a poem by Horace - Odes 1.XXII Integer vitae, scelerisque purus… _A man of upright life, and unstained by wrongdoing…_ In 1914 most educated people would have been familiar with the odes of Horace. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/38 "2018-05-31T09:54:20Z")
Ha! I remember _sceleritus_ as “rascally” from my 7th grade Latin class (the workbook was printed in Britain). “Pure from mischief” might be another way to translate that Horace. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/39 "2018-05-31T10:35:38Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Ha! I remember _sceleritus_ as “rascally” from my 7th grade Latin class (the workbook was printed in Britain). “Pure from mischief” might be another way to translate that Horace. The word is scelus -eris, n. Lewis & Short [gives](http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3Dscelus) the primary meaning as I._an evil deed; a wicked, heinous, or impious action; a crime, sin, enormity, wickedness_ (the strongest general term for a morally bad act or quality; very freq. both in sing. and plur.; cf. nefas). ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359/40 "2018-05-31T10:44:16Z")
Thanks. _Sceleritus_ must be a derived adjective. I distinctly recall _puer sceleritus_ as “rascally boy.” The series of slender books was called _Ecce Homo_ (“Behold! A man!”). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-bad-latin/616359.md?page=3)