An easy question for you Latin types (1 Viewer)

[Lexicographer]

For a while now I've been bothered by the constructed plural "syllabuses". A few months ago someone said the real plural had to be "syllabi" because of cactus, rhinocerous etc.

However, realising that /b/ is a plosive in the shower, I figured it must be "syllabera"...am I right, or just a lamer noob?

 

[Newbie]

it can be either syllabuses or syllabi

and i think the word is greek or something

 

[Frigid]

newbie says rightly so that syllabus has greek, not latin, origins, and thus it is not a second-declension masculine plural -i.

the correct english form should be syllabuses. Anyone saying syllabi are trying to act like a hardcore intellectual type but are actually making a fool of themselves.

 

[Lexicographer]

Ok, I'll check the greek. Syllabuses may be the adopted English plural, but it's hideous and unweildly.

 

[Frigid]

but syllabi is just so pretentious...

 

[Newbie]

i doubt we will ever use this word in our hsc
so......fuck it

 

[Lexicographer]

Actually, Syllabus was a Latin word with Greek influences, but you are right in saying it's Syllabi (www.dictionary.com anyone?) even though it doesn't sound right. It came into English through medieval Latin and the plural syllabuses was only recently constructed (mid 20th century).

Still, Syllabi isn't as fugly as Syllabuses, and the incorrect Syllabera sounds better

 

[Lexicographer]

Ok, here's another one. Remember I'm not a real Latin student and can't conjugate so don't throw rotten fruit at me...

Any Christians here? If you've seen the Crucifix you may have noticed "INRI" pinned to the top. Every Catholic knows this stands for "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews".

How would I do this? I know it's something similar to "Iesu Nazarea, Rex Iudei"...but I know the conjugations are wrong. An explanation please, someone?

 

[Frigid]

first, lexo, remember, conjugations are for verbs, gender and declensions are for nouns.

secondly, your INRI stands for Iesus Narzarenus Rex Iudaeorum... all the first three words are masculine to agree with Iesus. The last word is masculine genitive plural.

 

[Lexicographer]

See, I told you I was a rookie!

But thanks. I know NOTHING about Latin gender.

 

[Lexicographer]

Declensions! A word I haven't heard in years. My linguistics are usually based on script rather than structure.

 

[pigs_can_fly]

Originally posted by Frigid
first, lexo, remember, conjugations are for verbs, gender and declensions are for nouns.

secondly, your INRI stands for Iesus Narzarenus Rex Iudaeorum... all the first three words are masculine to agree with Iesus. The last word is masculine genitive plural.

wow, frigid flexing his latin muscles!

 

[mic]

Yeah, Frigid is gonna do really well in the HSC

conjugations, declensions, person, mood, voice, tense...

 

[Lexicographer]

And copulae

 

[Frigid]

Originally posted by mic
Yeah, Frigid is gonna do really well in the HSC

conjugations, declensions, person, mood, voice, tense...

*cough* that'll require a dramatic change of self *cough*

but thanks for the support nonetheless...

 

[mic]

Anytime. You know you're gonna do well! what did you think about the translations btw?

 

[pigs_can_fly]

personally i thought they were CRAP!

no sorry, just jk, haven't read them

i'm sure they're perfectly fine, though be careful if they're too literal. try to render them slightly

 

[Lexicographer]

You Latin kids are lucky. It would kill me to see you squirm with irregular pronunciations

 

[tonberry_kun]

u necro, stop reviving

 

[Lexicographer]

I wonder what Mark would say if we brought your account to his attention ton...