21:43 Mar 26, 2008 |
English to Latin translations [Non-PRO] Art/Literary - Education / Pedagogy | ||||
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5 | Quisnam orbis terrae est hic?/Quisnam mundus est hic? |
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4 | cum omnibus bonis et iustis |
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Quisnam orbis terrae est hic?/Quisnam mundus est hic? Explanation: 'Orbis terrarum' is found about equally often. 'Orbis terrae' means literally 'the circle of the earth'; 'orbis terrarum' means 'the circle of lands'. This expression is equivilent to English 'world' in the sense of the world as inhabited and dominated by human beings, human society, culture, technology, and so forth. 'Quisnam mundus est hic?' would mean 'What world is this?' in the sense of this world as a regon of the universe, and may even be translated as 'universe', although 'mundus' is sometimes used poetically as a snynonyme for 'orbis terrae/terrarum'. The interrogative adjective and pronoun 'quisnam' may be replaced by the simple interrogative 'quis'. 'Quisnam' is an emphatic form and would imply an element of surprise, indignation, disbelief, etc. on the part of the speaker. -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 46 mins (2008-03-26 22:29:50 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- For this nuance of 'quisnam', cf. J.H. Allen & J.B. Greenough, New Latin Grammar, 1903, §148c and Lewis & Short s.v. I. Even greater emphasis may be added, if emphasis is sought, by prefixing the question with the particle 'num', which here = 'prithee, pray tell', e.g., 'Num quisnam orbis terrae est hic?', 'What (sort of) world, pray tell, is this?' But if no emphais is intended, one should omit 'num' and employ 'quis' instead of 'quisnam'. |
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With all that is good and just cum omnibus bonis et iustis Explanation: I have nothing to add to Joseph's very erudite translation of 'What world is this?' above, so I'll attempt your second query: A verbatim translation would be 'cum omnibus qua sunt bona et iusta' ('with all things that are good and just'), but it is more idiomatic to omit 'that is/are', understanding it to be intended in the meaning of the sentence. It would also be possible to translate the words 'good and just' as 'bona iustaque', but IMO that may suggest that you are referring to two different sets of things (what is 'good' and what is 'just'), rather than one (what is [both] 'good AND just'), which is what you seem to intend. Hope that helps, John |
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