the end of episode 5 by Anthony Gibbins

Thank you for reading (and hopefully enjoying) another episode of Legonium. This has been an exciting month for me. I have been working very closely with the Nicholson museum at Sydney University, the fruits of which will be evident on February 1st, when episode 7 is released upon the world. Episode 6, meanwhile, is ready to go, and has a different feel – I think – to what has come before. Not to mention a tribute to Banksy! And the plot of episode 8 is currently spinning around in my head. If all goes to plan, it will introduce a new character – Monas Brickvir, investigator privatus. On another note, Legonium reached 1000 followers on Twitter this week, and I’ve had some lovely feedback from teachers using Legonium in their classrooms. I am looking forward to seeing where life will take Claudia, Marcellus, Miranda and the gang in 2017.

Whose is this money? And how was it placed in the dumpster? If you return soon, I will tell you everything.

faciat vs faciet by Anthony Gibbins

The Latin Verb facio, facere, feci, factum means to make or do. As you can probably imagine, it is one of the most commonly used Verbs in Latin. The Verb appears twice on this page.

faciat is in the Subjunctive Mood. The Subjunctive Mood has all kinds of uses, one of which is called the Deliberative Subjunctive*. It is used, as its name suggests, to deliberate. For example, quid facio? – in the Indicative Mood – means What am I doing? quid faciam? – in the Subjunctive Mood – means What should I do? quid faciat noster Marcellus? means What should our Marcellus do?

*That, of course, is the name given to it by grammarians. The average Roman didn’t think ‘Hey, I’m using a Deliberative Subjunctive!’ any more than you or I do when speaking our own native tongue.

faciet is in the Indicative Mood – the Mood of straight up fact. It is also in the Future Tense. So, quid faciet noster Marcellus? means What will our Marcellus do?

I have recently read some predictions written by students after reading this episode of Legonium. They were fantastic! If you should have the time, I’d love you to leave a comment on the blog page. What do YOU think Marcellus SHOULD do? What do YOU think he WILL do?

Look! The suitcase which Marcellus found (amazing to say) is full of…money! What should our Marcellus do? What will Marcellus do?

Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis by Anthony Gibbins

curiosus. A short slice from Peter Needham’s AWESOME Latin translation of J. K. Rowling’s [I don’t have an Adjective that would do that work justice] Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

in facie sua Harrius id solum amabat: cicatricem tenuissimam in fronte exceptam cuius figura erat fulguri similis. cicatricem tam diu habuerat quam meminisse poterat et meminerat primam quaestionem a se Materterae Petuniae propositam fuisse quomodo eam excepisset.

‘in ea collisione autocinetorum qua interfecti sunt parentes tui.’ quod locuta addiderat ‘noli curiosus esse.’

noli curiosus esse – ea erat prima lex si quis volebat tranquillam vitam apud Dursleos agere.

And the original:

The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning. He had had it as long as he could remember, and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Petunia was how he had gotten it.

"In the car crash when your parents died," she had said. "And don't ask questions."

Don't ask questions - that was the first rule for a quiet life with the Dursleys.

Don’t ask question is translated as Don’t be inquisitive. I like that.

Marcellus thinks that it is strange that he found a suitcase in the dumpster. Inquisitive, he decides to open it.

the force by Anthony Gibbins

vis is a fascinating word. It has no less than twenty entries in the Oxford Latin Dictionary, and here we will list them all. But first a heads up; a number of these involve violence including sexual violence. Many of them, however, do not.

1. physical strength exerted on an object, force, violence 2. force used to obtain sexual gratification 3. unlawful force or violence 4. violence in politics, public life, or similar 5. violence directed against enemy troops, military force 6. forceful or vigorous action or movement 7. energy or forcefulness of character or behavior, determination etc.; also forcefulness of demeanor 8. a large body or number (of persons, animals etc., often implying potential violence) 9. (of natural forces) violence, overwhelming rush, pressure etc.; a violent discharge, a stream, shower or similar 10. intense or overwhelming nature or effect (of a sensation or emotion); (also, of a passionate person) 11. (of a person, office, etc.) ability to control affairs, political weight, power, influence, or similar 12. influence (of a deity or similar) over events, power, sway 13. (of laws, decisions, etc.) binding force, authority 14. the power or capacity to do something, an ability, faculty, etc. 15. (of things, esp. remedies) power to produce some physical effect, potency, virtue 16. a primary element or force, principle (in an organism) 17. that which makes a thing what it is, its essence 18. the meaning, significance (of words, expressions or similar) 19. value, amount 20. physical powers, strength or vigour of body.

The meaning in this sentence is probably closest to the first. If you remember the recent post on Ablatives of Manner, you may recognise one here; magna vi with great force.

For those who are celebrating, Merry Christmas! And for those who are not, have a really awesome day!

Then he feels something with his hands similar to sack. With great force he drags it out of the dumpster. It is not, however, the sack but a suitcase.

 

 

 

the Legonium making-of special by Anthony Gibbins

One of my favorite things about the Star Wars movies as a kid (I grew up with A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) were the making-of specials that they would run on TV. These were the days when it took, literally, YEARS for most movies to be shown on television! A making-of special was the next best things. They would show the models of the Star Destroyers, the green screening of Cloud city, and the actors inside all those Ewok suits. I loved them.

