I am looking for someone who knows Latin well.?

Question

I need to be sure about the grammar in the following phrases that I intend to use in a children's story :

Faces and expressions
Eyes and ability for observation
Noses, mouths, language, and words
Listen and comprehend =

Faciei et vultus
Oculi et conspectus
Nasi, oris, lingua, et verba
Exauditote et tenetote

I change shape = commuto forma

Bamboo shrink (imperative) = Bambusae decrescitote

People be transported (imperative)= Traducito populus

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

Well, you drove me to some reference books:

Faces and expressions = Facies et vultus
Noses, etc = Nasi, oria, lingua, et verba

This puts all in nominative plural (ex. language, in nom sing)

For 'Eyes and ability for observation', 'Oculi' is fine, but I'm not sure 'conspectus' fits. As a noun, it means 'range of view, sight, appearance, perception'. It also is the participle of the verb 'conspicere', and in this means 'observed/seen/witnessed; noticed; watched; gazed/stared on, etc.' Neither definition carries any concept of 'ability'. If I had to translate 'Oculi et conspectus', I'd probably use 'Eyes and appearance'. How about:

Oculi et potestas observationis - Eyes and the power/ability of observation.

I change shape = Commuto formam. Shape is direct object - needs to be in accusative case.

All your command forms are in the future active plural imperative (except 'traducito', sing). The future imperative is a bit unusual, and does not seem to fit. It does apply to future actions, but in a narrow range of applications. It is used: a) When there is a distinct reference to the future time the action will take place; b) Serving for all time in Precepts, Statutes, and Wills; and c) With the verbs scio, memini, and habeo. None of those apply.

So, going to present imperatives, I would suggest:

Listen and comprehend = Audite et tenete. Exaudire is a good word, but it goes beyond 'listen' - it's more like 'heed, comply with, understand'. Audire fits better for 'listen'.

Bamboo shrink. (Never thought I'd ever translate that into Latin). First, recognize 'bambusa' is neoLatin - there was no classical word since the Romans did not know it. For this, 'bamboo' would be in the vocative case, Singular is 'bambusa', plural 'bambusae'. I don't know the context, so I'll give you both sing and plural:

Bambusa decresce – singular; Bamboo, shrink!

Bambusae decrescite – plural; Bamboos, shrink!


Now to the people.

I'm not totally sure what you mean here. The 'be' implies you want a passive command, not an active one. Latin did not use passive commands (with one class of verbs excepted). You use the word 'populus' - this does mean 'people', but in the sense of a community - Populus Romanus = The People of Rome. 'People' meaning persons in general was 'homines'. The verb used was 'traducere'. It means more like 'lead across, cause to cross, bring across'. It's the verb you would use talking about getting a herd of cattle across a river. For 'transport', 'transportare' is a better verb.

For this, Latin would use a subjunctive construction. Using that, using 'homines' for people and 'transportare' for transport:

Homines transportentur = May the people be transported.


Without the full context and intent, it's hard to work with little pieces. These are just some food for thought. Good luck!