Ainulindale in Latin - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Aiwendil · 05-04-2007, 06:04 PM

I'm glad you like it.

Legate: Yes, some of the declensions of proper names look strange, partly because Quenya is itself a language that declines nouns. It's particularly striking in cases where the form we usually encounter in Quenya is the plural, since I based all decisions as to how to decline names on the nominative singular. So for example instead of starting with "Ainur" (the form we see most often) and trying to decide how to decline it, I started with "Ainu". I also made the somewhat dubious decision to treat "Ainu" as a (very rare) 4th declension neuter, since it resembles "cornu" and "genu". A lot of proper nouns were troublesome, actually - for instance, "Elf" - I vacillated between translating this as "nympha" (or something along those lines) and (what I eventually chose) just rendering it "Alfus".

Nogrod: The somewhat vulgate style was not really a conscious decision on my part, though I agree that the finished product looks more like late Imperial Latin than like Cicero. I think it's a result of my attempt to preserve the style of the English, which has a lot of ". . ., and . . ., and . . ." sort of stuff. But now that I think about it, I suppose I did also have the Vulgate Bible in the back of my mind - or rather the little of the Vulgate that I've actually read (about half of Genesis).

I have been working, rather haltingly, on the Valaquenta as well, and when (and if) I finish it, I'll put it up also.

Edit: Actually, I've just remembered it was not the Vulgata that I read parts of; it was the older Vetus Latina - though that's still "Late Latin" and differs significantly from the Classical style.

Nogrod · 05-04-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aiwendil

I think it's a result of my attempt to preserve the style of the English, which has a lot of ". . ., and . . ., and . . ." sort of stuff.

Which English?

Sorry. No offence or anything like that. I do admire your work.

Just couldn't resist this one in relation to the nicely detailed differences of Latin we're speaking here about...

(Nicely detailed? The real cognoscenti would give us a much more detailed analysis of styles...

)

the guy who be short · 05-14-2007, 09:17 AM

I have my Latin Language 1 GCSE exam tomorrow. This is a great resource! Gratias ago.

Aiwendil · 08-28-2007, 05:52 PM

I finished and added the Valaquenta. Again, be warned that my Latin skills are not all that great and that the text is far from guaranteed to be grammatically correct. If anyone finds mistakes, I'd be much obbliged if they would point them out to me.

Wanderer of Light · 09-07-2007, 02:06 PM

Did you write it in church-Latin or Classical Latin?

Aiwendil · 09-07-2007, 03:05 PM

My aim was Classical Latin, though I didn't hesitate to use a few ecclesiastical words when appropriate (like 'daemon'). But I think the style tends toward later imperial Latin rather than that of Caesar or Cicero.

Wanderer of Light · 10-06-2007, 12:05 PM

How far are you with translating the next bit?

I really can't wait for it

....

Although it is quit troublesome I can understand most of it with aid of a dictionairy and my school book

.

05-04-2007, 06:04 PM	#1
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	I'm glad you like it. Legate: Yes, some of the declensions of proper names look strange, partly because Quenya is itself a language that declines nouns. It's particularly striking in cases where the form we usually encounter in Quenya is the plural, since I based all decisions as to how to decline names on the nominative singular. So for example instead of starting with "Ainur" (the form we see most often) and trying to decide how to decline it, I started with "Ainu". I also made the somewhat dubious decision to treat "Ainu" as a (very rare) 4th declension neuter, since it resembles "cornu" and "genu". A lot of proper nouns were troublesome, actually - for instance, "Elf" - I vacillated between translating this as "nympha" (or something along those lines) and (what I eventually chose) just rendering it "Alfus". Nogrod: The somewhat vulgate style was not really a conscious decision on my part, though I agree that the finished product looks more like late Imperial Latin than like Cicero. I think it's a result of my attempt to preserve the style of the English, which has a lot of ". . ., and . . ., and . . ." sort of stuff. But now that I think about it, I suppose I did also have the Vulgate Bible in the back of my mind - or rather the little of the Vulgate that I've actually read (about half of Genesis). I have been working, rather haltingly, on the Valaquenta as well, and when (and if) I finish it, I'll put it up also. Edit: Actually, I've just remembered it was not the Vulgata that I read parts of; it was the older Vetus Latina - though that's still "Late Latin" and differs significantly from the Classical style. Last edited by Aiwendil; 05-04-2007 at 06:22 PM.

09-07-2007, 02:06 PM	#5
Wanderer of Light Pile O'Bones Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Zoetermeer, The Netherlands Posts: 11	Did you write it in church-Latin or Classical Latin? __________________ "Ick ben de opstandinge ende het leven: die in my gelooft sal leven/ alwaer hy oock gestorven:" ^ Joannis 11:25

10-06-2007, 12:05 PM	#7
Wanderer of Light Pile O'Bones Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Zoetermeer, The Netherlands Posts: 11	How far are you with translating the next bit? I really can't wait for it .... Although it is quit troublesome I can understand most of it with aid of a dictionairy and my school book . __________________ "Ick ben de opstandinge ende het leven: die in my gelooft sal leven/ alwaer hy oock gestorven:" ^ Joannis 11:25

05-14-2007, 09:17 AM	#3
the guy who be short Shadowed Prince Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Thulcandra Posts: 2,343	I have my Latin Language 1 GCSE exam tomorrow. This is a great resource! Gratias ago.

08-28-2007, 05:52 PM	#4
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	I finished and added the Valaquenta. Again, be warned that my Latin skills are not all that great and that the text is far from guaranteed to be grammatically correct. If anyone finds mistakes, I'd be much obbliged if they would point them out to me.

09-07-2007, 03:05 PM	#6
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	My aim was Classical Latin, though I didn't hesitate to use a few ecclesiastical words when appropriate (like 'daemon'). But I think the style tends toward later imperial Latin rather than that of Caesar or Cicero.