So, this is my own making-of special. See the picture of Marcellus up to his hips in the dumpster? He isn’t really in there. He didn’t fit. So I took his legs off and attached them to a 1x2 Lego Brick. I know, mind blown! I expect I’ll be getting my call from Lucasfilm any day now.

Marcellus climbs into the dumpster. He is able to see nothing in the darkness. Therefore he touches everything with his hands, trying to find the sack.

it is good to love - finite and infinite verbs by Anthony Gibbins

What do the terms Finite and Infinite mean in regards to a Verb? Finite means limited. The word comes from the Latin Adverb finite within limits which in turn is related to the Latin Noun finis boundary, border, limit, territory. In Book I of the Aeneid, Jupiter promises the goddess Venus that her son Aeneas, founder of the Romans race, will be given an empire sine fine without end, limitless. But what exactly limits a Finite Verb? Two things; Person and Number.

Number simply means whether the Verb is Singular or Plural. Person means whether the Verb is First, Second or Third Person. This gives us six possible combinations; 1st Person Singular amo I love, 2nd Person Singular amas you love, 3rd Person Singular amat he, she or it loves, 1st Person Plural amamus we love, 2nd Person Plural amatis y’all love 3rd Person Plural amant they love.

An Infinite Verb (or Infinitive Verb) is not limited by these things. The Infinitive amare, for example, means to love. There are many Finite Verbs that invite an Infinitive Verb to complete their idea. Teach is an example; Venus nos amare docet Venus teaches us to love. Another is it behooves; nos amare oportet It behooves us to love. An Infinite Verb is also, in a very real way, a Noun. It must be, because it can be described by an Adjective bonum est amare It is good to love.

There are three Tenses of Infinite Verb. amare to love amavisse to have loved amaturum esse to be about to love. bonum est amare. It is good to love. bonum est amavisse. It is good to have loved. bonum est amaturum esse. It is good to be about to love.

The Infinitive Verb also plays a crucial role in Indirect Speech, where each of these Tenses come into their own. sperat se amare. He hopes that he loves. sperat se amavisse. He hopes that he has loved. sperat se amaturum esse. He hopes that he will love. sperat se amorem inventurum esse. He hopes that he will find love. sperat se involucrum inventurum esse. He hopes that he will find the envelope.

‘Alas,’ the artist groans hurrying out of the barber shop. He immediately rushes to the dumpster. He hopes that he will find the envelope inside.

Ablative of Manner by Anthony Gibbins

Adverbs are great. For a start, they can modify Verbs (She runs daily), Adjectives (The show is almost ready), and even other Adverbs (We read almost daily).

Secondly, they can tell us When something happens (I arrived yesterday), Where it happens (I stopped here for lunch), the Manner in which it happens (I ate quickly), the Degree to which it happens (I nearly choked), and the Frequency with which it happens (I always do that). These are the generally agreed upon Five Types of Adverbs.

But in English and Latin alike, you cannot expect an Adverb for everything! For example, there are Adverbs that means quietly (quiete and tranquille for example), but no Adverb that specifically means with a lowered voice. For this, we need the Ablative of Manner.

As the name suggests, the Ablative of Manner replaces only Adverbs that express Manner. And the Words are in the Ablative Case. These Words are commonly a Noun and an Adjective. For example, submissa voce with a quiet voice, magna voce with a loud voice, vultu laetissimo with a very happy expression, summo gaudio with the greatest joy.

Occasionally the Preposition cum with will be placed between the Noun and the Adjective, although it is not required. You may be familiar with the expression summa cum laude with the greatest praise.

‘Excellent!’ Marcellus shouts. ‘Where is this sack?’ Alan coughs and, in a lowered voice, responds, ‘I have already thrown the sack in the dumpster.’

it’s possible by Anthony Gibbins

The Latin Verb fio, fieri, factus sum is a strange beast indeed. Of events or physical phenomena it means to take place, to occur, to arise. lux fiat! Let there be light! But it also supplies the Passive form of facio, facere, feci, factum to make or do. populus Caesarem dictatorem facit. The people are making Caesar a dictator. Caesar a populo dictator fit. Caesar is being made a dictator by the people.

The Verb possum, posse, potui means to be able. linguam Latinam legere potes. You able to read the Latin language. linguam Latinam legere possum. I am able to read the Latin language. Marcellus linguam Latinam legere potest. Marcellus is able to read the Latin language. lingua Latina legi potest. The Latin language is able to be read. legi potest. It is able to be read. [id] fieri potest. It is able to come about. This last expression, [id] fieri potest, is the Latin equivalent of the English it is possible.

On today’s page, the expression is kept simple, id fieri potest It is possible. More often we would say ‘It is possible that…’. This is achieved in Latin with the word ut followed by a Verb in the Subjunctive Mood. involucrum in sacco est. The envelope is in the sack. fieri potest ut involucrum in sacco sit. It is possible that the envelope is in the sack.

‘No,’ Alan responds. But, having swept the floor, I placed all the hair(s) in a big sack. Perhaps I accidently (casu) put your envelope in this sack. It is possible.’