2006-09-03 14:23:29 · 5 answers · asked by wataweasle 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
malum non audi non vide non loquere
malus: evil, is in the accusative case and is the direct object of the sentence
non: not, no is an adverb and is repeated with each verb phrase
audi: is the singular present imperative form of the 4th conjugation verb audio-to hear
vide: is the singular present imperative form of the 2nd conjugation verb video-to see
loquere: is the singular present imperative form of the 3rd conjugation deponent verb loquor-to speak
The verb loquor is deponent (looks like a passive verb but translates as an active verb) and consequently has a different ending.
The Chinese saying seems to address each person individually. Rather than use the plural imperative form of the verbs, audire, videre, and loquor, I would suggest the singular.
The syntax of the phrase includes an object variation of the diazeugma. The direct object is distributed between the verbs/subjects that take it as their object. The repetition of the negative adverb "non" is optional, but is characteristic of some of the ancient authors (e.g. Cicero) who use negative repetition to add force to their words.
an example of Cicero repeating the negative nihil (not, nothing)
"Nihil ne te nocturnum praesidium palatii, nihil urbis vigilae, nihil timor populi, nihil concursus bonorum omnium, nihil hic muntissimus habendi senatus locus, nihil horum ora vultusque moverunt?"
my translation:
"Does not the nightly watch of the Palatine, Does not guard of the city, Does not the fear of the people, Does not the union of all good men, Does not of the holding of the senate in this most defensible place, Does not the looks and faces of these people move you?"
If you would rather save on space, you could write:
NON MALVM AVDI VIDE LOQVERE
2006-09-04 06:02:46 · answer #1 · answered by Discipulo legis, quis cogitat? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Audite haud malum , animadverto haud malum , narro haud malum "
I took Latin for three years, and i'm taking my fourth, I still stuck at that stupid language.
2006-09-03 14:27:38 · answer #2 · answered by xathaec 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
http://experts.about.com/q/Latin-2145/translate-english-latin-1.htm
2006-09-03 14:33:11 · answer #3 · answered by deecharming 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now why would I want to do that?????????
2006-09-03 14:24:52 · answer #4 · answered by shirley e 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
NO.
2006-09-03 14:26:56 · answer #5 · answered by froggie 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