Comments | linguaphiles: Brothers-in-arms in other languages

maroon_ed in linguaphiles

Brothers-in-arms in other languages

Jan 08, 2011 15:38

It's expressly permitted in the rules or I'd just do a workaround ( Read more... )

multiple languages, phrases, epithets, input methods, theremustbeawordforit, notquiteatranslation

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fpb January 8 2011, 07:37:31 UTC

Oh, and in Latin it would be COMES, COMITIS, plural COMITES, "one who walks together" {CUM+IRE), Oddly enough, this ended up, in modern European languages, as "Count" - that is, a "companion" or peer of the Emperor or of the King. But in classical Latin it decidedly can be used of one's mate, army friend, brother-in-arms.

maroon_ed January 8 2011, 08:17:35 UTC

"Cameratismo" it is! I don't know my Latin grammar to sort out which one of those to use. It will be his title, as in "You are the walking embodiment of cameratismo, therefore you are the Angel of Brothers-in-Arms.

ioanna_ioannina January 8 2011, 12:24:06 UTC

It is easy. Comes, singular, comites, plural.
(Comitis is genitive, singular.)

fpb January 8 2011, 12:30:14 UTC

Ah, but people do the most hideous things with Latin words because most don't understand the concept of inflexion or the difference between nouns and verbs. The first thing that springs to my mind is an otherwise excellent fan writer I know, who tried to back-translate "faith, hope, love". The result? "Fides, Spero, Amor." But I have seen plenty even more hilarious. Our friend does well to stay away from Latin if s/he doesn't know the grammar, and I wish more of us had the same common sense.

ioanna_ioannina January 8 2011, 12:34:44 UTC

You are right. It´s just the classical philologist in me, who answers too quickly. ;o))

maroon_ed January 8 2011, 13:09:45 UTC

And I have a character who's fluent in Church Latin, and a player who sometimes corrects my Latin. I don't complain though, as I have an open invitation to correct his English.

Ah well--it's just a game.

fpb January 8 2011, 13:29:41 UTC

I was going to ask whether I can friend you, but I see you post in Czech. Ah well.

ioanna_ioannina January 8 2011, 14:43:17 UTC

Yes, I´m posting there my stories, translations, mandalas and thoughts about Latin, mostly.
Pity. :-((

ioanna_ioannina January 8 2011, 12:32:31 UTC

(Comes = count) Because of comites Caesaris. It became this title during dominatus, if I recall correctly. During republic, it was "a friend who goes with", and especially "a companion of magistrate" (comites et amici), then perhaps through "cohors Palatina" to "comes sacri Palatii, rei privatae, sacrarum largitionum" etc. In dominatus, it replaced the title "curator".

And thanks for the explanation of compagno and camerata! Very interesting.

fpb January 8 2011, 13:20:42 UTC

And in 460 the Emperor Maioranus abolished what was left of the local organization of provinces and placed each under a comes, in a last desperate attempt to stiffen what was left of the Empire. As a result, the Franks simply placed their own men in the posts thus created - and that is why most countries in Europe don't have provinces, but counties.

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